Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Newbie to Home Theater

Hi all,

I am new to the HT thing and have been looking at a large amount of reviews, etc. Of course, finding opinions is not always equal to good information. Here's my planned setup thus far:

Room: 21' X 21' X 10" (Attic - open back)
Receiver: Denon 2807 w/ iPOD dock
DVD: Denon 2910
Projector: Panasonic PT-AE900U-EC
Screen: Carada 110" Criterion - Brilliant White
Front Spkrs: Axiom M60s
Center Spkr: Axiom VP150
Surround Spkrs: Axiom QS8s
Rear Surround Spkrs: Axiom QS8s
Subwoofer: EP350

I would like to get some opinions.

The attic is now framed and I need to start making some decisions.

How much lead time have you experienced for the speakers? I am in North Carolina - US.

Thanks.

fuzzzwart, Welcome to the forum, looks like you have a great setup planned, as far as lead time, if you order new it takes about 2 or 3 days until you recieve your speakers, if ordering from the outlet the time varies.

Welcome to the forum, Errol!

Can't see a thing wrong with your choices (pleading ignorance when it comes to projectors and screens). If the budget would allow, you might move up to an EP500 or EP600 subwoofer for a space that large, but I don't think you'd be disappointed by the 350 (DISCLAIMER: I am a biased EP500 owner ).

The 2807 is highly regarded, and I have a 2910 which I love. The 60s/150/QS8s will do the job admirably.

It seems you've done your homework.

Sounds great to me! Welcome to the board.

Thanks to all for the comments. I have found it very hard to get the local A/V stores to pay more attention to what my needs are vs. what they want to sell me. So, I'm kind of flying in the dark.

You could get one 500 for less than 2 350's. Two subs can help you get a better blend of LFE in your room. You can put them on opposite walls/corners. I have a very large room as well, 900sq ft with 9ft ceilings. When I owned a 350 it did well, but the 500/600 are in a class by themselves.

Disclaimer:
I've never used two subs, so I don't know what I'm talking about!

However, in the interest of saving someone else some typing, I'll throw out that in general, the common thought is that two lesser-subs can be more even, but won't add to the deeper range, while choosing a sub like the 500 might have a few more room interaction issues (due to a single location source) but will play louder and deeper.

I've no personal experience with two subs, but this is what I've read elsewhere about it.

Having two subs will not provide a lower frequency response than either sub is capable of. However, two subs can work in your favor in one of two ways. If you co-locate them (stack them one on top of another) you can gain an increase in headroom (play louder without negative consequences, such as distortion or bottoming the driver) by 6 dB, I think. Or is it 3 dB? Another senior moment. Regardless, you can play your subs louder than if you only had one.

If you chose to place each in a different area of the room, you don't gain anything in volume, but you can improve the overall smoothness of bass response throughout your room (i.e. achieve the smoothest bass response over a larger area of your room). If you go with 350s, two of them would definitely be helpful

On the other hand, the 500 and 600 use DSP technology to provide a surprisingly smoother frequency response than your average sub. The 350s don't use this technology.

So, assuming I know what I'm talking about (hmmm? ), it comes down to two 350s for either louder or smoother bass, or one EP500 or EP600 for lower bass with smoother frquency than can be achieved by one 350. It all depends on what you want.

I have no doubts that a 600 could fill your room (4410 cu. ft.) with plenty of low loud bass, and I suspect that even a 500 would please you. I have my 500 in a space a little more than half the size of yours (1656 cu. ft., plus a dining area of 800 cu. ft., plus a small foyer, for a total of around 2500 cu. ft.), and it certainly gives me all I need.

The best suggestion I can give you is to give Axiom a call, describe your room (size, openings, furnishings, etc.) and see what they would recommend. They will surely know more about this than I do. You'll find them friendly, easy to talk with, and they will not try to hype you into something you don't need or want. They are more interested in having a satisfied customer than in making a quick sale. It would be well worth the cost of the phone call.

Well, I did take your advice and I called Axiom. I was surprised that I got to talk with someone right away on a Saturday - nice. The gentleman did suggest one EP500 instead of two EP350s due to a better frequency response. And, it is a little cheaper to boot.

Thanks all,
Errol

Cool!
As Jack said, they'll never try to upsell. Many members can attest to the fact that a lower-priced alternative is what was recommended!

Errol - welcome!

Looks like a handsome setup. You won't be disappointed with the end results. I'd also endorse the choice of the EP500.

Something has been overlooked in this thread so far. May I PERSONALLY congratulate you on choosing a wife who suggests using TWO subwoofers. I know we have only just met, but you are my hero and I am absolutely in love with your wife!!!!!

Ray, you look so...hip!

I actually thought he looked a little like Dick Cheney.

Oh, that explains why his arms are raised...he's turning himself in.

WOW - that was back before the body went bad on me.

Quick service at Axiom thus far. I order the Epic 60 - 500 system and it is already in transit.

Errol

Congrats on the new system and hope you enjoy !

Get the windex for the hand and nose prints on the windows.

Welcome and congrats on the order. You are in for a new HT experience.

Do you have plans for acoustically treating your room? Ideally, try to perform an acoustic room analysis. Now that you have chosen one sub versus two, the setup will be a little more demanding. While you may have smoother output, you will still have room modes that need taming (having two sub would have allowed you to cancel some of the peaks).

I have not done that as of yet. Right now, the room is just framed up but I plan to do some research in the meantime.

Right now, I have all of my equipment with no where to install it - very anxious times.

- Errol

So, an update on the progress. All electrical including speaker cabling has been done with plumbing and HVAC scheduled next week. We are shooting for the second week in August.

I'll post some progress pics when I can.

Errol

Sounds like you are certainly getting things done Errol. If your wife *still* likes the idea of a two sub setup ... a couple of 500s ought to fill the modes, nulls and gaps without any problems!

Good choice with the 500, seems to me that's a lot of area for a 350, regardless of how many you used.

Pictures!

All,

It has been a long time coming but "The Attic" is about 98% complete. I had to fire my original contractor and get another to pick up the pieces and unfortuntely redo some of the work. Despite all of this, I am quite pleased with the end results.

Thanks all for the advice in the beginning. I am pleased to say that I am enjoying a movie and a homebrew while compiling this post.

And here are the pictures:

Wow! That looks great! You guys are killin me with all these home theater pics of late.

Is the vp150 on the ground?

It was when the pictures were taken. It is now on a platform which puts it about half way between the stage and the bottom of the screen.

how are your speakers working on the hard wood like that?

That is a beautiful setup -- well built and VERY nicely designed.

You have a bar and beer on tap!!! Sonofabitch I’m jealous!!

Way cool looking set up. Is the screen area considered a shadow box?

Awesome setup. That's the sort of room I'd love to build when I finally move out after University .

Very nice job! I love your equipment rack and the wood trim.

I would suggest you get a stand for your center channel, so it is off of the wood floor. This will reduce echos from the floor and help with its clarity. It will also help the dialog sound like it is coming from closer to the screen.

It looks like you have some room in front of your speakers in the cove they are in. The further you move them out the better they may sound, but maybe you have already experimented and found the optimum location?

How is the single EP500 working out? Are you happy with it?

Glad you are enjoying it!

Thanks All.

There is beer on tap! I homebrew, so right now I have one homebrewed stout and a wheat from a local brewery. Also, I wanted that "guiness effect" so I have a nitrogen/CO2 (beergas) setup that my stout is being dispensed out of.

I do now have a "box" that my center channel sits on. This lifts the speaker to a height of about midway between the stage floor and the screen. The stage floor is about 1 foot above the room floor - which is carpet.

The 350 does work quite well. As it is an open space, it is allot of air to move but it is doing a great job.

Thanks for the comments!

Errol your HT project turned out extremely nice, I really like the overall shape of the room and how it all flows together. Are you have any heat issues with your equipment being enclosed in the built in rack?

Gorgeous setup!

I haven't had any heat issues as of yet. I do have a filtered AC vent in the back of the closet, so that has helped. The vent has also been equipped with an easy-to-access damper so I can shut it off in the winter when the heat may be on. Despite all of this, I am going to investigate some fan solutions to better circulate/vent air within the closet.

It may be as simple as a vent on the backside blowing air from the closet into the unfinished attic space.