Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Epic 80.500 or 80.600

I am thinking of getting the 80.500 7.1 package. I have a few questions, and hopefully someone can answer them for me.

1) My current room is approx 12x20'. I live in a semi. The TV is against the adjoining wall. This is also where the sub will sit. For that size of room, are the 80's too much? I will eventually move out of this house and move the setup into a room maybe twice as big, if not bigger. So, I want to make sure they will fill a larger room too.

2) What about going with the EP600 instead? Will that be too much for a semi? I have no idea how much actually travells into the next unit with my current setup.

3) Does anyone know how a EP500 and/or a EP600 compare to a Paradigm PW2100 v2 subwoofer? I'm just wondering which of those 3 subs is better. A difficult (and personal) question I know.

4) I hope that my amps are powerful enough. I figure on having 250W per QS8, 222W for the VP150, and 265W for the M80Ti's. The amps don't specify for 6 ohms, so I'm guessing between 8ohm and 4ohm specs for a 6ohm load. Fairly balanced. 40W difference is only about 1.8dB difference (I think that's correct). Won't be able to hear that. But the speakers can thandle up to 400W. I hope that I am not under powered.

5) Still no one west of Toronto that wants to show me their M80ti's?

For the EP600....

I see that I can order a vertical or horizontal configuration. What is the difference? Can I lay the vertical model on its side without doing any damage? Blocking any ports? Etc...

I was thinking of putting the ep600 behind the sofa instead of beside the TV. By placing it in the centre of the room I should get smoother, less rumbly, bass. And maybe I won't annoy the neighbours as much.

Hehehehehe. War of the Worlds here I come.

Edit: still no response. I better go to bed before I do something stupid and order the 80.600 8.4 system or better.

In a room that size if you put the EP500 against an adjoining wall you will probably shake the neighbors couches, the EP600 might just knock the wall down
The 80's should be fine particularly if you plan on moving to a bigger space eventually.
The 80's are 4 ohms so your amps will be more than enough to power them and all the Axiom speakers, In reality you don't need an amp for any of the speakers you have chosen, most mid to upper end receivers will drive the Axioms without problems. Good Luck on your choices.

The EP600 horizontal has rubber feet on the appropriate side, and has axiom badge oriented the correct way.

weasel,

1) 12x20 is a little on the tight side for the 80's, but I would still go for it - especially if they won't be there forever. At my last house, they were in a 16x18 basement room and did just fine.

2) The whole system is overkill for a 12x20 room in a semi, but you'll kick yourself later in the bigger room if you don't. As far as your neighbours go, they will hate you. Unless there is a concrete block wall separating the units, they will feel the bass.

3) I've heard both the 500 & the 600, but not in a "critical" listening situation. Not an OMG, blow me away difference, but still there. I think the biggest concern would be how many times you plan to move before you are permanently settled? The 600 is a beast - heavy, awkward, and an overall pain in the arse to move. For that reason alone, I would consider the 500. Or better yet 2 x 500's!

4) Those amps will be plenty. I'm driving my whole system with a 90w/ch Yamaha receiver. As long as you don't pull a "let's see how loud it will go" move, while completely ignoring the distortion comming out, you'll be fine.

5) Yep, that was me who hasn't responded to your PM, yet. Sorry. With 3 kids, a new house, and a demanding wife, I'm lucky to get 5 minutes alone in the bathroom! (check the time I am posting this) There were 2 other members requesting auditions as well. Maybe we can work out schedules so that all three of you can come over at the same time. Just not 100% sure when.

Thanks for the replies. I knew someone would be up in the whee hours.

Homedad...I think most mid level receivers don't do 4ohm. At least mine does not. But I am only using it as a pre/pro. My amps go down to 2ohms. I can always dial the volumn down on the EP600. Correct?

I was thinking of building a 15" 1024W RMS (@ 4ohm) sub in a 24" cubic box once. But for $1000 in materials I decided not to. I mean I can almost buy an EP500 for that.

DanMagic7man...So other than some rubber feet and a name tag they are identical. Behind the sofa I won't see that, so it should be fine. I might just get the EP600V and play around with it.

Real80sman...YOU LIVE...thanks for letting me know...no problem...but I might just buy them before we get a chance to hook up...but please still let me know in case I did not...Ahem...we could always send the wife and kids out. I would not mind helping donate some funds for that if it means seeying the M80's sooner.

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I think most mid level receivers don't do 4ohm.

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You are correct that many mid level receivers are not rated at 4 ohms, but the 80'sare a fairly easy to drive, not all will work but many will.

1) In a review, it was stated that the grills are very flimsy. It that correct? How are they constructed? How do they attach to the speakers?

2) In that same review, they said that the VP150 had a hard time keeping up with the M80's. I don't really understand this one! Any ideas? Is it because the VP150s response is only 85-22Khz (+/- 3dB)?

3) Given that the VP150 and the QS8s don't go very low, what crossover setting do you guys use? 100Hz? Or 80Hz?

Your worrying to much, don't believe everything you read in those reviews.

The grills are fine, they snap in and stay in place. Occasionaly someone will have a defective fastener and Axiom replaces them no questions asked.

The VP150 is a great center, again many like to give it a bad name, not sure why. Centers are primarily used for center dialog in movies and voice in some audio tracks. Again, not to worry.

The Axiom centers and surrounds go plenty low for their intended use. Start with 80hz, as that is the norm and follows THX guidelines.

Several months ago, we discussed somewhere on one of these threads the power distribution/ requirements among the front, center, surround, and rear surround channels. While we had no specific conclusion as to the specific power requirements, it was generally accepted that the rear and rear surround channels did NOT require much power.

My point is that I believe that you will find that 250 watts is overkill for the rear or rear surrounds.