Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Home Theater Questions (Axiom Epic 80/350)

In my room, at movie listening levels, I get good output (80 dB) as low as 13 Hz. At music listening levels, I get the same output at 17 Hz. And that's with the 600 gain at 7 o'clock (ie. lots of room to spare) and the LFE gain on my Denon at -6 (it goes up to +12). I'm suspecting but can't be sure that my low end is limited more by my bottom-of-the-line Denon than my sub.

I'm not sure if the 500 would go this low. Also, the 600 cuts off higher than the 500 I think. This isn't important in this case but for those with book-shelf speakers, this may make a big difference.

Mojo,

I don't think your receiver is limiting the lower end. I'm sure the DSP in the 600 cuts off below 17 Hz, and at 19 Hz for the 500. They have essentialy the same top end at 100 Hz, at least very close- take a look at both of the response graphs.

As Theo said, the 600 plays 2 dB louder and 2 Hz lower. Relatively very similar to each other in my opinion. I have been more than happy with the performance from the EP500 in my room. So I would tell you that you shouldn't feel like you had to make a big sacrifice if you go with the 500. But by all means, if you want the 600 and have space for it, then do it. It's your theater, so enjoy!

Dave, I just have to say how much I like your theater. I look at your gallery from time to time and drool. I won't be making anything nearly as nice in my basement, but hopefully I'll be able to replicate a piece or two.

Hi Dave,

I also thought that the DSP in the 600 cuts off below 17Hz but it doesn't appear that this is the case.

When I use the RealTraps test tones, I have output right down to 10Hz. If I turn it up, I can rumble my entire house. Now the quality of the output is a different story. I know that I can't hear 10Hz, yet I am hearing it so that must mean there is a lot of distortion. So is the distortion the 600, the amp, the test CD or some combination thereof?

I know that practically this doesn't really matter. Some would say that you don't really have a sub unless it has loads of output at 4Hz. I'm not that fanatical. There is one thing that does bother me however. I have noticed that at 10Hz to 20Hz, the bass and mid drivers of the M80s respond and in a big way (by viusal inspection). I really don't understand this since the LFE cut-off on my amp is set to 80Hz. I'm not sure if the M80s are being driven "sympathetically" due to the ambient SPL. Another thing is that I am hearing shrillness from my tweeters at these very low frequencies. Is anyone else witnessing anything like this?

Do you still have your sub gain at 12 o'clock with your reciver at like -10dB? I'll try to test this asap, but I get no activity from my mains until much later, and my ep500 didn't kick in until around 17-18hz. This was following my system being calibrated to 75dB, all speakers to small, 80hz crossover on the AVR and sub on bypass. Also, I followed the realtraps cd pink noise test to make sure I was at the 78dB, per instruction.

My sub gain is now at 7 o'clock with the receiver at -6dB.

At these levels, my EP600 starts to make itself known at 16Hz. If I turn the LFE volume up on my Denon, I can definitely hear it at 10Hz (the first RealTraps tone). Thanks for any testing that you can do.

Interesting news Mojo. I've never really heard any output with the Realtrap tones below 19 Hz on my EP500. So I figured it was pretty close to the Axiom specs.

CV, Thanks so much for you nice words. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know. We just did the best we could, and that's all one can do. I'm sure you have done/will do a fantastic job. Just make sure to relax and enjoy it after all the work is done.

You haven't heard below 19 Hz because of the 500's filter or because you haven't turned the gain up enough? What happens if you turn it up? Do you hear anything?

Yes, you do have a very nice room. My family oogles at it from time to time .

Interesting as a curiosity, but so little content goes below 20hz besides test tones.

I agree but why are my M80s responding the way they are?