Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New set up in Australia

Hi, I'm completely new to all this and I don't have a lot of knowledge about this stuff, but I have been wanting to set up a HT for a few years now. I have just been renovating the house and have made a room 22 x 16 feet as a dedicated HT room.

I have no equipment yet, but I've been researching on the net and I thought I might run this stuff by you guys to get your advice on some of the equipment I'm looking at.

I am looking at getting one of the new Epson projectors, the
EH-TW4500, due out in Australia next month.

The guy at a local Hi-Fi store has been talking me into buying a Marantz AV SR7002 and Marantz BD7004 Blu-Ray player, that I can get for a pretty good price.

The Hi-Fi guy wants to sell me Paradigm, Monitor series speakers,
but from what I have read, I am leaning towards Axioms Epic 60-500 HT 5.1 speaker system. (The Paradigms are around the same price)

How does that sound? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, has anyone from Australia brought in Axiom speakers etc and how would I go for warranty?

Thanks

Welcome David. There is one forum member from Australia who is on the audition list:

jmone in Sydney and looks like he has the Epic 60-500.

There are a couple of other members in Australia, Shane White in Perth comes to mind but I’m not sure what he owns. Also you could do a search for “Australia” and see if any other member have mentioned being there. Also you could email Axiom and see if they have any local connections they could hook you up with so you could have a listen. You could also ask them about how warranty issues are handled for Australia.

I think the Epic 60-500 5.1 is an excellent choice for that size room for both movies and music. I’ve used both M22s + EP500 and M80s + EP500 in my 13 x 21 foot room and both combinations sounded great so I think the M60 + EP500 would also work great for you. Also, even though I have 4 QS8s I only use 2 of them for 5.1 because they work so well I don’t feel there’s any need or benefit for me to use 7.1 for now. Of course others opinions may vary.

I think Epson makes great projectors with excellent black levels and would be a good choice for any use. I’m not acquainted with any Marantz equipment so I can’t comment on those.

Besides what you’ve listed have you been looking at any other equipment? I can’t see much sense in making other recommendations not knowing how much different brands cost down under.

Cheers,
Dean

Another 'K' eh?

JohnK...
FredK...
& DavidK....



... it looks like this 'K' thing is spreading!!! I fear if we don't kill off all of these 'K's now, while we have the chance, one day soon we will ALL be a 'K'!!!

Hi Dean,

Thanks for your reply and advice, especially regarding the QS8s. I sent an email to Axiom regarding their warranty over here.

With reference to other equipment I have looked at and prices in Australia. Our dollar is currently around 93 US cents, so it's around the same as yours.

The Epson projector EH-TW4500 is $4799. The Local dealer has tried to talk me into me a Mitsubishi or a Sharp projector, both at around $5500 to $6000. But I think the write ups on the Epsons is better.

Th Marantz AV SR7002 is $2999, but I can get it for $2000 and the Marantz BD7004 Blu-Ray is $1399. I have looked at some Pioneer units online that are of similar price to these, but haven't spoken to anyone who has recommended them.

The guy at the Hi Fi shop gave me a brochure on Denon equipment and said that should be an option as well.

Take care
David

I can tell you that I bought an Epic 60-500 earlier this year - sight unheard so to speak. I did audition Pardigm - I think they were Studio 60s and ultimately found that the sound was very similar. There was no one with in 6 hours drive time from me that had or was willing to audition for me.

I am thrilled with my setup and expect that you would be too. All my concerns just "drifted away" once I got mine set up.

Not sure what your concern is about warranty, it should be no different than anywhere else in the world. Axiom speakers carry a 5 yr warranty, if you have issues you contact Axiom.

Hello David,

And welcome to the Axiom forums. If one of my Axiom colleagues hasn't already replied to you regarding the warranty, the speakers and subwoofers are designed so that drivers and amplifiers are easily replaceable by the owner. We send you replacment parts by FedEx Air so there is no need to return large speaker enclosures.

When you check out the Axiom web site, be sure and enter "Australia" in the drop-down menu at the upper right-hand corner of the Home page, and the prices will read out in Australian dollars, including FedEx air shipping. The additional charges on delivery are duty and VAT, which are quoted at the top of the product page.

Regards,
Alan

I've always like Marantz stuff, but you should be able to spend an awful lot less on a BD player and get as good/better output quality. I'm not sure if the new Oppo is available for markets other than North America, but reviewers are calling it their new reference, irregardless of price. In not Oppop, I'd be looking at a Panasonic or Samsumg.

Any of those three can be had for less than the Marantz...

DavidK,
I would not recommend the 7002 for one reason. You cannot perform any upgrades on your own. For example, there have have been two or three upgrades since the original 7002. I'm not sure if the dealer you're buying the gear is authorized to perform the upgrade or not.

I have the 8001, then bought 8002 and ended up trading it in for Denon 3808 (so I have 8001 and 3808). I would recommend the 3808 over 7002.

7002 only has Audyssey MultEQ and you cannot apply Audyssey corrections when using high def codecs (master audio, TruHD etc). 3808 has MultEQ XT and you can apply Audyssey corrections to all input.

I have the Epic80/500 and couldn't be happier. I'm sure you'll be very happy with the 60/500 setup.

But do give more thought to your AVR choice.

Do yourself a favor and follow Mark's advice and get an Oppo BDP-83. Review

I didn’t know if it was easily available in Australia but apparently it is: Merlin Audio

Looks like they sell for $1,075 delivered and modified for zone free.

I took delivery of mine a week ago and without a doubt it’s the best player I’ve ever owned. It was only about $550 USD delivered but I would gladly have paid twice that. IMO the only reason not to get a BDP-83 is if you also want to play games in which case get a Sony PS3 (but not sure what that would cost you)


Cheers,
Dean

David, to get a real close idea as to how Axioms sound go back to your dealer and listen to the Paradigm studio series 60 and 100s, the M60 sounds very similar to the Studio 60 and the M80s are very similar the Studio 100s, almost indistinguishable to my ear.

Oh, I forgot to add. The Marantz BD player might cost too much. I would get the Oppo BDP83 or PS3. You can't lose with either (with the exception that PS3 will require an adapter if you want to use an RF remote). BDP has more functionality (SACD etc) if you care about that. PS3 is more versatile since it can stream music, play games, and is one of the fastest loading BD players around. I have Samsung 1400, PS3, and BDP83. Since I have an older PS3, it can get pretty loud so it's limited to game play for the time being. On occasion, I've used it for BD and it works great.

David. I do not know which Monitor your dealer is recommending, but I started out listening to the Monitor 7 and studio 60. A few days later I auditioned the M22, M60 and M80 at Axiom.

The Monitor 7 was just not in the same class of speaker as the rest.

I have been whining here about $300 BD players. I could not imagine paying $1000+ for a piece of equipment that sends 0s and 1s to my avr for processing. At least the Oppo gives you the ability to play SACD and DVD-A.

The Monitor 9's and 11's have greater range, esp lower down, than the 7's which sounded a bit thin to me.

Hi Argon, Yes, I think I'm about convinced to buy the Axioms now - just from what everyone has said on here. I checked the prices out on the Paradigm 60s and 100s today and they are literally $thousands more, for what now seems to be no better quality. Thanks for your advice.

Mark and Dean, Thanks for the info re: the Oppo BDP-83. I checked them out today. Dean youre right, there is only the one place in Australia that has them at present and they want $1075.00. I guess that's what happens if you have no competition.

Anyway they do look really good and they are less than the Marantz and better as well. So, I think I will probably go for one of them. Trying to find someone in the States who sells them online and will send one out here!

Be careful with Oppo outside of N.A. They only support one zone and have clearly stated they have no intentions to support others.

Hansang, I checked out the Denon 3808 and I hear what you are saying. The RRP for a 3808 here is $3299.00. I hear it's a lot less over there. I read a few forum posts on them and they seem to be very good, just overpriced in Australia. I'm still looking, because a couple of posters said they got them cheaper than that. I just need to know where to draw the line with all this stuff - costwise, that is.

Although, I am so impressed with the Axioms, I'm now thinking of going for the Epic 80/500s

Jakewash, Fredk and Adrian, Thanks for your replies. I accept your comparisons to equivalent sounding Pardigms, of the M60, to Paradigm Studio 60s and the M80s to Studio 100s, so I phoned the dealer today to price the Paradigms.

Studio 60s $4500/ pair. Studio 100s $6500/ pair.

I think I'm definitely going for the M80/500s now.

I echo everyone's comments that the Studio 60's were very comparable to the M60s. As I recall, the Studios were wood veneer - so the finish was better than the standard 60s. If you want the better finish, you can go with the Vassallo's and still come out better than the Studios.

I'll toss in that Studio 100s were indistinguishable from my M60s by my ear, though I claim no expertise in critical listening.

During the comparison, my buddy who bought the Studios thought he could 'maybe' spot a difference but since it wasn't definitive, even he agreed that it was not significant enough to warrant his bigger price paid. He did however enjoy the look of the 100's visual design better for his particular home and thus we are both extremely happy with our purchases.

Oppo USA is only making Region 1/Zone A players, but the BDP-831 is getting ready to ship to the UK, local to their settings.

Also there's a simple, $100, hardware mod, which can easily be done by the end user (remove cover, unplug Blu-ray drive, plug mod into the drive, plug cable into the mod, return cover) that'll convert the US player into region/zone-free.

Hi again,

David, if you are considering the 4-ohm M80s/EP500, I'd suggest you move away from the Marantz and consider Denon and other brands which, historically, have had no trouble driving 4-ohm loads.

While according to one source of mine, Marantz and Denon (and Sherwood Newcastle) all come out of the same factory, they do not have the same engineers designing them.

The brands of AV receivers that Axiom as found have no difficulty driving the 4-ohm M80s are Denon, Sherwood Newcastle, NAD, Rotel, Outlaw Audio, and B&K. I think there is a series from Yamaha RZ? that are also OK with 4-ohm loads. Others here may recall which Yamahas are OK with the M80s.

Regards,

Merlin the company selling them in Australia sells them both modded and unmodded the $1075 price is for the modded version.

Thanks to both for the info.

I agree with your friend Murph, one reason I looked hard at Paradigm was because I thought they were beautiful speakers. As awesome as the Axioms sound, they will never win a beauty contest (unless we're talking about the Vassalo's). This isn't to say they are ugly by any means, just... well let's just say they are purpose built, not dressed to kill!

I feel the piano black finish, coupled with the simple yet eligant lines of the M80's help them disappear into the living room. While if I wanted my speakers to really stand out and scream, "look at me, look at me"!!! Then I would go with something like the Paradigm's. But the longer I live with the M80's, the more I appreciate their modest appearance.

Now that I think about it, I don't think I really want a speaker that screams, "LOOK AT ME" after all!

I will add that the Integra DTR 9.9 AV receiver has a 4 ohm setting. I own one along with an Oppo BDP-83 and an Axiom M80 EP500 speaker system. The Integra is 2600 US but the system sounds awesome with absolutely no power issues and lots of headroom.

Usually, a setting like that just limits the output power...

Rvr, you didn't say if you're actually using the 4 ohm setting, but despite the language in the manuals, such settings should never be used. They're simply a fire safety related feature required for UL(Underwriters Laboratory)approval. They operate by reducing the voltage which the power supply section of the unit can output, and following Ohm's Law, when the voltage is reduced so is the current and power. So, although it might help prevent overheating, tests have shown that the maximum power capacity is cut roughly in half.

Thanks guys for all your input and information. I think I'm a fair bit wiser now. Just have to weigh up the pros and cons, the budget and then run all this by the "minister of the treasury department" (the wife)to get approval.
I'll keep you posted.
Take Care and have a great day.
David

Hey David,

I have been off the forum for a while but just read your post and thought I would let you know I am in Brisbane and have a Denon 3808 (I paid $2,900)and M80's you are welcome to have a listen of if you live near by. Not sure where in Aus you are...

I am also looking at getting the Oppo 83 in the near future. I will pay the $1075 from Merlin because I have read a couple of things about it: 1. The hardware mod you can buy will void the warranty and 2. whist there appears to be a crack code - you need to wait for a new code each time the firmware updates. I am no expert but for me - I prefer to pay more and have no hassles.

For what it is worth - I auditioned various models of DALI and B&W speakers(with Denon and NAD amps) - and neither compare to the M80's until you are getting into the models that cost approx $3-4K extra (I did get my M80's from the outlet though).

Anyway let me know if you are near/in Bris-Vegas.

James

I think he already ordered.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=17569&Number=278660#Post278660

Try telling that to the B&W fanboys on some of the other sites. Talk about getting your knickers in a knot!

Some people have to justify their purchase esp when they could have bought something as good or better for 1/3 to 1/2 the price.