Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Epic grand master 500 driven by ???

Lex, welcome. Yes, you should get a less expensive(than $3000)receiver; no, you shouldn't get "a cheaper AVR and use the pre-outs". A less expensive receiver, such as the Denon 4310 or Onkyo 3007, may very well fully satisfy your needs. Separate components continue to have a certain mystique about them, despite a lack of factual support. There's no magic that results from putting things in two or three boxes instead of one. The power needed depends on listening distance(more significant than simply room size)and sound level. Receivers such as those mentioned can drive Axioms to beyond safe listening levels in most home situations. In the unlikely event that more is actually needed, adding a separate amplifier can be considered at a later date.

The 4310 is available for around $1000 in factory refurbished form(eCost)and the 3007 for about the same(Accessories4less). These are likely to be at least as reliable as brand new units. Deals on new units are available(sometimes by calling)for maybe $200-$300 more from sources such as 6thAve, J&R, Onecall and Vanns.

i don't understand this statement john, sound is measured as a pressure, and the energy required to pressurize a volume is directly related to the volume. the orientation in a volume has nothing to do with the pressure seen in that volume, the pressure is equal though out a given volume, so orientation inside that volume should be insignificant?

Dak, pressurizing a volume isn't the object; instead it's sound level at a listener's ears at a certain point within that volume. Tests(Toole, Sound Reproduction, pp.59-60, etc.)demonstrate that in home audio rooms this sound level drops off at about 3dB per doubling of listener distance, which takes into account both direct sound and room reflections.

i guess i don't really understand, Boyle's law states that the pressure in a volume is the same though out the volume. so the sound level should be the same in a room?

maybe i'll get my spl meter out tomorrow and try it out.. Just doesn't really make since to me.

if the only variable was distance, then volume shouldn't matter at all?

Volume is relevant with respect to room reflections, but not the direct sound.

Dakkon, thank you for your time explaining a bit more on the pre-pro solution. My room will be about 3000 cubic ft - and I like to watch my movies more on the louder side with plenty of low-end to boot. I did some checking online and found a few 2-ch amps with plenty of power (Carver A753x - 250w X 2) to drive the M60's and maybe a mono amp to drive the Vp150 if I can't find a 3-ch. But I will keep searching. Thanks again for the input.

John, thanks for the input on the 2 receivers you mentioned. I will look into both of them. I am a fan of both manufacturers - but am slightly biased towards Denon.

my amps are 250W at 8ohms, at 250w per channel that will give you a bunch of extra power. the amp i sent into clipping was 135W per channel. I also have the M60'S as well.

With the room being about 3000 cubic feet (20' x 16' x 9), I'm looking at the EP600 vice the EP500. Has anyone heard the difference between the 2? I can read specs all day, but never equates to hearing it in person. On that matter, are there any other suggestions to subs? I'm all ears! Thanks.

Hi lex,

Your room can easily accommodate an EP600; it could host multiple EP600. There is a big difference between the EP500 and the EP600; far greater than the price difference might suggest.

Before I had my dedicated home theatre, one day I was listening to a short organ recording sent to me by an Axiom customer who was saying experimenting loud and bad distortion on his small EP125 subwoofer. I played it on both my EP500 and then on the EP600. On the EP500 you could ear something was not right very deep sound but not menacing. I repeated the same passage on the EP600 it sent my mother-in-law in panic mode; the dishes started shifting upstairs in the kitchen.

When I first audition the EP600; my initial comment to Ian was that it sounded like two EP500.