Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New Home Theater Help

Hi, I'm looking to buy a home theater soon and I'm really new to this. I'm looking for around 2,000$ for a full set up ( 5.1 speaker with receiver ) and may go up to 3,000$ if it is really worth it.


It's for my parent mostly, and, my parents and I prolly won't see much difference between a budget set or something in the 5 digit.

I was actually looking at the Epic Master 350. We will go in a room over the house garage that is around 15x14 in size. We are moving soon so I don't have all the information but we want to have it install as soon as possible because we are gonna do all at once since we are moving. I think the room is already set up for Home Theater but I dunno so I don't want like a killer sub as there are other in the house if we use it :P

So I was wondering if it was like worth it to pay a bit more for like the Epic Grand Master. Is the difference between the Master and the Grand Master really that noticeable? And I don't know what receiver to get. And also does the Grand Master need a better receiver than the Epic Master, as it would mean more cost actually.

I was wondering if like the Denon Avr-1610 was enough to drive the Epic Master or I might need to go with like the Avr-1910 as I can't find the power handling for the set. So does 5x75 watt enough for it? Or do I need 5x90 watt or even more?

And before finding this compagny for the speaker, I was looking at paradigm monitor series and it sounded good ( I'm use to TV Sound that sound ok so it is a big upgrade, and I worked in store so I have a not so bad price on it and I was recommended that, still the whole set for a lil bit less than 2,000$ with a denon avr-1610 ).

So umm, that's it, and since I don't have much time to check this since I move, any help will be apprieciated to make choice. Thank you.


PS: I will but the rear/surround speaker like 2 feet behind the couch like some people suggest on the forum. But if you can give me the whole advice or how to set it up ( It's my 1st time and I'm more of a computer guy ) It would be nice. I will hook up a PS3, a HD receiver on the receiver. Now I think it's enough information for now :P ( Sorry for the wall of text )

Hi Kilorth,

Please, email me (jc@axiomaudio.com) a sketch of the room with dimensions and seating arrangement. I will send you a personalized recommendation with a suggestion where to locate your Axiom speakers.

Thank you Jc.

I just sent you an email with a sketch ( done with mspaint ewww ) of the room. Will be waiting for your suggestion.

Also, I was wondering if you were able to recommend the speaker for the setup that will fit my budget.

Thank you again.

Got it !

Hi Kilorth! Welcome to the forum! Like you I am much more of a computer guy! People here have been really helpful. I just bought my HT set and still waiting for it to be shipped, what might happen tomorrow as I have been told. My new set if 3 M22's for the fronts and center and 2 QS8's for the surrounds with an EP350 as a sub. I just got my new receiver, a Denon 3310 and I am VERY VERY happy with it! I still didn't receive my speakers so in order to test it I just hooked up a couple of old speakers from my stereo. These speakers are 13 years old and I just couldn't believe on the sound I get from them now. Can't wait to get my new Axiom's. I won't give you any tips since I am not a pro on this matter, so I will just let the more experienced people do their job! Good luck!

Hi Ichigo, nice to meet you.

I see you went for the HT Epic Grand Master ( without the center ).

Can I know why you choose them over the Epic Master one? And also why no center?

And how much you got that Denon 3310 for? I see it listed for around 1.400$. Isn't it a little overkill when it is like 33% of the HT cost? I know it will sound much better than let's say a 1610, but is it worth 1k premium price?

As I feel you were in my shoes before you choose what to get, your opinion will be very valuable as it will help me choose, just like you did.

Thank you

PS: How much did the whole set cost you total?

Kil,

I don't think the 3310 would sound any better than a 1610. It basically just boils down to features.

As I have been advised here on the forums if you have the space 3 identical speakers on the fronts will sound better than if you use a center with other 2 different speakers, if I am not wrong. Since most people don't have space to put a bookshelf of a floorstanding speaker under the screen they go with a center channel. I paid $700 on my Denon 3310 on sale, that's one of the reasons I got it. I had a lot of doubts choosing the right AV receiver and I am pretty sure I made the right one since I got a real nice price on it. If I remember correctly the Denon 2310 is a real nice one for a smaller budget. I think that here in Japan is more expensive than in US, since it costs around $500. The Denon 3311 was my first choice but since I spent a lot on the speakers, much more than I had in mind, had to get a cheaper model. My initial budget was $1200 but the guys here talked me into getting the system as I stated before. One difference between the M3 and the M22 is that they have a better mid range sound. Although some people prefer the M3, since they lack the midrange it gives a impression that it has more bass. With the set I got there will be no problem because of the EP350 woofer, which is good for movies and music. They have different prices for each countries so that might be cheaper for you to get the same set as myself.

This was written by Jake when giving the answer of why 3 identical speakers on the front instead of using a center. The concept behind a vertically configured speaker(especially Dr. D'Appolito's vertical MTM design)is to minimize undesirable vertical dispersion and to maximize horizontal dispersion. Horizontally configured speakers generally get it backwards, but may be selected because of aesthetic considerations or vertical space limitations.

K, welcome. You should find Jean-Claude's suggestions helpful, but in the meantime, I'll suggest that you give more consideration to the Grand Master. This is primarily because it includes the superb M22s, which I've used with great satisfaction for over eight years(and the new v3s are said to be even better!).

Don't worry about power ratings; the 1610 or similar should be more than sufficient. The difference between 75 watts and 90 watts is only about 0.79dB in maximum sound level(e.g., if 75 watts would allow playing a very brief peak at 103dB, 90 watts would do 103.79dB, a trivial difference).

Yes, the surrounds in a 5.1 setup should be a bit(maybe 2')farther back than directly to the side so as to provide a little "phantom" back surround effect in the absence of actual back speakers.

Ichigo, I think that Jay's in general agreement, but that was the discussion that I gave on vertical centers.

I wanted to recommend the M22's with a vp180 as a center, but i don't think there is anyway to do this without blowing your budget to hell... Maybe you can talk to JC about the actual numbers$$... After receiving my vp-180, i would recommend this center to every, and anyone, and because your purpose is HT 70% of the audio will be coming from the center.

Yeah, I'm actually wondering a lot more about the receiver than the actual speaker. Jean-Claude gave me a suggestion that is really similiar to what I expected to set up.


He is recommending me Pioneer VSX-920-K if I can get one cheap. As I leave in Canada, and people love to screw us over, it is a lot more expensive here than in the USA ( even with currency change rate, trust me ).

@Dakkon: I can prolly go up to 3,000$ with everything included. But this is a big max.

I can get the Denon 1610 or 1910 at a decent price ( cost + 10 prolly, which is still bad, but considering the 30%+ normally that Hi-Fi get, it is good ). Now which one do I get? The 1910 will prolly be like 120$ more than the 1610, but it can do 7.1 which we might, I say might, someday get, and some other feature. But the real thing is, will it really sound better? I don't know how to measure those thing, so I don't know if the 1610 is enough to get a Epic Grand Master, but if it is, and the speaker doesn't strain it, then I might as well go for the cheaper one.

i personally have no desire to go to 7.1, with my room size 18X18 5.1 is just fine for me...


i just wish you had 3k$ for speakers........

No, it won't really sound better, and humans, not amplifiers, feel "strain".

Well you got what I meant. Sorry bout that but my first language is french, and I learn all my english by reading and listening english, so when people say put strain on this or that, than I try to use it... and well, I say thing like that :P

@Dakkon: has a hypothesis, if I had 3k to dish out on speaker only, what would you recommend?

Also I have to point out that we won't really put the sound Super Loud as we aren't that kind of person, and your like loud equals prolly to me: MY EARS ARE BLEEDING!!!! But since my parents are getting old...

And my conclusion is that Denon avr-1610 is enough right? Right?
And I might go for those M22 with the VP180, sounds neat.

Right.

Sorry to add another opinion to confuse the issue but here is another suggestion.

If you can fit a M2 bookshelf speaker below or above the screen then get 3 M2s for the left/center/right speakers. 2 QS8s for surrounds and an EP350 subwoofer. Purchased from the factory outlet this package would cost 1,563.08CAD. Plus whatever you need to pay to buy or make some stands for the M2 if you don’t already have something to put them on.

Even if you get other speakers consider the factory outlet to get the additional 10% off. I’ve purchased all but my last 4 speakers from the outlet and they arrived in perfect condition.

The reason I suggested the M2 instead of the M22 like I would have in the past is that I just got done testing the M2 against the M22 and when using a subwoofer with them I couldn’t tell them apart. Unless they plan to listen to lots of 2 channel stereo I don’t think they will notice any difference between the M2s and the M22s when using a subwoofer.

Cheers,
Dean

You guys are covering everything, well done.

And yes, I agree with JohnK on the reasons for the vertical center.

Dean, I just finished reading your review of the M22/M2/QS8's, like you I have always wondered what the M2's sounded like, thanks for that very informative post. I had plans on using an M2 as a center for the new room, at least until the VP180 came out, now I may just have to try them both.

Instead of 3 M22's, what if I had 3 M60's would it make a difference then? I was wondering about upgrading my future M22's but I guess that there is no need since my room is very small.

Sorry I didn't know, I took that quote out of some of my posts when I asked for advice on what speakers to buy! Do you know how long ago was this discussion? I wanna take a look on it!

Ichigo, I was just pointing out that it was my reply here in your M22/M3 thread that you apparently were recalling. There wasn't any further discussion, although in the past there's been much discussion on the point, by me and Dean(grunt), for example.

I've never heard the M2s or M22s but at many occasions I've read that M22s + sub is very close (aka 95%) to M80s + sub, actually I think it was posted somewhere by you Dean. Now I hear that M2s + sub is very close to M22s + sub. Does it mean that overall M2s + sub is very close to M80s + sub? Does that apply to both 2 ch stereo and multi-channel, movies and music? If that's the case, somehow I am kind of glad I don't have a sub yet, at least it makes me feel a bit better about my purchase!..... No, just kidding, I just love my M80s