Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Biggest Bang for My Buck

I have been hit by the upgrade bug and I don’t think I will be able to get any work done until I upgrade.

My current system is as follows:

Sony STR-DE845 - 5.1 receiver with 100 watts per channel (I seriously doubt that is what it puts out).

Fronts - M3ti’s
Center – VP100
Rears – crappy 3 way Yamahas
Sub – Acoustic Research ARS108PSB (nothing special)

My use is 80% HT / 20% music (mostly MP3’s) and the room I am working with is 17x12, with 8 foot ceilings.

I looking for a upgrade route that will give me the best overall sound experience, especially since I will not be able to upgrade again for at least 3 years ( I am a student). The budget is approximately $1000.00.

One upgrade route I have considered is to get a new receiver (I have been told that the weak link in my system is my receiver), either the Yamaha RX-V1400 or the Denon 2803. If I go this way, I would possibly get the QS8’s, or a new sub, or M22ti’s for my fronts (moving the M3ti’s to the rear. Right now, I am leaning towards getting the QS8’s. I am still undecided as to which receiver I should get. Any advice will be very helpful.

Another other option is to purchase a pair of M60’s for my fronts and move the M3ti’s to the rears. My concern with this upgrade route is that my receiver will do very little justice to the speakers.

My goal is to have a well balanced HT system that will satisfy me for the next 3 years. Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. I need to get this upgrade over with so I can be productive again.

Thanks!

Tony, we've got to get you reading those cases again, or you'll be outa there. Don't worry about the receiver power, it's fine. The features, of course, are getting a bit dated, but that can wait. Try an Axiom trade-in on the M3s, get M60s and QS4s or QS8s, and then back to the lawbooks.

You've got $1000 and you're 80% HT? This is an easy one.

QS4's and a Hsu STF-2. That's only $679. Buy some DVD's.

OR if you want to buy a beast of a sub, that'll you'll likely never need to upgrade regardless of where you move, you could get the newly released Hsu VTF-3 MK2. At $699 it's by far the best bang for your buck subwoofer available. But that would push your budget to it's max.

Seriously though, if you're setup is for 80% HT, a killer sub, and some new surrounds is what you should be buying.

BTW...get your Axioms from their factory outlet. Why pay full price?

I think John is right in the respect that new speakers (especially mains) are going to make the biggest difference to you.

I also think the receivers you mentioned would be WAY overkill until you address the speakers. I've got a Denon 1804 and I'm completely satisfied. No YPAO, but full features and ample power.

If you could get a little trade for the M3's (or sell them outright), you could probably get a EP125, QS4s and M22s. Frankly, since you're still studying and will undoubtedly move a couple times in the next 5 years, I'd wait on the M60s.

Tony,

I've got a M60/VP100/QS8 with an SVS 20-39PCi sub. The whole thing is being driven (quite effectively and with room to spare) by a Denon 1803. Tom is using the follow-on model 1804.

The Denon 2803 would be a fine choice and more than adequate, but the main difference is that it has 10W per channel more than the 1804. The extra $300-$400 is probably not justified and could be spent on a HSU or SVS sub.

As Tom suggests, the M22s would be a nice choice as long as you have a good sub. I have the M60s in a 16x22x10 room and they are almost too much speaker (of course bigger is almost ALWAYS better). For that size room, I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Joe at Axiom deciding between the M22s and the M60s.

I'd suggest calling the good folks at Axiom and talk through room size with them. Also, you might want to use the Speaker Choosing Wizard (sic) on the Axiom home page for some additional input.

Also, ecost is an authorized Denon etailer and they sell refurbished and B-stock Denon equipment. This could save you some receiver $$$. Check back often there because the equipment shows up in spurts.

My .02: Get the QS8s and then decide how much you love bass. If the answer is "a ton," max out past $1000 and get the VTF-3 as spiff suggests, b/c you will probably not feel the need to upgrade this again. If the answer is "a little" look at a less expensive SVS or Hsu or used sub.

Meanwhile, keep the M3tis (IMHO) b/c you're going to move before too long it sounds, and smaller speakers will be nice for this, OR at most, see if Axiom will give you a nice deal trading in M3s for M22s.

The cool thing is if you keep the M3s, you can get M60s once you're ready for floorstanders and still have an auxiliary set for an extra room -- and a new receiver if you upgrade then.

Birdman

Thanks guys, these are all great suggestions. It's going to be a tough decision. I have one question about the HSU STF-2 sub. I noticed that it is a down firing sub, how do those do on a carpeted floor?

One more question! Since the HSU VTF-2 (free shipping) is the nearly the same price as the STF-2 ($25 S&H), what would you guys recommend? The stats on the HSU webpage indicate that the STF-2 is 200 watts, and the VTF-2 is only 150W, but the VTF-2 has that variavle tuning port. Any recommendations?

I have the VTF-2, and never switch it from max extension. (As most everyone else does). If it were me, I'd get the STF-2. (They weren't available when I bought mine.)

To play devil's advocate though, the VTF-2 is an established unit from Hsu, and all kinks have been worked out. The STF-2 has had a few production problems. (Though Hsu claims they're all fixed now.)

As to your downfiring question. Carpeting is not a problem.

I Have the STF-2. If I understand this correctly, the STF-2 is just like the VTF-2 tuned for maximum extension (down to 25Hz). The advantage to the VTF-2 (if you consider it one) is that, by using the tuning plug, you can tune it to play louder but then it doesn't go quite as low. I don't listen at loud volume very much, so I got the STF-2 and saved a few buck. Believe me, with the extra 50 watts of power, it plays PLENTY loud enough.

The STF-2 (and I assume the VTF-2, also) is made for carpeted floors. It has pointed plastic spikes to anchor it to the carpet, and if you have hard floors, HSU recommends you put a rug under the sub.