Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Axiom Home Theater System and Matching Receiver

Hello to all ! I'm somewhat new to the subject of setting up a home theater environment. I have done a fair amount of reading and am currently looking to purchase a speaker system and receiver for a 5.1 setup. I am very impressed by the reviews regarding Axiom speakers but I do have the following questions after reading some of the other postings :

1. The suggested system for my home (14' x 30' room with a 30' high cathedral ceiling), via the Axiom Wizard, is the Epic 50 Home Theater System (M50's & QS4's). However, many of the recent postings have indicated that many other customers are ordering the larger M60's and the QS8's. I'm trying to determine whether or not there is such a performance difference between the two configurations whereby I, too, should considered the later selection. Any thoughts ??

2. There are so many A/V receivers to choose from that I am having difficulty trying to narrow down my selection. I was initially looking at an Onkyo or Marantz receiver but then heard comments that brands such as Rotel and others are much better. Bottom line, if I select an Axiom Home Theater System (speakers), are there any basic, fundamental guidelines I should follow to ensure they I purchase a properly matching receiver ?

3. Final Question ... The Axiom FAQ's state that the surround spkrs should be located anywhere from 1' to several feet higher than the lister's ear level (about 39" for me if sitting on my couch). Yet, the Axiom spkr stands for the QS4's or QS8's surround spkrs are only 36" high. I would prefer to use stands (vs wall mount) but I'm not sure if these stands are tall enough based on the guidelines I just stated. Any thoughts ?

Thank you for your time and assistance in helping this somewhat confused novice .....

Hello tangupa.
In response to some of your queries:

1) The M50s and M60s have a slightly different sound but neither should be considered "better" than the other. If you want some idea as to how the two speakers sound, try searching the forum for M50 and see what comes up. Here is one review to get you started.
Keep in mind that these are opinions of other ppl and they may have concluded or selected one model over another. Try to read between the lines on the character of sound that each speaker has and then decide which character sound you prefer.
In general, the M50s are considered to be a little more laid back. The M60s are brighter (a clearer treble or upper sound frequency). Some ppl enjoy the slightly greater clarity of the M60 while others find it too hard on the ears. Both are good speakers.

2) There are many good receiver brands. Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, NAD, Outlaw, Harmon Kardon, just to name some of the more popular ones. Search by features required and by your price limit. If you have questions about power (wattage) and other specifications, again search the forums first. Many of your questions regarding those subjects have most likely been answered already. If you have a specific question about a unit or function, post it and chances are someone here with the same unit will be able to help you out.

3) The speaker stand issue is an odd one. I think the only answer may be to find another speaker stand from another company that can accomodate your needs. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.

i have the axiom stands for my 8's, which because of you know who, are located in the rear corners of the room. both of us are amazed when watching a film or listening in dlpxII (?) the great sounds from the 8's on stands. we keep looking to see if the cat is scratching to come inside. compromises.
dan

My room is 16' X 24' with a 16' ceiling. I initially was looking a the M50s also. BUT, after reading the posts and talking to the Axiom people, they convinced me to upgrade to the M60, VP150, QS8s. Mine are being delivered today!!!

I didn't want to wonder what if? My old speakers are over 20 years old, so I am not one suseptible to "upgrade-itis". That being said, I also believe I would have been happy with the M50s because I wouldn't have known the difference and I KNOW they are 100 times better than what I have.

Good Luck in your decision.

John

tangupa,
the good thing about the QS8 is that their design makes them very forgiving as far as placement is concerned. Many owners have their QS8's mounted all over the place - side wall, back wall, ceiling, you name it. Some of these positions may not be ideal, but I haven't heard anyone complain about the sound from them.

As far as different stands are concerned, I did a little searching myself and was unable to find another speaker stand that would match the unusual design of the QS8. From everything I've heard, I'm confident that if you are dead-set on placing them on stands, you won't have a problem. One board member, Romy, actually placed the stand on top of a small box to elevate it to a slightly more ideal height. That's always an option too. If it is a make-or-break thing for you, you may want to contact Amie at Axiom. A little while ago they talked about re-designing some of their speaker stands. They may be planning on re-tooling the QS8 stand soon.

Of course, I can say all of this knowing I don't actually own the QS8....

tangupa, I can't speak to the M50 or QS4 decisions, but I got the M60/VP100/QS8 set last Friday. I'm surprised the site wizard spit out M50/Q4 for your room size. I have 16x22x10 room and the wizard went right to the configuration I finally ordered.

There is a review provided in one of the other replies to this thread about the M60s and it is pretty much dead nuts on. The addition of the midrange is an excellent enhancement beyond the M50s. The QS8s are special.

A few things. First, here is a link to the initial impressions I had after hooking up and playing the set a bit.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=HT&Number=32190&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=365&fpart=

Please note what I tried to explain relative to the term "bright". It is in the ears of the beholders. I think they are crisp and detailed; bright is not a word I would use.

Second, as part of your research, call the folks at Axiom. They are very knowledgable and extremely helpful/friendly.

Finally, take a look at the thread that provides information for auditioning Axioms in your area. If you can pull that off, it will give you a better feel for a decision.