Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Epic 80 system soon to be on the way

I am putting together an HT system for my cousin and the speakers will be the Axiom Epic 80 (5.1 config) with EP500 sub.

The receiver will be an Onkyo TX-NR807 and the television we picked up this weekend is the Samsung LN46B610.

He's also got some small Polk R15 bookshelves that we will use for the front height and surround backs..

Should be an incredible system when it's all installed.. I can't wait to hear the M80s for myself.. I own a pair of QS8s and I've been extremely satisfied.

In the same order as his system, I'll get myself an EP500 !! I have a good 10" Energy sub right now, but I will use both subs to balance things out in my room and get better overall bass response.

Since I'm a Axiom owner already, does the "my friend purchased Axiom after listening to mine " program still in place ?

Cheers

Excellent Mr. Riker. No doubt you'll be impressed by the M80. Can't wait to hear your impression of height speakers.

Merci Eric,

I'm looking forward to hearing them for the first time. Of course, they will not be mine (this is my cousin's system) but after being part of the axiom forums for a few years I've heard nothing but great things about them, that's why I'm recommending to him the Axiom system sight unseen. (I do have some QS8s which are great)

I'll take pictures as I install the system and post them here. And I will also let you guys know what I think of the height speakers, both in DBPLiiZ and in Onkyo Audissey

Cheers,

Riker,

If at the time of order it is mentioned that you referred him, I'm pretty sure you will get the benefit. If he forgot, you or he can always contact him and say that you referred him.

Stephane, it appears that your cousin will indeed have an excellent system. As Randy mentioned, it should be made known to Axiom so that you get credit for your referral.

Your cousin is going to be one happy guy!

I'm interested in the 'front height' channels... how do those work? What I mean is where do you connect those speakers? My Denon has room for 9 speakers to be hooked up in back, which outs would I use for the 'front height' channels? Because as they are labeled they are 'front left', 'front right', 'center', 'side left', 'side right', 'surround back left A', 'surround back right A', surround back left B' and 'surround back right B'. So which do they use for the 'front height left' and 'front height right' channels?

I'm interested in this because my room doesn't really afford a 9.1 channel system like I had in my old HT because there isn't enough room behind my seating position for 4 surround back speakers as well as the side speakers. So I was thinking of putting some QS8's up front instead, and if I do so I would like to use them as 'front height' channels. But can you only use them as those if using Pro Logic IIz? Because to be honest, even though I've never heard that format, I was never a big fan of the original 'Pro Logic', and vastly prefered DTS 5/6.1 over it. And with BluRay's I'd want to listen in 'Dolby TrueHD' or 'DTS MasterAudio' instead of having to use Pro Logic IIz.

So if that is the only format that uses 'front height' channels, then I suppose I won't be using them that way.

Your receiver isn't configured for height channels. That's a feature of IIz, which isn't present in your 4802.

If you're basing your expectation of Prologic IIx and IIz on what you heard from the original 4 channel Prologic; you're going to be in for a pleasant surprise.

I agree that the old Dolby Surround sound (a mono surround extraction), and Prologic (added a center) left much to be desired. But these days my receiver is always in Prologic IIx mode. I only switch between "Movie" and "Music" depending on the media.

The problem is DVDs are only 5.1 and even most Blu-rays don't offer 7.1 (there's no format with a discrete 9.1). With my 7.1 setup, when playing a 5.1 movie nothing gets sent to the rear surround speakers when in native Dolby Digital or DTS. Because my surround are completely to the side, pans give the illusion of moving over head instead of behind me. But enabling Prologic IIx has the the processor analyze the surround channel and steer the audio around to the rear surround channels also, for a very natural sounding effect.

For stereo tracks Prologic IIx does ambient extraction, finding the natural cues in the mix to expand the sound field. For older matrix surround (Dolby Surround/Prologic) movies it does a better job than the encoder for which they were intended. In music mode the effect on acoustic music is wonderful, and electronic music becomes even more unreal.

I'm a fan of DTS's encoding technology, but their Neo:6 does nothing for me. Which is another reason I prefer sending LPCM to my receiver it doesn't stick me with Neo mode just because it detects a DTS track. Dolby Labs has really got the science of processing sound down.

As soon as there's a pre/pro which has the feature set I want and 9.1 Prologic IIz, I'll be right in line to scoop up two more QS8s to put on my front wall.

No I realize this. I'm planning on getting a 3808 soon. If nothing better comes along at a better price that is.