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M80's or different
#386753 12/08/12 08:13 PM
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I am looking to upgrade my speakers. I currently have a pair of Def tech BP6's, with an onkyo 606 receiver. 90 watts per 2 channels.

I just purchased and am awaiting arrival of an Onkyo tx-nr809 135watts. There might be bigger and better, but this fits the budget. This leaves me at the moment with abetween $1500 and 2k, to spend on speakers.

This is primarily for home theater, but to enjoy music also.

I really want the Epic 80 800, but just a little out of my reach. Should I get the M80's and of course audition, and if the work piece the rest together as I can or do I go another route?

My room is almost 23'x13'x12' with vaulted ceiling. With an additional 23'x4'x8' behind seating.

What to do?


Hope to gain a wealth of knowledge and maybe use it.
Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386755 12/08/12 08:30 PM
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Trying to post some pictures,but don't quite understand. I don't see anything about file attachment.


Hope to gain a wealth of knowledge and maybe use it.
Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386757 12/08/12 09:41 PM
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I think you've got the right idea. I have 80s and an 809. Smaller room though.


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Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386758 12/08/12 10:16 PM
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Do you have the centre and surrounds yet? If not you might consider a VP180 and QS8's to start. Also look at the auctions and outlet for even better value. In my experience the finish is still great.

Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386759 12/08/12 10:22 PM
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I have a pair of M3's and M80's (and have heard M22's and M60's). I feel M80's are overkill for movies alone (if you have a sub). So unless you really think you'll be listening to music I'd recommend M22's.

Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386761 12/08/12 10:47 PM
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I don't have a sub. That was a concern. If the m80's would be overkill with a sub then I may be ok. If I want to listen to music which does happen, I want to hear and enjoy every little nuance.


Hope to gain a wealth of knowledge and maybe use it.
Re: M80's or different
Cohesion #386762 12/08/12 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: cohesion
Do you have the centre and surrounds yet? If not you might consider a VP180 and QS8's to start. Also look at the auctions and outlet for even better value. In my experience the finish is still great.


I can't do all at once. Am I to understand that I should have the center and surrounds before fronts?

Or if the M80's are that impressive on the low end, then I could skip the sub (for now) and make my next purchase be the center and then the surrounds


Hope to gain a wealth of knowledge and maybe use it.
Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386763 12/08/12 10:54 PM
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If I were you, I would call Axiom and order the Epic 80-800(because that's what I really want) and place it in lay-away. By doing this you lock yourself in for the 10% savings up front rather than piecing the system together as you go, at several hundreds of dollars more later on.

I also have a lay-away which I'll be making the last installment on next month. I've spoken several times with Noreen at Axiom. She has stated to me that they(Axiom)would release speakers early as apart of that lay-away, as long as they have received more than sufficient funds to do so. This would allow you to get the M-80's shortly after placing your order, with other speakers to come later on as you deem them. This would allow one to have their cake and eat it to!

Also if you are not intending on ordering a custom finish, and can go with either of the standard finishes, you could save even more. Tell Noreen you would be interested in assembling B stock speakers, there by receiving an additional 10% off for greater savings.


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Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386767 12/09/12 12:39 AM
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My room is almost the same dimensions with a vaulted ceiling and sized attached dining room and kitchen as yours and I’ve tried the M80s, M22s, and M2 and feel the M80s are the clear choice for both music and movies. On big thing to consider is how far you plan to sit from the front speakers, the farther (8-10 feet or more) the more you will want M80s.
Another thing to consider is whether you will be listening to music while in the other area attached to your theater. This is because listening to 2 channel music (not much need for surround if say you’re in the kitchen) may sound better with the M80s because you won’t need to use a sub to get good bass. This is important because placing your sub for the best theater experience may likely give you boomy bass in other areas like an attached room. It’s less likely this will happen with the M80s.

Yet another thing to consider is sub calibration/placement. Sub placement is tricky because of trying to get even bass throughout the listening area which is made more difficult the larger the range of frequencies the sub must cover. The M80s go down to 40Hz with authority meaning the sub may only need to cover below 40Hz. The M22s only go down to about 70-60Hz with any authority meaning the sub must these higher frequencies making it more likely you will get either boomby and/or anemic in some of your seats.

Something else to consider is how loud you plan to listen. The louder you want it especially if you seats are farther from you speakers the better the M80 will handle the midrange frequencies without any problems.

As you can see I’m leaning you toward the M80s based on my experience in a similar room.

OTOH I think that the EP500 is more than a match for that size room. I had to rearrange and fix some things in the kitchen because the EP500 shook and rattled things in there so much. The reality is that there isn’t a whole lot of bass even in movies down below 20Hz (waterfall graphs on AVS aside). I know this because I have a bass shaker (Buttkicker) and with every movie I’ve ever watched (plenty of action movies) I have to set it’s filter to play up to 40-50Hz, usually 50Hz to get much out of it so IMO the extra bass extension of the EP800 just isn’t worth the premium. However, taking the money you save and getting a bass shaker for your seating (they run around $400-500 for a full setup) it IMO worth it since not only can it directly shake your seating (meaning the sub doesn’t have to) it can do it even when the movie only has higher bass up in the 40-50Hz range but by shaking your seating it simulates earth shaking low bass even when it isn’t there (and should be).

I’ve got to run but those are my quick thoughts.


3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
Re: M80's or different
audiodreamer #386769 12/09/12 01:14 AM
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I have a room similar in size to yours, just a little larger with many openings to other areas of the house. I have tried my M22s and they do a very admirable job and if that was all I could afford they would be fine by me. M60s are also a very fine choice with nice detailed sound. The M80s will give you all the extra little detail you could want from floostanding speaker, great midrange sound, low bass extension and the same highs as the rest of the Axiom line up as they all use the same tweeter.

I will second everything grunt said except I really like having my sub play below 20hz. In most cases if the sub is capable of playing below 20hz it is also capable of playing those higher frequencies with more authority, more SPL without straining, which equates to more shake and feel when required, just my opinion,YMMV.

I would recommend M80's and the VP180 or 160 initially, then add surrounds and finally a sub if you are going to have to piece this together, although you could add surrounds then the center, as a phantom center works very well unless you are listening off axis.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
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