Hello,

After reading this thread:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Advice&Number=34433&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

I find myself having the same thought as some other owners and potential buyers of Axiom surround speakers - why don't you offer eggshell/white as a standard finish? there are certainly many people who want to have the surround speakers "disappear" into white or off-white color walls, and $95 seem quite steep for a simple finish like that. while most of the other name brand surround speakers come in black and white, I wonder why the white color is not offered as a standard option.

if everything I've read about Axiom customer-oriented service is true, maybe Axiom would listen?

thanks,

Jason

it's the thread "Maple Finish on Axiom Speakers" in the "advice from Axiom owners" section

maybe they can offer a pre-primed paintable stand...

They must have offered eggshell white as standard at one time. I bought my QS4's in that color a few years ago from the factory outlet, and they weren't doing custom finishes then. And BTW, they do tend to disappear in that color, which is ideal for surrounds. Makes you wonder why anyone would insist that the surrounds match the finish of the other speakers.

I considered ordering my QS8's in egg shell, but my better half decided all matching would be best. Goes to show how much I know about SAF.

When he talks about you, are you the worse half?

I hope not!

I think the "unfinished" option might have some merit, particularly in conjunction with a discount for the do-it-myselfers.

I definitely agree they should offer the eggshell white as a standard finish for the QS series. Plus the maple color isn't as neutral looking as the website pictures portray. The pictures make the maple color look like it's almost bone grey, and they are definitely not grey at all when you see them in person. Someone at Axiom needs to touch up those maple pictures to make them reflect their real color.

At least the $95 price is per model, which means if you buy 2, 3 or 4 speakers, the price is still just $95 total.

Jason

In reply to:

---

Makes you wonder why anyone would insist that the surrounds match the finish of the other speakers

---

I agree with you Twirly. I prefer the fronts to match the rest of the equipment / entertainment center, so they can "disappear" in the darkness when watching a move at night. And I prefer the side and rear speakers to disappear into the color of the room. Off-colored rear speakers stick out like a sore thumb. Just my opinion.

Jason

In reply to:

---

The pictures make the maple color look like it's almost bone grey

---

I bet you it looks different on my monitor than it looks on yours. That's the problem with pictures on the internet -- no matter how good it looks on your own monitor, it's bound to look off on someone else's screen.

Have you calibrated your monitor lately?

I would point out that due to the lack of color calibration in most computers/monitors/printers/digital cameras, it's impossible to make sure that colors display properly for everyone on web pages. Therefore, no matter how they touch them up, they ain't gonna look like the real thing. If you want to see it, go audition or get a sample!

D'oh, just saw Peter's post. Oh well.

Perhaps I'm old school but I just don't get the whole "surrounds must disappear" train of thought. I want the speakers to be visable and I want people to notice them. I consider them to be another fine piece of furniture. If I felt any other way I would go with in-wall.

And IF I did want them to match I wouldn't rely on a speaker company to do it for me. If they really must match then you should colour them the same as YOUR wall.

So taking it further there is no point in saying "please make XYZ a standard colour" because somebody else will have another selection.

A better choice imo would be to have Axiom do a paint ready finish or bare mdf that anybody can then use as a basis to match their existing decor. Add to that a grill than can be easily replaced and dyed and you're in business. That would allow for flexibilty when avocado finally comes back.


Besides, you certainly don't have your rooms all the same colour year after year*.



*I'm beginning to suspect the answer is yes



I'm such a grump until I get my coffee.

I must agree with you FordPrefect,

Furthermore, i believe that in most H/T dedicated rooms you if you really want the component of your system and speakers to disappear, usually while watching you normally darken the room so imo the way to go is black (mat or oak)

I completely agree with the "furniture" note. When I'm watching a movie and the room is dark, the speakers blend well enough regardless of what color they are. My vote is to buy whatever finish you think will go best with the other elements of the room (including your other speakers) during fully illumated, day to day activities. Here's some science for the skeptics, although I understand that everyone's eyes are different

In low light levels we rely on "scotopic" vision which only makes use of the rods (which there are far more of than cones.) And the rods can only generate roughly-focused gray scale images. Now, when the tv is the only source of light in the room, and you are watching it, the light from the tv should be enough to partially saturate the receptors so that you can't make out the details of any objects in the immediate vicinity of the television screen. (Like staring at a flashlight in the dark.) Thus masking at least the center channel and possibly the mains. You shouldn't be able to see your surrounds unless you are specifically looking for them anyway, because they're not in your field of view. Of course, if they are black on a white wall or something similar you will be able to see them. But with lower contrast levels they will quickly fade into the wall because you are relying mostly of fuzzy gray-scale vision.

I think then, that a big qs8 hanging off the wall is going to be perfectly visible when the room is lit pretty much regardless of what color it is, so it might as well match everything else.