EP-500 vs. EP-350 - Axiom Message Boards

OK, while I still have time to do a trade-in upgrade with no shipping cost to return, what say those few of you who have played with both the 350 and the 500 subs? I've found the 350 to be ok, but it doesn't really extend as deeply as I'd like. Indeed, I've so far found that my M60s seem to cover quite nicely the ranges that the EP-350 does best. I'm only really getting a 10-15 Hz advantage with my sub than I would without one. With a 500, I imagine I'd get a wider range.

I've had my system for about two weeks, so I can make an exchange for the 500 and only pay the difference, and no shipping (axiom doesn't charge for returns if you're upgrading).

So anyone with firsthand experience of both, please speak up! Help me decide what to do!

I found myself in your exact position. I played with the 350, moving it around my house searching for a sweet spot that would add to the ht experience. With music, I thought it was great but with movies it wasn't adding to the experience, IMO. So I got with Axiom and arranged an upgrade. Since doing so I have no regrets. I absolutly love this thing. The family watched the 3rd Harry Potter and Jurasic Park last night and it had the house shaking. The 350 was good but the 500 is awesome. My wife was impressed with the windows rattling! I say go for it. You won't be disappointed.

With music, I thought it was great but with movies it wasn't adding to the experience, IMO. So I got with Axiom and arranged an upgrade. Since doing so I have no regrets. I absolutly love this thing. The family watched the 3rd Harry Potter and Jurasic Park last night and it had the house shaking. The 350 was good but the 500 is awesome. My wife was impressed with the windows rattling! I say go for it.

Thanks for the input. This is exactly the situation I find myself in. Fortunatley, my fiancee is not only understanding, but generally encouraging in my sonic interests. Indeed, I was expressing some concerns regarding buying a new turntable, and she convinced me to spend more than I would have otherwise! So I imagine ugrading a sub - esp. one which is only 4" bigger in depth and otherwise shares identical dimensions - will go over OK.

Anyone else's thoughts? I'm sorely tempted... and don juan has done a lot to persuade me... but I'm still listening/holding off!!! Anyone with the 500 or eve 600 with a comment?

I've never heard the EP350, but I bought the EP500, and I have no regrets. Like you, my listening area is small enough where a 350 can handle the volume without issue. But I wanted to go deep. And from my experience to this point, the EP500 goes deep AND loud. Axiom's claims of down to 13HZ in a real room sound realistic to me based on my experience. Even in an anechoic chamber, the EP500 goes lower than the audible frequencies.

Compared to my old Mirage dual-8 inch sub, there's no comparison for the low frequencies. The 500 produces unstressed tight bass at all frequencies.

Beware though... you will probably have to be satisfied with never turning the volume knob past 3 on the 500. Its just got tons of power.

Just came back to see if a decision was made. I agree with the volume comment. The sub sits in one big airy room that measures 35' long by 27' wide with 12' ceilings she's only cranked 1/4 of her potential. Any more and the neighbors windows would rattle.

Teetering on the brink... I talked to Brent at Axiom and he told me I could get the factory outlet model and still not have to pay return shipping on the EP-350. So that would save even more, and I think I'd be 100% clinched on the deal... if I hadn't found out this morning that we're going to have new neighbors moving in downstairs. I'd gotten pretty used to having the apartment below us empty (they were renovating it and it's been unoccupied for 6 - 8 months). If I have to curtail the level of my listening habits, the 500 may end up being a waste...

So I'm still on the brink. Tomorrow's the first of the month; perhaps the new people are moving in and I can evaluate if they seem like the 'I'm going to call the cops' type.

I seem to be in minority here, but what's the point of paying extra for a powerful sub and then never crank it past 1/4 on the gain volume? Wouldn't it be more economical to get a not-so-big sub and turn the gain to, say 1/2?

Now if you say it's about the love of deep, can-feel-but-cannot-be-heard-bass and not about economic, I'll retreat.

If you have a neighbor downstairs, the EP500 is definitely too big.

If you have a neighbor downstairs, the EP500 is definitely too big.

For who - me or the neighbor?

Anyway, I have the 350 cranked all the way and I don't get enough juice. So if the 500 at 1/4 - 1/3 juice is more than full way on a 350, I think I'm better off then, don't you?

In reply to:

Anyway, I have the 350 cranked all the way and I don't get enough juice. So if the 500 at 1/4 - 1/3 juice is more than full way on a 350, I think I'm better off then, don't you?

Then you definitely need the 500. Thanks God I am not your neighbor.

Oh yeah, its definately about the deep, unheard but felt, bass. If it were mostly music and just a little HT, I would have kept the 350. But the system is mostly for HT and a little music since family schedules keep us from the theatre. And this thing is a house shaker. Before the kids would watch. Now they experience it. It's great to have them tense up and grab your arm when those LFEs start rumblin'. Yep, definately about those lows.

i'm kinda in a similar situation. i like the ep-350 but i kinda feel like im not getting as much as i COULD get. i mean i played the Telarc recording of the 1812 Overture (my wife hadn't heard that one before) and she about crapped herself when the cannons fired, BUT i want something that when i play the THX intro will make the neighbors crap themselves

the only thing is i've got to convince her that the 4 large i sunk into this new home theater get up needs a couple of more benjamins.... any advice y'all?

In reply to:
what's the point of paying extra for a powerful sub and then never crank it past 1/4 on the gain volume?

This is an excellent question. If you run Avia calibration on (say) an EP350, the sub output level is theoretically matched to your speakers. If you swap the EP350 for an EP600, then re-run calibration, the sub output level is still matched to your speakers. You had to turn down the EP600 to hit the calibration point.

Besides the EP600 lower frequency extension, is there any other difference?

Or do super subs just benefit those who run bass levels beyond calibration -- those who want seismic bass.

Besides the EP600 lower frequency extension, is there any other difference?

Or do super subs just benefit those who run bass levels beyond calibration -- those who want seismic bass.

Right on both counts, really.

When I had the 350, I didn't run it past the point where it did not blend well with the rest of the speakers, and it sounded great with music. But when the family gathered to watch movies with LFEs, it did well but I felt like there should have been more rumble. Now with the 500, I also have it set where it blends with its cousins, but now we get RUMBLES. For what it's worth, I think that's way cool. Was it worth the extra bucket of bucks? For me, yes. For others, maybe not. But I'm the type of person that would pay full price to see a movie with great audio and video rather than see it at the dollar movies with average A/V.

Are any one of you using the 500 in a small room?

I'll admit that when it comes to movies, I just don't feel the bass with my 350 as much as I thought I would, especially since I do have a small room........