Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners speaker finish choices

Hi Everyone, have just joined the Forum but have been around for quite some time looking at all the great Axiom products.
I am just completing a dedicated Theatre room and ready for some components.
I have an Outlaw Model 7700 and am interested in the Epic 80-800 system. A stained black Oak finish is what I am looking for but Axiom does not offer this.
If someone who has the standard black oak vinyl on their speakers would give me their opinion of this option I would be most appreciative

thanks in advance, Jeff

Welcome, Jeff. I would give Axiom a call directly and ask them about stained black oak, maybe they can do the type of finish you are asking for(via a sample) since they offer an almost endless finish line-up anyway(they probably can't post every possibility). Good luck!

Axiom will send you samples, but I think the standard black oak looks pretty realistic, like a stained oak. They also have custom finishes that might help.

I think that the stock, black oak vinyl really looks pretty good.

But, like Adrian said, Axiom can probably do whatever you want finish-wise, albeit at a premium price.

Hi Jeff;

Welcome to Axiom! Great to have you with us. If there's one thing I can say with confidence, it's that we can absolutely make speakers in whatever finish you'd like! We did a prototype speaker for Bryston last month in oak with a black stain and it turned out very well.

We can also send you samples of the vinyl and the real-wood with stain for you to check out before you order. Just give Brent a call at 1-866-244-8796 and he'll get you set up.

Even a real mirror finish?

I want plexiglass so I can see the inner guts.

How would you see through the MDF that the plexiglass is sandwiched to?

Make it all out of say 3/4 plexi.

Time and money, Randy. Time and money.

Ooooo, with aerogel for insulation. It'd look like the cabinet was filled with smoke. Now that would be cool!

Plus, it would be fireproof.

Do you normally set your speakers on fire?

Only on the inside.

Plexiglass burns like gasoline once its ignited!

Or transparent aluminium!

star trek ref?

Hey, so Friday I made the leap and ordered my system, the Epic 80-800, with standard black oak vinyl finish. My order stated it will ship in 10 days, wonder if this is 10 business or 10 calender days?

Always assume business days. I don't know of any online stores that state shipping ETA by calender days.

Hi (and a late welcome) Strider- It's business days.

You get a few extra days of nose prints on the front windows!

That's going to be a helluva system!

Don't be suprised if you get them sooner though.

Honestly, I don't know that "that" happens as often as it used to. It WAS pretty common to get them early, but I think they more often run "on schedule" now.

Congrads on your purchase, let us know your thoughts on the new system after set.

Tonight I ordered 2 M60's, a VP160, and 4 QS-8's in Sorrel Pear. Are there more pictures of this finish on the site somewhere? It looks really nice! I'm really excited. Will be a great upgrade from my current Klipsch setup...

That is awesome man, can't wait to hear your thoughts...

Here is a pic of an Audiobyte system in Sorrel Pear.

Thanks Steve for what is a lovely picture!

I picked out the finish from the M80 pictures (even though I was unable to order M80's due to power considerations). The more I look at it the more I like it. It is a little less red than the cherry so will better match my furniture...

As far as sonically I couldn't be more excited. From all I have read the Klipsch I currently have are supposed to be too bright. Since I use my system predominantly for movies I don't have much trouble with them but these should represent a SIGNIFICANT upgrade in accuracy and soundstage. I will let you all know what I think when I get everything set up. I am moving my home theater from my family room to my living room too and this is turning into quite a project! Probably the coolest surround example I can think of is the sandstorm sequence in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol so I will be sure to check out the differences as it is fresh in my memory.

Thanks again!
Matt

This post probably doesn't belong here but when you look up your order here on the site will it let you know when it ships and give tracking information?

Also, does anyone know if I can angle my vp160 upwards since it will be on a shelf below my TV without doing anything extra?

I don't know if the site will do that, but you will get an email from Axiom as soon as it ships.

You should be able to flip the VP160 over and then just turn over the grill, assuming it's like Axiom's other (smaller) centers, but I don't have one so don't quote me on that.

Since mine is going under my TV and angled upwards should I have ordered the opposite configuration for the 160?

Ah, right, probably so. I forgot that key difference between the VP160 and the other centers, which is that the speaker layout is vertically asymmetrical. Might be worth a call to Axiom to see what they recommend.

Thanks. I will do that tonight before anything ships!

I ordered my Epic 80-800 in the standard black vinyl oak finish.
Have received them and they look just perfect. Thanks for all the advice.

Jeff

No photos? No reviews of the sound?

I taught him everything he knows. Death before photos!

I ordered my Epic 80-800 in the standard black vinyl oak finish.
Have received them and they look just perfect. Thanks for all the advice.

Jeff

After you get them dialed in, please report back your thoughts. You might just be saying they sound better, than they look.

OK, I've had my system for some months now. What can I say, that all of you haven't said many times already? Our Axioms are great sounding speakers. Last night I played Phil Collins "Live in Belin" DVD. I couldn't stop smiling. The 5.1 audio made me feel like it was 1990 again and I was sitting on the hill at Pine Knob enjoying a live show. Yeah, they sound better than they look. When I have a moment I will try to post photos.
My thanks to all of you.
Jeff

Best quote of the day! So glad you're loving them!

So I’ve had my system almost 8 years. It hasn’t changed much since the original purchase. I’ve added another sub (12” 250 watt JBL) that I took out of my living room system to the EP800. Decided I needed to try out a pair of M3s as rear surrounds, decided I liked the QS8s there better. Tried the M3s as front wides, noticeable difference in soundstage. But then again a pair of M80s and a Vp180 give an excellent soundstage in my Theater space, and they’re v3s. Still using my Outlaw 7700 amp and Marantz SR6006 and Oppo 93. All great equipment. All in all I’m quite happy with the sound quality in my Theater. Each time I play a Blu-ray film or concert or play games on the PS3 I am reminded just how good everything sounds together.
So, what’s my point? Way to go Axiom! I’m still a happy customer

thanks Jeff

This is an older thread but was hoping to see some postings of some of the custom colours that people have ordered. You can try to search through the Axiom Gallery pages but the search is painfully slow. The images on the Axiom speaker pages are a bit small and some don't look like images of real photos (check out the Walnut in Espresso on a speaker page vs. the image of one on the Refurb or BStock pages and you will see how different they look).

We might be looking for some colours that are similar but in different woods. If anyone can point the direction to some real world photos of some of these, it would be helpful (or just start posting, linking images here which would be helpful for anyone looking).

Walnut
--Natural - (is there a semi gloss option or just satin vs piano gloss?)
--Espresso - semi gloss?
--Bordeaux
--Caramel

Cherry
--Caramel
--Chestnut (i think i saw some images of one of these on the Canuck Mart pages)
--Bordeaux

Rosewood
--Bordeaux
--Chestnut
--Natural (i think i have seen some of these in the Gallery pages)

Maple
--Bordeaux

I can't confirm this one exactly. It came from an audiomart sale page.

I believe that last one is the current rosewood with a red (?) stain. It's not bad. I'm not sure if that's the current low gloss ... from the picture it looks more like a semi.

The older rosewood, like the one they were displaying on their home page is a much nicer rosewood (Santos). Axiom phased it out because the price went thought the roof.

I've looked at samples of the current rosewood and the older version santos rosewood (in natural and this reddish stain). Note: I've only seen samples of the rosewoods in person so the comparisons I'm going to give are based on that. I also have speakers in the natural walnut ... so I'll compare those as well.


The sample of the current naturally finished rosewood had a very slight pinkish tinge, a thinner less rich gain pattern (then santos), and the texture was the most pronounced of the three woods (deeper longer indentations, for a better word, than the walnut). The walnut is consistently textured with shorter, sallower checks but in the rosewood they stood out more because they were more in your face and fewer of them. That said this is my take and you may not mind it or feel the same way.

The natural santos RW is richer colored, nicest grained, and smoothest of the three. Running from a golden brown to a darker brown in wide a beautiful grain pattern with minimal texture. In the red stain it's quite nice but without any another factors I'd lean toward the natural. The main reason to go red is because you're looking for a statement or to fit your decor.

The natural walnut is very nice alternative to the natural santos ... its pattern is more brown to darker brown and does not have the richness but considering the cost (adding something like %25 to %100 the speaker cost)... I'd lean that way instead of the natural santos unless money is not an issue. In that case you'll get IMO the most beautiful wood axiom can get its hands on. The current natural rosewood, depending on your eye, might be ok but I nixed it for myself all the reasons stated above.

If I were to go with the current rosewood I'd consider a stain to hid the tinge. If you're going to pay the big bucks ... get a sample before pulling the trigger.

This is an amazingly good description. I think i understand the picture you are painting.
For the primary reason of price i was thinking of nixing the rosewood idea as well. I'm not sure it's worth the cost especially when the walnut has a really nice grain that stands out as well. I think for the sake of sanity, i'll probably just drop that from the list to narrow down the choices.
Thanks for the stellar write up and notes on the latest with rosewood!

If you have any pictures, post some up.

Walnut natural satin in subdued daylight.

Mike, check out the aged walnut. Axiom has turned me into a wood-lover.

https://www.axiomaudio.com/bst-0089

Here's a couple of color correct images of all the samples I have. You'll need a calibrated monitor to get the true colors. If you click on it you'll get a bigger pict.

The first is shaded indirect sunlight. This is about the right brightness (you could also bring out the colors by raising the exposure but that's not what it was in real life). This is probably what the speaker will normally look like in room.


More direct sunlight (also brighter) and the colors start to pop ... this is actually a bit toned down since I missed the best time for sun.

I have the "Current Rosewood" in the first picture labeled wrong ... It's "natural" not "Red" ... here's a corrected version (I removed the previous one):



Note The Santos "Red" is a guess at the stain since Axiom didn't put didn't indicate what it was when they sent it.

That's a pretty fancy window handle.

You should see what it's attached to

I am sure it is attached to a window frame which is in turn attached to a house I can only dream and salivate over. Nonetheless, my humble house provides me with the essential necessities which are sheltering my Axioms and primitive implements and engaging in backyard pyrotechnics.

Thanks a ton for all the feedback and posting of finishes.
It's been a busy week so we haven't had a chance to filter through it all yet. Honestly i think i might still be considering boston cherry. I think the second contender is the walnut but possibly with an espresso light.

Hopefully we can decide soon and move forward with the changeover. Should have a listening test between the new office speakers soon as well.

Walnut front baffle with Boston cherry all around.

Just adding a link to the other forum thread where pics were posted. Many thanks to Mojo and CV for adding all their options to the list.
https://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php/topics/435113/starting-to-oggle-new-gear

Thanks for posting that link, Chess.

Charles's real wood Boston Cherry does indeed look great!

https://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/u...-oggle-q-for-the-denon-owners#Post437444

Yes if CV could post a few more comparative pictures of the real wood vs. vinyl Boston Cherry in some different light, it would be appreciated. Perhaps a 'dim' lit room like a basement or a room with mostly wall lights and less direct light.

Personally i don't think it will matter for me though. Just looking at the new wood Boston Cherry, it has a certain orange to it that i don't think i would like. I hate that orange wood look. If anything, even though it is 'darker', i think i'm leaning towards having our media room speakers changed to the Walnut Espresso. Again i love the natural walnut but in some light it can also look a bit orange in the light areas. I have a 'black' American walnut tasting shelf in the wine cellar that looks great and much more like the Walnut Espresso that Axiom offers. Ultimately i'll have to request some colour chips before we go back to Axiom to sort out the speakers. Again, thought we were going to do this last year but without a new 7.2 AVR, there wasn't any point to do it at the time.

I get what you mean about the orange. I have a walnut nutmeg lid for my Force and it looks like an orangutan was skinned. I do like the walnut espresso on my M2 bookshelves but it's a bit too dark and doesn't let the grain show. I have walnut espresso and boston cherry 500s on order and I think Trevor has one of those two on order as well. I'll post pics and thoughts once they arrive.

The walnut natural satin is absolutely classic. I can't stop looking at my actives and dual 500s. Everyone who has seen them loves them.

Actually i think those pictures CV posted were of the Rosewood (wood veneer in natural) and Boston Cherry (vinyl). They were not a comparison of Boston Cherry in wood vs. vinyl.

I'm hoping someone could put up some pics of that as a comparison; how the old Boston Cherry vinyl is vs. the new wood veneer.

Anyone?

Correct. I was confused for a minute, wondering if I'd accidentally said I'd gotten real wood Boston Cherry.

I think it was the way you stated it in the post that made it sound like you did but reading the couple of earlier posts clears it up.

I'm hoping someone can post a comparison of the two Boston Cherries. Maybe even someone at Axiom, since they have both there....

No one at Axiom has any time to post some trivial photos. I mean come on...they have all the Bryston and Axiom workers out in Dwight right now clearing the forest to make way for the expanded factory. Can't you hear all of them singing the lumberjack song?

Looking for some input on distance and how wide to put m2ow for height speaker's. M100 and,VP180 two ep500's in the front and QS10'S FOR back and side surrounds.

Thank you RJ

Hey RJ, how are you doing?

Not sure you'll hear anything beneficial with heights for any Axiom v4 floor-stander. Even the M50s give me a tall soundstage.

Maybe you want to use those M2s for width instead?

If not, the recommendation for heights is above the fronts or just to the inside.

Oh great, now I have the Lumberjack Song stuck in my head, thanks Mojo!

Yeah...I had that damned song stuck in my head all summer as I was chopping wood. I let it out a few times, perhaps a bit too loud...LOL!

Check this thread out guys.

https://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php/topics/439791/new-finish#Post439791

Pics and all in that thread, no question about it, the new boston cherry is light years better than the old. The pics do not do it justice, or show the shine in the finish, and those were NOT high gloss. Still they were miles better. The old ones look and feel like a vinyl. The new ones look and feel like a much higher quality speaker and seems like real wood.

Ok so i'll be posting a raft of colour swatches. They were photographed with a Pixel 2, some without flash, some with flash. I was too lazy to pull out the DSLR.
The first set were photographed on the main floor with a picture window behind me, indirect light, partly sunny day.
The second set were photographed in the media room (basement) under LED light (4100K 60W bulbs in wall sconces).
Did my best to pair the samples with the original Boston cherry vinyl wrapped speakers as well as putting them against some other speakers in the house.

The only thing i'm not sure about is the final finish. Ian mentioned that very very few speakers go out the door in a glossy finish (i get that considering the extra cost) but i really would love to see how these wood veneers would look with a strong gloss shine (think it would seriously make the walnut grain stand out in a big way more than a matte finish).
On the other hand, satin does have a bit of an eggshell sheen to it, but i'm not sure how many coats of satin finish were put on these colour swatches. It seems to me that the final finish should have more "pop" to them. It almost seems like there was only one quick coat of satin finish on the colour swatches before being sent out. I could be wrong, but if so, expect the speakers to come with a very 'wood' like finish (not super smooth which multiple satin polyurethane layers would provide).
In the samples you can see some of our other speakers in the background (the more 'orange' coloured, cherrywood Tannoys which have a nice smooth satin finish).

See the labels below with the pics.

Continued

If you like the color of the pine I'd suggest you might consider natural maple and white washed maple instead (unless you or sig. other are really into knots ). The color is somewhat similar It's just a nicer cleaner wood IMO. I have maple in my family room and really like it.

I have the natural walnut in satin on my subs and surrounds ... it looks just like your sample ... not much of a sheen. I have them in the HT and choose that color to blend in a bit ... in hind site I kind of wish I went with maple (just because I like it so much).

On the gloss ... if the speakers are going in the front of the viewers you might want to think about refections ... They might be distracting while watching a movie ... the light and reflected movement tends to draw your attention.

We were looking at buying the refurb LFR presently up in the Deals which are in natural pine which is why we got those two colour samples. I am a fan of the whitewashed more as is the wife. For the media room it will still be Boston cherry. Just like that colour. Unfortunately the natural pine is too yellow, country cottage look for our living area.

That wood would be fantastic on our main floor. The wine cellar ledge is an American Black walnut and has the same colouration, grain pattern. I've always liked it and i'm pretty sure i finished it in a semi-gloss (if it was satin, the sheen is more than i expected). Having this walnut grain on a bigger surface, bigger speaker, it would look outstanding as per Mojo's pics of his. I agree though that the satin stain seems fairly simple, not many coats perhaps?
I have satin on the Tannoys and they have a nice smooth finish that is definitely not high gloss, but looks very professional, very high end if you will.

I've seen the Monitor Audio Platinums up close and that gloss just makes the wood grain pop, but yes, in a bright room, you will have more reflections. So a 'mirror' finish for an extra $1000+ cost which looks like a piece of art or a subdued satin finish, less eye catching reflections with a more real wood feel?

I guess worst case one could take the speakers out to the garage and spray them with a coat of whatever gloss level finish they wanted. Look at Trevor's project and how well that came out. I have a local friend who has recoated a few of his speaker sets during refurbishing and they turned out well. Just need decent equipment and a good space without dust, controlled temp.

For walnut in high gloss

https://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php/galleries/439964/new-m5hps-arrived

I ran a test on the speaker finish wood samples we received. The Boston cherry looked a bit dull and the two walnut pieces both felt as if they didn't have any urethane/polyacrylic on them at all. Putting a drop of water on the surface resulted in beading indicating there is a finish, but perhaps it was a single quick coat. Not knowing for sure, i sent an email to Axiom to enquire.

Wondering what the glossier finish would look like, i used a water based, clear, semi-gloss polyacrylic on a strip of the three samples we were considering for final colours.
The resulting difference is rather stark and frankly i'm very inclined to have a semi-gloss finish applied to the speakers. The biggest standout was for the Boston cherry followed by the walnut in espresso.

The pics were taken with a Pixel 2 under HT room lighting (4100k wall sconces, no windows) with the original vinyl wrap Boston cherry speakers behind. (if you right click on the image in the post and select 'view image' you can get a bigger close up view)

Added an image with a room that includes a window, outdoor lighting. Cloudy day.
The indirect light almost reflects more of the matte finish giving it an even whiter, almost whitewashed look. Although the semi gloss can provide more reflections, the matte finish still has a sheen that does the same. However, when you get a less reflected light, you see what you see now; the semi gloss really stands out, makes the grain and colours just pop!