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Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
#443670 10/02/21 04:34 PM
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Updating Surrounds to OWM5!

Its been a few weeks living with the OWM5 in my theater that doubles as our demo room for clients. Slowly swapping in Axiom items...

Anywho. What an upgrade! We went from a great setup of wall mounted bookshelf speakers as side surrounds and tower speakers for rears. This setup sounded fantastic, but boy was it clunky looking. I ended up selling them off to a happy coworker. Cheers Justin!

The new M5OWs sound full range and didn't really give anything up to the larger speakers that just left.

I found some French cleat brackets to invert the install as mentioned in another thread. After listening to them this way I'm not sure it would have made a huge difference with surround material. But... technically it is the best orientation considering vertical response.

So, How do they look? Fantastic! Walnut with Nutmeg stain really looks sharp and matches the other items we stained in the room.

How do they sound? Utterly Fantastic! Like a ballet slipper draped over a sledgehammer! These can both sooth and startle. -Like a nurse with a bonesaw held behind her back.

What a result. Thanks, Axiom!!!!!
3 members like this: LondonCalling, brwsaw, rrlev
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Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443671 10/03/21 12:10 AM
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Looks great Trevor! Like the walnut nutmeg ...

Two question on the inversion:
1) what's the tweeter height and distance to ear level at MLP
2) How did you mount the bracket to the wall and speakers (molly bolts and wood screws or something else)

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443672 10/03/21 12:22 AM
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Guess one more question:
Form you write up I had the feeling you try them both right side up and inverted and found it didn't matter ...

Was this with the speaker hanging in the same location, the tweeter hanging at the same level, or something else?

Thanks

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443673 10/03/21 01:10 AM
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Tweeters are 52” above carpet. Sides 7’ and rears 7.5’ to mlp. Ear height about 39”.

I used particle board screws to fasten the cleats to the speakers. Pre drilled of course. I used easy anchors for wall mounting on the drywall. I used the 75lb ones that break once tightened and expand. I turned all by hand so not to strip out drywall with drill speeds. 2 per bracket.

The T brackets still just slide into the electrical tabs on the speaker. No need to fasten. Pretty tight and no rattles at all. I still used the neoprene bumpers at the bottom once inverted.

I found it sounds less bassy and more balanced inverted with stereo content (expanded stereo with all other speakers disabled to test). For surround duty the response isnt as critical as I was using Dirac anyway. Best advantage was cheating the tweeter lower for more seperation from height channels I would say.

Would I invert them again? You bet. Would I recommend? Yes. smile

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443675 10/04/21 02:47 AM
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Originally Posted by TrevorM
Tweeters are 52” above carpet. Sides 7’ and rears 7.5’ to mlp. Ear height about 39”.
Thanks. Just curious what angle you were using for the inverted beds ... not sure it matters that much but I have yet to experiment with it inverted (just the vertical testing when Mojo mentioned it a while back)

Originally Posted by TrevorM
I used particle board screws to fasten the cleats to the speakers
I'm a little shy of screw/MDF holding power if there's a lot of vibration. Not because I've ever had a screw fail but because to material seems to slowly turn to powder if there's any rubbing. Over a few years I'd be afraid I'd find one on the floor. I'm thinking of something bolt through. I did ask Axiom about doing dual connectors for the T ... i.e. adding a 2nd pair of connectors so I could hang it inverted. JC was not sure and I'm pretty sure I ask Debbie too. It's probably what's holding up my surround replacements (they forgot I was waiting on an answer) ... besides knowing I'm not in a rush ...

Originally Posted by TrevorM
I used easy anchors for wall mounting on the drywall. I used the 75lb ones that break once tightened and expand. I turned all by hand so not to strip out drywall with drill speeds. 2 per bracket.
I'm probably going to go with something like this: TOGGLER SNAPTOGGLE Drywall Anchor
partially because the drywall is 1.25" thick and partially because I'm looking for something with a flat hold from the back.

Originally Posted by TrevorM
I found it sounds less bassy and more balanced inverted ... [and] ... cheating the tweeter lower for more separation from height channels ...
Yup ... that's why we are exploring it ...

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443676 10/04/21 03:12 PM
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My reply to the tweeter heights was not very clear ... I'm using those numbers to get the angle ... when I re-read it ... it read like I was asking you for it. Hopefully you didn't think that smile

Last edited by rrlev; 10/04/21 03:13 PM.
Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443678 10/04/21 09:25 PM
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Inverted tweeter is 8.797 degrees above seated ear height if my trig is right. Slightly less for rears at 8.219 degrees. Check my math! Lol.

We found 10 degrees above normal bookshelf height was good during tests. Really on-axis or slightly higher was good.

Not worried at all about screws into cabinets. Did it with mdf building speakers and still tight years later. Use coarse thread for sure though. Anchors seem good. Beefy. With easy anchors you are really worried about shear strength. 75lbs x2 was all kinds I figured. Speaker is 20lbs. cool

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443680 10/04/21 11:39 PM
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Think you need a few more decimal places on that angle smile

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443685 10/05/21 09:27 PM
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laugh

Re: Updating Surrounds to OWM5!
aaaaaaaaaaaaa #443705 10/06/21 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by TrevorM
How do they sound? Utterly Fantastic! Like a ballet slipper draped over a sledgehammer! These can both sooth and startle. -Like a nurse with a bonesaw held behind her back.

Is that some kind of east coast PEI phrase?
They had a whole book for interpreting Newfoundlander speech.
https://encounternewfoundland.com/newfinese-101-words-and-phrases-youre-likely-to-hear-on-the-rock/

Last edited by chesseroo; 10/06/21 08:55 PM.

"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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