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Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105686 07/25/05 01:52 PM
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Those of us in the drawing have been fantasizing a little over the idea of getting a butt-kicking sub, so maybe it's a good time to ask this:

Has anyone directly compared a 500 to a 350?

I bought my system with a 350, as the 500 did not become available for a few months after my purchase. Sometimes I've wondered if the 500 would have been a serious step-up or not and I've sometimes wondered about replacing my 350 with the 500 (The 600 in my 13' square room would be pretty serious overkill I believe!)

I comparing the subs in the pop-up comparison chart, the 500 doesn't seem like it would be that much more capable:

* The sizes are virtually identical (500 is just a few inches deeper)
* The 500 does offer a 500-watt amp in comparison to the 200 watts on the 350
* The 500 offers 2db more output (both anechoic and "room" responses)
* The 500 goes to 20Hz in comparison to the 28Hz offered by the 350 on the +/- 3db spec (This is the only significant difference I see in the specs)

Certainly, the 500 offers more in terms of features with a better amp design, balanced inputs, etc. But on paper, there doesn't seem to be a huge difference.

Is this one of those situations where the specs on the page don't tell the whole story and in real-world situations, the 500 completely trounces the 350?



::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105687 07/25/05 02:18 PM
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I was also in your same situation Mark, I purchased my setup before the 500 became available. I'm also interested in the responses you get on this topic. I'm think about getting a second sub, possibly another 350 or maybe a 500 if I can talk the boss(wife) into it My basement is very large..

Randy

Axiom 60's 150 350 4-Qs8's
Denon 2805
Sanyo Z2 WXGA Projector
Panasonic S97S HDMI DVD
Samsung HD OTA tuner



M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105688 07/25/05 02:19 PM
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The size thing does make some difference: the internal volume of the 350 is 4331.25 cubic inches, if I read the specs correctly. The internal volume of the 500 is 5558.4375 cubic inches, which is a difference of around 28%. Not exactly insignificant...


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105689 07/25/05 03:21 PM
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devotee
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I've been wondering the same thing. Of course I'm thinking "when I win the EP600 but have to downsize, what will I go with- a 350 or 500". Hmmmm. If I was going to start out fresh, I'd go with a 500 over a 350 but that's a pretty easy decision. It's the upgrade decision that's more difficult. I just sold my HSU STF-2 and bought an SVS PB-10. Same size-10", but the amp is much bigger in the SVS. Guess it will make some difference. We'll see.

Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105690 07/25/05 03:48 PM
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axiomite
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In reply to:

* The 500 goes to 20Hz in comparison to the 28Hz offered by the 350 on the +/- 3db spec



That alone is a pretty darn big difference, no?



Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105691 07/25/05 04:09 PM
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In reply to:

That alone is a pretty darn big difference, no?



Yes, it's substantial. But I still wonder if I'm missing something based upon the other specs, such as only 2db more in maximum output for instance.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it doesn't come across on paper as well as it does in the real-word...especially considering the "almost double" price difference.



::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105692 07/25/05 04:20 PM
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shareholder in the making
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If you sell your Beech 350 Mark to get an upgrade, maybe we can work out a deal oops I just broke the rules...he he


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105693 07/25/05 05:16 PM
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I wish I could help more here. I never had a sub before the EP500. I went from a BOSE AM-7 to an Axiom EPIC 80 500. The LFEs are just awesome. I watched "Saving Private Ryan" last night. The opening sequences seem real. It almost hurts to watch and hear. Gut rentching.

I have the 500 set to about 9 o'clock. It shakes the entire house.

I have a 2 week vacation coming up. Maybe I should take my 500 on the road. I'll have to ask Amie about comissions for traveling salesmen.

Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105694 07/25/05 06:19 PM
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axiomite
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I think you have most of the differences pegged. Moving the -3dB point to 20 Hz instead of 28 Hz is probably the biggest as you already noted.

I'm not 100% sure, but depending on how you interpret the response curves the EP500 may also react more gracefully when it does eventually reach its limits. I don't know exactly what the DSP does when it decides that either power or speaker travel are about to go too far (ie does it turn the volume down across the entire frequency range or just roll off the lowest notes) but either way the result has to be more pleasant than the loud GRUNK that even the biggest subs make when they hit the wall.

Bottom line is that the difference between 350 and 500 seems to be a number of different areas. It will be interesting to see what Axiom does next with the sub lineup. Heck, it's probably worth driving to Dwight just to find that out


M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: Comparing the 350 to the 500...
#105695 07/25/05 06:22 PM
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I'm hoping Alan might chime in here as well... especially since others have the same questions!


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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