Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Home Theatre Budget

Greetings,

I am planning for a new Home Theatre and I am considering the following items:

Speakers Axiom Grand Master 350 package $1876.00
Axiom M2i (Rear Surrounds) $280.00
Receiver Outlaw 990 and 7125 package $2000.00-ish
DVD Denon 2910 $700.00-ish
CD Denon 280 $199.00-ish
Projector InFocus 4805 $1100.00-ish
Screen Carada Criterion 80" 1:1.85 $577.38

Total about $7,000 (33% speaker, 30% Receiver, 14% source, and 25% video)

For a projected 12X18X9 room, is this overkill? I am assuming a basement setup with no windows and with complete control of light. Viewing distance would be about 10-12 feet. I have all cables I need from my current 5.1 Kenwood Home Theatre Setup (Except DVI). I like what I have, but I have toured the audio shops enough to know that it could be so much better.

I like the idea of the outlaw separates, but I don't know if it is total overkill with the Axiom setup. Would the Outlaw 1070 ($899) be ample?

- I will also post this on the Audioholics and Outlaw boards, but I need an opinion from those who are familiar with the product in question.

The 1070 seems okay, but I'd rather go with an HK 7300 for that price refurbished. Check here, here and here on deals on refurbished 7300s directly from Harman Kardon. They have conservative power ratings, and sexy features such as seperate crossovers for each channel.

Also, it's been said that you could potentially get a better value from HSU and SVS for subs than Axioms.

Lastly, that Denon DVD player is of very high quality, as its price suggests. If you're getting that CD player extra due to rumors that DVD players do not live up to the sound quality of a standalone DVD player, I suggest you just use the DVD player for CDs, as it will do a superb job with them. Especially the 2910 - probably a better job than most standalone CD players do!

Outside of these considerations, that looks like an awesome setup. You can't go wrong.

Not overkill at all. I had M60s/VP150/QS8s in a room 11.5x18x8, and though some thought that that was overkill, I didn't. Moving from a Kenwood HT system to the Axioms should be a delightful experience.

As Thasp mentioned, you might consider a HSU or SVS sub. If you went with M22s/VP150/QS8s/M2s by themselves, they would come in at $1605. With the 5% discount for buying any 5, or more, products at one time (Help me fellas. That discount still in effect, isn't it?), it comes in at $1524.75. Based on the $2150 you've budgeted for the Epic Grand Master 350 plus M2s, that would leave you around $625 for a subwoofer. With that you could get a nice SVS PB12-ISD (my choice), or HSU STF-3. If your basement room isn't open to other spaces, you might even get away with a less expensive SVS PB-10. (I may be adding one of these to my system in the near future.)

If you were willing to stand the wait, you could save even more money by buying your Axioms from the Axiom Factory Outlet, as many of us have done. This would save you another 10%, on top of the 5% discount and bring in the Axioms at around $1365 or so.

The upside to staying with the Axiom subwoofer is that it's finish will match your other Axiom speaker, which neither the SVS or HSU will do. And, my suggesting the SVS or HSU should not be interpreted as implying you wouldn't be satisfied with the 350. We have a number of satisfied 350 owners here on the forum.

Thasp is correct about the 2910 being able to handle both DVDs and CDs with aplomb (I've wanted to use that word in a post for SUCH a long time. ). I have a 2910, and really like it a LOT.

I like the Outlaw preamp and amp, too, and don't feel they would be overkill at all. Would the 1070 receiver be ample? I think so, yes. But, "because I want it" is a valid reason for any purchase.

Good luck. Whatever you decide, I think you'll be pleased with the result.

I'd say the Outlaw Pre/Amp combo is probably overkill for the speakers you are planning for. I have an Outlaw 1050 and used to run my M80's with it, it worked OK but they do like more power. The Outlaw 1070 would probably drive the M50's with no problem at all. Of course if you don't mind spending the extra clams for the separates, then what the heck, go for it. BTW I've been very happy with my Outlaw 1050, I think they make good stuff and they have great customer service, not as great as Axiom though.

I echo the comments about the Denon 2910 being a very good CD player as well as DVD player. I cut the cost on my 2910 by ordering a factory refurbished unit from Dakmart.com. They and several others are listed by Denon as official outlets for factory refurbished units.

You might consider the EPIC 60 500 with the refurbed HK7300 or refurbed Denon 3805.

Also, I forgot to mention.

Another benefit of seperates is the noise. The HK 7300 is said to have a fan that is audible on quieter movie passages, while seperate amps have heatsinks large enough not to require an extra fan.

I like the possibility of a mains upgrade to the M50 or 60 line, therefore moving the M22s to rear surround duty and moving the M2is to another room with my vintage stereo. The separates setups I have heard so far have totally blown me away and I have developed a craving for that kind of sound. I just need to find someone in my area with a similar setup to see how it works out.

What part of the world do you live in ?

Louisville, Colorado ( About 7 Miles East of Boulder) I just got a reply from "Denver". I will see what we can arrange for an audition.