Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Totem Forest vs M80s vs Onix Rocket 750/760s

Hi all, I'm new to the forums here. I enjoy the breadth of knowledge on the Axiom forums and have read them for some time.

I own Totem Staffs (8 ohm) and Totem Rokks (4 ohm) speakers. I recently bought Onix Ref 1.0 as part of nice 2 channel system with a tube amp. I am looking for a nice set of fronts for HT/ music. I really love Totems for music and to be honest I would love a pair of Forests but they are a lot of cash. Anybody out there hear both Forests and M80s and/ or Rocket 750/760s. What are your thoughts even given the heavy price difference with Totem.

Secondly, I called Totem twice and emailed them about a tweeter issue I was having with my Rokks. I never got a response. I still have a copy of the email I sent. Guy
i talked to on the phone was a jackass too. I am very loyal to products I like and I do love the sound and look of Totems but ....since then I have spoken to two dealers who have dropped Totems from their line up and their lack of response on my tweeter issue also concerns me. Long story short - I'd like Forests so that they match my other Totems but am leaning towards M80s. Seems like they are a good value but I am worried that the Axioms and Totems will not be good matches in multi-channel music and HT? Looking at M80's/ Axiom Centre/ Staffs and Rokks. Staffs and Rokks are circas 1997.

Thanks

PS - I'd like to tour the Axiom facility around Easter and listen to the speakers - can you do that?

well, the problem with posting on an AXIOM forum is you should already know the answer you are going to get....and it WILL be biased. I have never heard Totem's, but i plan to shortly. I have m60ti's and they are pretty darned good for the money, but....Paradigm studio 100's and Thiel 1.6's kick their ass as far as sound in my opinion. they are good, but....there is a good reason those other brands are twice the price. i guess what i'm saying is, be your own judge, find someone who has axioms to listen to or borrow even...and then take all things into consideration.

if you are already using totem's for your HT, i would stick with them so the timber matching is as close as can be. totem's are very well regarded speakers, and btw...dont' mistake Montreal Quebec ppl as being rude...it might just be lost in the transation. abruptness and being short are sometimes just them struggling with english...

just my thoughts

Thank you for misrepresenting us, Jinx. So nice to have you back.

While there are some partisans on these boards (I'm probably one of them) in general, you will get a good, fair comparisons between Axioms and other models.

dude. i have yet to read ANYONE on here say any other speakers sound better etc for the money than axioms....i really do not think this board is unbiased....and i understand that. i'm not blaming anyone, hell...i own axiom too..but...unlike most, i acknowledge that they are good for the price, but no where near as good as some other speakers out there for twice the money. sorry to tell ya. however, it's only my .02

Well dude................................ in my opinion I think your are a bit off on your statement, but that is no surprise. There are many of us here that have products other than only Axiom, and some that do not have one Axiom product. But as for the entrie forum being biased towards Axioms, could you please present some documentation of that fact.

Islander : I do have some Rockets, but I have yet to hear those models, so sorry, I can not comment on them.

um...no. and i don't have to. this is just my opinion. agree with it or don't, no matter to me. and i own lots of other products besides axiom as well. paradigm, hsu, infinity, jbl, warfedale, etc.

Hi Islander, and welcome to the forum!
You might find that you won't get a huge response to the Totem comparison here. Not bcause we're all simplistically biased, but because I haven't read of many comparisons to Totems, and many DO post comparisons as they hear others. Totems certainly seem to be highly regarded from what I have read, however.

I can't speak for Totem's customer service, but you'll read many accounts of Axioms' excellent customer service.

Anyway, even though I couldn't help directly I wanted to say "welcome" and, as someone who has been around much longer than...ummm..."some others"...there have been many accounts and postings here from others who couldn't believe how unbiased the forum is!

Stick around a bit...even if you decide to not purchase Axioms. There's a really good, easy going group here.


Mostly.

Welcome.

In reply to:

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PS - I'd like to tour the Axiom facility around Easter and listen to the speakers - can you do that?

---

Yes..... You can. Call Axiom to set it up. Or PM Amie.

Can't comment on the Totems other than "gorgeous".

I think the folks on this board recognize a great speaker at a great price, and you would hope that a speaker costing twice as much as Axioms would sound better, but thats not always the case. And I have yet to see a professional review that compares any other speaker near Axioms price range that could compete. I don't know if that's bias or common sense.

Jinxy, while I agree there is, in general, a pro Axiom bias here, I would point out that bias is based on genuine satisfaction with, and a hearty respect for, the the product, and the company. However, if you've never noticed products other than Axioms being recommended here, your knowledge of this forum is a tad superficial.

As to your statement that "Paradigm studio 100's and Thiel 1.6's kick their ass as far as sound in my opinion," you must understand that if you choose to express your opinion with so little tact, you have to expect to take a little flack. While you made it clear that is only your opinion, you could have stated that opinion more tactfully by saying that you preferred Paradigms and Thiels to Axioms, rather than saying they "kick their ass." Believe it or not, I've come across others, on other forums, who actually prefer Axioms to the Paradigms. So you see, it IS all a matter of opinion, and there is no such thing as an unbiased opinion, not even yours.

P.S.: The only Axiom product I own is an EP500, and it is my biased opinion that it is a terrific subwoofer.

Islander, I've never heard the Paradigms or the Thiels so I apologize for not being much help there. I do own Rocket 850s, but have never heard the 750s/760s.

How do we forget so easy what we write only a few short months ago.

Yes Pure-Evil and Jinx are one in the same.

i NEVER said i thought the axioms sounded better than JM Labs..i said my buddy thought so. read it again.

I never stated such and I did read the WHOLE thing.

But you did say,

"these Axiom speakers are not to be doubted...and MUST be heard to be believed...and i think others would RAVE about them if they cost $4000.00 or more, but since they are so inexpensive, and a real bargain i'd say, i think ppl discount them cause they believe that they can't possibly be as good as everyone says since they are so cheap. well...let me assure you my friends...and i'm sure KJohn will attest, they ARE just that good, and maybe even better, regardless of price."

And then,

" but no where near as good as some other speakers out there for twice the money. sorry to tell ya. however, it's only my .02"

So what are they, as good as $4000 speakers or do they get their "ass kicked" as you say by speakers in the $2000 class. Certainly it can't be both.

well like i said, for the price i agree whole heartedly..which is why i own them. they are amazing for the money...no doubts about it. but...that guy was comparin thiels and paradigms and i was simply pointing out that they are both better sounding speakers overall

Jinx
Ok , here it is ,no holds barred. I have been reading your shite since you first signed in here. I have also seen you bid on ebay, up to 240.00 on a pair of m3's (just last week) which sell for 270.00 with a 5 year warrenty at the factory outlet. I have been giving you the benefit of the doubt for some time now, because I have been very entertained and often have found you amusing in some strange way, but this is it.

Look, I have compared many speakers to the Axiom's before making my decision. I want to say right here, that money was one, but certainly not the deciding factor in my choice of speakers. Over and over I have seen you post inflamitory messages to this board. Yet just this weekend I have seen you bid up to 240 dollars for used M3's which sell for a mere $270.00 on the outlet site, with a full 5 year warranty.

Please, all opinions are welcome here, but you have to be aware of how you are coming off. If that is too much to ask, then take your drek somewhere else. In advance, I appreciate your cooperation. If you should choose to ignore this advice I heartily regret my next assignment.
Kiss(left cheek), kiss (right cheek)
"Dano" the Soprano

Is it not fair and unbiased to compare speaker brand A to speaker brand B, even if the cost is two or three times that of brand A. Of course it is, we all agree that cost does not determine anything in respect to the quality or performance of a product.

Fair and unbiased? Please, let's keep in mind who we are dealing with here.
oz

Funny, I have owned the Paradigm Studio 100'sV2 and had a set of M80's sitting right beside them for almost 2 full weeks.

I DON'T once ever remembering thinking that the Paradigm's kicked any ass. For anybody who has heard these two speakers side by side comparing them is a waste of time as they are two very different speakers...........as in not even close with respect to the overall sound they put out.

Not beating on ya Jinx as there is no need, the Axiom posse will look after that but I think your error is in directly comparing these speakers. I don’t think you can.

Oz:
I give you credit for even attempting to give Jinx the benefit of the doubt. He's a troll, pure and simple. He shows up, makes several inflammatory remarks, then leaves for a month or two. He comes back; does the same thing.

If he's not a troll, he's simply unaware or uncaring as to how obnoxious he comes off. Either way, he's not worth the time.

Islander, let me be the first to apologize to you for witnessing this little issue. He's a thorn in many's side for doing just what I outlined above. You asked a legit question, and I took it off in a tangent. Sorry about that.

Like I said, stick around. There really ARE a great bunch of people here!

I haven't heard ANY of the speakers you listed, but I had (and enjoyed immensely) some M60s for 2 years and still have QS8s, et al.

Assuming you like your upper frequencies present and not rolled off at all AND have a subwoofer for the deepest bass AND not mind faux wood vs. "real" wood, then give M80s a try.

The type of music you typically listen to will influence your perception of the Axioms.

I doubt they will sonically match those other speakers, but you could always ebay the others if you find Axioms to your liking.

Islander, keep in mind that Mr. Jinx is the very same individual who not long ago discovered just how good a system can sounds by, get this ... moving the couch away from the speakers.

You be the judge and take his *expertise* advice for what you want.

I may be another 'biased' Axiom owner but being here on the Axiom site should I not be? I can only tell you that I enjoy my Axiom speakers and while being far from any kind of audio expert I truly feel like I really got a first rate speaker for the money spent. I'm keeping them for a long time to come.

Welcome to the site and if you decide against the Axioms don't be stranger...we'll keep the light on for you, the beer here is always cold and the coffee is always hot.

Mark
Thanks... I know how to spot a troll when I read one. I just want him to honestly respond to the fact that he was bidding on some Axiom M3's and went up to 245.00 plus 20.00 shipping this past weekend. If they are so inferior why would he bid that high when the same speakers are 10.00 more on the outlet site with full warrenty. You know what? I still find him very entertaining. Sometimes I just get worked up that's all. All this guy does is troll for good deals on ebay and he doesn't even know what a good deal is when he sees it
oz

I beleive I had skipped over that little Jinxism .

Hi Islander, and welcome!!

Well, I searched my data banks and find that I have not heard either the Totem Forests or Staffs, or the Rockets. By the same token; I have not heard the M80s either

Sorry for taking up your time.....

Anyway, since I'm here.

I've had Axioms for a good long time too, and intend to keep them for a whole lot longer!

A Whole lot longer(...see my post in the "water cooler" section)

Seriously; good speakers at a good price, a fun forum; pretty good deal if you ask me.

......and I guess you did!

And even if you try them and they don't fit your requirements, stick around a join the forum anyway!! If you've been following the forum; you already know that you're welcome no matter what kinds of speakers you're running!!

And if you tour the factory, please post pictures, you'll make new friends for life!
Rich.