Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Axiom A1400-8 Digital Amplifier

I'm sure Axioms 30day trial would still apply here. So take a chance.

I think Axiom ought to just stick with speakers. They do such a lovely job, why muddy the waters with an amp? What's next, their own receiver? CD Players? Toaster ovens?

Axiom wants to charge $3,850 for this amp. Maybe that's couch-change for some, but it's not for me and I'd bet it isn't for many Axiom owners. Axiom speakers are currently relatively inexpensive, high-value, excellent-quality products. The surprise ringer in the corner, as it were. Axiom has also long touted that their speakers are easily driven by most AV receivers (M80's excepted, perhaps), and has seemed to promote the 'amps don't matter', mentality (see Alan's numerous commentaries and prevailing forum attitudes).

So why try to sell a $4k amp? That's a pretty expensive amp, compared to many other offerings. Even if it does 'set a new standard' or 'raise the bar', it's still an expensive piece of equipment for what it does. And if it does set some new standard of amp goodness, then why? Anyone with an 'amps don't matter' attitude that bandwagons on the A1400 has some explaining to do.

To me, it just seems that it doesn't fit with Axiom's philosophy. It's not my company, so my opinion matters for squat, but I don't get it.

Unless, of course, they're being tempted by the profit margins of 'high-end' audio products....

Power like the A1400-8's certainly does matter. But the question is to how many?

Interesting post, Peter. I've had some of the same thoughts.

I think I've reconciled it on a number of levels, however.

First and foremost, Axiom is a R&D company. They happen to use their R&D expertise primarily in loudspeakers, but the "manufacturing" part is - to me - a smaller part of the equation.

To build on and complement their existing expertise, they added a significant new resource in hiring amplifier designer Tom Cumberland. This synergy resulted in the now highly-acclaimed (and progressively designed) EP400, EP500 and EP600. Axiom was formerly not a major player in subwoofers, but by delivering great performance at what has become a middle-of-the-pack price point, the tradition of excellence and value was perpetuated.

Having learned from the EP DSP design process and with an ongoing desire to further expand the business in the context of existing product lines, we now see the new amp.

I don't really remember Alan or Ian leading the "amps don't matter" parade. Lots of individuals on the forum have stated - amid the usual controversy - that "a watt is a watt is a watt as long as it is performing within its design parameters and appropriately quantified". For a lot of people, 50 watts is simply enough - 100% of the time. For MANY others, it's not. Alan has repeatedly recommended specific brands relative to enjoying the full benefits of the M80's; he has not shied away from saying that equipment from Denon, HK and Sherwood-Newcastle is preferable in many applications to other brands.

To me personally, Axiom 1400-8 is an "expensive" piece of gear. But there ARE plenty of people buying Arcam, B&K, McIntosh, etc. that cost that much or more. I think it is highly likely that - even though it is out of financial reach for some of us - the Axiom amp will present an excellent value within its target market. To many avid listeners, spending the money for a pair of M80's is also out of the question.

The amp certainly represents an innovative design, and it seems pretty consistent with the expertise and strategy of the company to me. I certainly wish Axiom much success, but that success will clearly not ride solely upon the decisions of only the existing loudspeaker customer base.

I've gone back and read a few of Alan's articles, and I will admit that I stand corrected in saying that Axiom is in the 'amps don't matter camp'. What I meant was the outside of the physical aspects, amps-don't-matter camp. I didn't mean to say that an amp absolutely doesn't matter, and I wasn't clear on that point. Certainly, driving speakers to fill a large living space driven at high volume requires more watts, and I have no doubts that the A1400 certainly will deliver on the wattage promise.

It is a perfectly fair and valid point that some folks need more power than others. I am in total agreement with that. Sirquack did have problems with the Emotiva MPS, but my 'cheap' LPA-1 performs flawlessly to dangerous-to-my-hearing levels in my 3300 cu ft room.

The point I failed to make was that I find it somewhat odd that Axiom is getting into the amplifier market with a "high-dollar" amp, when Axiom speakers are commonly regarded as relatively inexpensive. If Axiom made $5,000/pair speakers, I would understand a $4,000 amp. But they don't (yet...).

Truly, I hope the amp becomes a runaway success for them, and leads to the development of more and more Axiom products. I'm just saying that I think it's somewhat odd.

Heck, I'd probably buy an Axiom toaster oven.

I’m just wishing Axiom had a Lay-a-Way plan. I’d love to see that amp in my rack but will all the other crap I’ve been buying and vacations…..I’m broke for a few months….. Seeing that $850 price break on an amp that I had decided I wanted when I first read about is making it very difficult to not push that buy button.

And folks, this is an EIGHT channel amp. Not very many of those around. Considering that many seven channel amps with similar WPC ratings go for as much, if not more than 4 grand. NAD, Halo, Rotel, Adcom, Anthem are just a few that come to mind.

And why not get into electronics?? I’d do it if it were my company, and if they were public and I had shares, I’d be asking why they weren’t already.