Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Trade up 350 for 500?

Certainly, there have been many posts regarding the huge jump in "capability" from the 350 to the 500. People have posted regarding room size, type of music, the mains they've been mixed with, etc..etc..etc...

But, I haven't seen any posts regarding the suckage of listening rooms. So...short and sweet:

If one is in a crappy room (acoustically) that's only moderate size to start (13' square), is there any benefit to moving from a 350 to a 500?

My thoughts are that it will go deeper, but since the majority of my problems are huge peaks and nulls, any gain in output level or smoothness won't be realized.... the room physics are the same. On the other side, some of the 500's controls ("flat", etc) might help bit on the EQ side of things.

The new trade-up policy sounds fantastic, and I've never been this tempted before. But I'm not sure that I won't still be spending $700 to upgrade to a sub that will essentially look and sound the same as the one I have due to room restrictions.

My wife won't like that.... and she's pretty easygoing!

I'm not sure but I can tell you my experience.

I had a 2-channel system set up in a 10X10X8 room at one time with my Sony 120W, 12" sub. The room was quite populated with furnishings, bookcases, shelves...so it wasn't what you would call bare. It took me about a month to find the optimum settings and location and I had to put some thick coverings on the walls and ceiling but the end result was absolutely incredible. It wasn't very musical mind you due to the limitations of the cheap sub, but it would have satisfied any basshead.

Given my experience, I can't even imagine a 350 in a room your size let alone a 500 .

I can only offer personal opinion of whats happening in my crappy room with my EP500. Just before reading this I mentioned a few things in the following post.
Treated Rooms

I've never had a 350 to compare so all I can say is that a problem room is still a problem room for the 500 but it's still the best sub I have ever owned or heard, despite the room.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Check out Mark and his "hope"!

Just do it. That "trade up" program is totally sweet. It will solve your audio problems and make your morning toast that much tastier, too. You obviously want to. You work hard. You deserve it.

Did you ever try a BFD or SMS-1? If it's really the room (rather than, oh I don't know, YOU or evil spirits), that might help more than extra capacity. Bass traps? Trained squirrels? How about building an infinite baffle sub in the attic? Just remodel and/or switch the studio with the living room. Buy a new house. See, you've got options, but all you want to do is complain about your square room. I think that - secretly - you kind of like it.

How about a nice pair of headphones and some bass shakers?

Maybe you should try Machina Dynamica's Clever Little Clock.

Quote:

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My wife gets mad when I point to her in her typical seating location and tell others: "That seat is where the dip is...."

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That statement could go in so many directions.
I so understand why the wife could get a bit miffed.
Great conversation starter about the whole HT-room balancing problem though.

Perhaps multiple ep400's througout the cube, er- room. Come at those dips from all directions- shock and aw. An ep 400 centered on each wall and a 500 in the center of the room.

When I went from a 350-ish sub (PSB 6) to a better (SVS PC+ 20/39) sub, and did my best to place it in exactly the same location in the old house, I felt the results were considerably better. I think the difference was the extended LF response, which gave the impression of more bass without having to turn the levels up.

Or you could just get some butt-kickers.