Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Are the EP subs overpriced?

Seems like a few years ago they were priced good. After doing some research it seems like you can get more for your money nowadays. Looking at Craigsubs reviews there are about 10 subs that rated better and cost less than the ep500. The one(s) that really got my attention were AV123's MFW-15 Duals. Two 15" subs that will go very low for only $998. Compare that to the ep350v3 for $758. For $240 more you can get 2 subs that will go deeper and get better overall response. I am not knocking axiom... I love my speakers but I would also like to finish off my 5.0 system with an axiom sub so everything matched. However it is hard to justify it when it seems like I could get more for the money.
It would be great if axiom would offer some dual sub combos at a better price

That’s a good question.

I just bought M80 + QS8 + VP150 (not received yet) but I was wondering the same thing... Is the subwoofer (EP350) are too expansive for what they give ? Compare to what’s available in the market...

Any owners have comment on this?

Thanks,

Eric

That idea, I like.

Certainly I think there are better values than the 125 and 175, unless you want to match finish, buy Canadian, or some other similar factor. Above that level, things start getting a bit murkier. Certainly those AV123s are interesting (but way, way backordered) and the Emotiva dual-subs as well (but the start-shipping date keeps getting moved back).

But I speak as "information gatherer", not a hands-on expert.

I personally believe that the Axiom subs are overpriced. If you don't want the matching finish, I see no reason to go with Axiom subs at their price point. I know my next system will have a non-axiom sub (most likely).

It does seem that the rest of the market has moved past Axiom, particularly when it comes to low frequency.

I have the same dilemma. Not having done comparisons, I have to rely on others opinions.

When I listened at Axiom, I liked the sound of the EP350 for music. It did blend perfectly with the M80s. Again, I have to draw on others experience on the blending. I have no idea how easy or hard it is to blend a sub in.

I personally am looking at either Axiom or SVS (PB12/PB10) because those are the only cost effective options in Canada. By the way things are going, I may have to buy both a 350 and a PB10 to see how they compare.

Having listened to the 175, I have to say that it is not a contender for HT. It barely had any kick at almost full volume in a 10x20x8 space.

On the MFW15, its hard to separate the hype from fact. I would like to see some independant measurements.

I'm sure the folks at Axiom are following these sub threads with great interest.

In the forum that I frequent a lot, Axiom subs are definitely not getting much recognitions. Don't know why and it hurts my feeling

That is why I never hang at AVS anymore, people with unfactual opinions.

Unfactual opinoins, at AVS, I never would have guessed:rolleyes:

For the most part, we are talking about Craigsub's rankings. All those were done blind testing. For a price to performance ratio, the EP subs are not in the running. I am under the impression that they perform well (I know my EP500 is a monster), but for the price, better subs can be had (apparently).

Better? By whose standards? There are subs that measure lower and play louder for the same price, are they better, that is upto each individual person to decide.

I have followed the "Craigsub" chronicles at AVS from the beginning and have often thought about what I could be possibly missing. I have one EP600 and feel like I am lacking nothing whatsoever in bass response... but that is just my opinion.

This is a hobby and you can get really crazy with it. In fact, in one of the treads of a competing sub line the subject was mentioned that a fellow canceled his order for a particular subwoofer because he developed "tinnitus" from listening to loud bass over the years both in his car and at home. Interestingly, more than a few other folks chimed in that they had tinnitus also and discussion ensued about how they cope with it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can overdo this whole bass thing beyond just enjoying good music/movies... but sometimes that can be fun too. To each his own.

If I recal back in the beginning of Craigs test's, Axiom's subs used to be in the top10, have they slipped? Craig doesn't come around these parts much anymore, hmmmmm?

Looks like Craig is hanging here if anyone has questions for him
tweakcityaudio

From a recent (and ongoing) first-hand review of the 600 versus the SVS PB13-Ultra in my home theater, both of which are priced very comparably once shipping is included on the SVS, I can't say that Axiom is far and away overpriced...

The performance of the subs is much more similar than I would have expected. I still have both in my home theater and there is a lot of material where I think it'd be impossible to tell which is connected. In the 10-18hz range, the SVS is a hands down winner, but above that range, the differences are incredibly subtle once the subs are both tuned into a flat response.

Looked at from a different perspective, the Axiom 600 is an absolutely beautiful subwoofer that perfectly matches my mains in high gloss cherry. I'm not sure what that's worth in $$$, but I know my wife thinks it's worth a lot. In addition, the SVS weighs more than 50 lbs more than the Axiom and is next to impossible to move without two fairly fit people to shove it around. When I first saw the specs of the SVS and saw that I was adding 50% in weight, I have to admit I was expecting a clear, hands-down winner in the SVS, but since I've had it, I find myself really torn between the two.

I do listen mostly to HT, so the extra performance below 20hz is nice, but it's really something that is most apparent when doing demo scenes of my home theater. Also, the 600 continues to exhibit a strange driver noise in low bass scenes that others have reported as well. I don't know what it is, but it crops up its head from time to time and is a big downer. In regular listening, however, the difference between the two is next to impossible to discern.

I realize this is only a comparison of two subs, not "Axiom against the world," but at least in this case, the 600 seems pretty fairly priced against the flagship SVS line.

Apparantly. The more I look around the more confused I get. It seems that some kinds of colouring of sound can be both quite pleasing and misleading in terms of what you think you hear.

Distortion in lower frequencies is harder to hear, but nobody has quantified that.

People like punch, but the music I listen to doesn't/shouldn't have punch.

It would make me feel so much better if I could look at graphs of pretty lines from Axiom and see that they are just as good as the pretty lines from those other guys.

I fear you are right Jason, I can't get away with lazy on this one. I'm gonna hve to buy and compare two subs.

I think I have become obsessed AAAhhhrg!!!

At least Axiom subs come with free shipping It can really add up for these type of beasts. Believe me.

Yep. 200-250 to get an STF3 into Canada from what I have read.

The EP500 is now middle of the pack.

There is also a thread of his on AVS in which he compares budget bookshelf speakers, but this time no points, just descriptions of sound quality.