Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Head to Head compare...Just asking don't attack me

Alright, not looking to get flamed, or create a mass pounding, BUT? Has anyone ever compared the Axioms to the Fluance line? I priced out two setups one with an Axiom line and one witha Fluance line. Also added an SVS sub to both setups. The Axioms come in at almost 600.00 more give or take. Mostly more. This is to be my FIRST HT system. I have been here asking around and reading ALOT! But, I am cautious in the spending. I have not spent since buying my first Infinity Infintessimal system 11+ years ago. I was first considering the M22's then leery due to the fact I would require stands, with two kids, ah, shying away. Then I thought the M50's, not a lot of good heard here. The M60's may be a bit high for me. Then the center, the VP100 is liked/disliked. Justify in the purchase of the 150? Then the Q8's Q4 debate. All I know is that I received a YAMAHA RX-V2400 as a gift, and now it needs some brothers and sisters to round out the HT family. Again room size is 14 x 13. Seating is 10'8" away from TV, center channel and fronts. I know this is a biased, rightfully so, forum, but I like a little controversy to get creative juices flowing.
Alright fire away at me, I can take it. Why else would I ask!! No matter what I do need....2 Fronts...Center...surounds...sub. My Infinity sub is not working correctly so I would need to replace. As are 1 of my original Infinity satellite speakers. No help there. What do the many minds here think!!

I may be useless to you, Davey, but at least I'm up front about it. I have not heard the Fluance speakers.

But I got my M60's recently and could not be more pleased. I've always wanted 3-way floor standers and share your concern about kids/stands. I had high expectations and they were met with elegance and fortitude.

From a purely systems-building standpoint, you've got a terrific receiver and seem very ready to invest in a high quality sub. DO NOT scrimp on the rest of the system. Don't wonder what might have been.

I'm running the M60's without a sub. For music, it is absolutely wonderful - rich, full and clean. And since I don't watch "Armageddon"-type movies all the time, I'm waiting to buy a good sub when I can. Again, I am very satisfied with both my short-term enjoyment and my long-term prospects.

The QS8's receive universally glowing reviews, and design-wise, they make good sense to me. Plus, they are just big enough to be "full range" speakers.

Your receiver will have sophisticated bass management capabilities, so my opinion (worth price charged) is to invest for the long haul by buying good mains and good surrounds and then building from there.

Oh yeah, and listen listen listen to speakers.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Alas, I've not heard the Fluence speakers either.

The M60's are AMAZING. I can't say much about the VP150, because I don't have a lot to compare it to. I do know it was a HUGE step up from my old Phase Tech 1C center that I had.

As far as the QS8's, I'd always been of the opinion that surround speakers were the least important speakers in your system. Then I got the QS8's. Wow... Movies are SO much more fun now!

I agree that you should buy your speakers piecemeal, one at a time if that's what your budget can handle. Don't buy what you can afford now, because in the end you'll not be happy, and you'll just end up upgrading it all again. That doesn't mean you need to buy Axioms. Go out and listen to EVERYTHING. Decide what you like best, and start building your system.

Unless you're independently wealthy that's what you'll have to do. "Build" your system...you can't expect to buy it all at once.

I have M22's and M50's in different rooms/systems. I find them both very enjoyable. I will marvel at the 22's and then sit in front of the 50's and think how great they are. I haven't heard the M60's to compare. The Fluance seem like a good value for inexspensive speakers. The axioms are I believe in a differnt league.

I chose the 50's over the 22's because of the stand issue. We loved them so much we ordered the 22's for the bedroom. I don't know how many people have really compared the 50's to the 60's but I don't think your going to be unhappy either way.

I've never listened to the Fluances yet, either, so cannot comment anything on their sound or product quality. But just how old is Fluance the company??? -- One year? Two years??? If I were to ever buy the Fluance speakers, I would wait for at least several years, until after the business settles down a bit and the company gains some "stable" product reputations. Right now, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the company suddenly closes the door this or next year.

This centiment is based on my personal disappointment to see the demise of the then-reputable manufacturer of my own beloved Hales speakers (even though the company did not go out of business until many years after I got my speakers).

I understand. What about Rockets? Any thoughts, comments? Really trying to narrow my search down. Like I said The Yamaha 2400 is a gift and arriving soon. Quick quest. With eithervthe Axioms or rockets, can i get away with NO sub for a period of time. Until i get funds together for an SVS? Or can you recommend another sub equal? in quality/sound for les money? Diff brand maybe. Thanks.

Have you read this recent thread already?

There is a pretty current thread on the Rockets around here somewhere. They sound very different than the Axioms.

I think you would still very much enjoy any of the Axiom towers without a sub for quite a while. The only way you'll be happy without a sub is if you buy reasonably big boxes for the mains; my recollection is that the Rocket towers are quite a bit more expensive than comparable Axioms.

Hsu Research makes excellent products (Craig is obviously having a bad day, this being his first post ever that lacks his usual glowing endorsement of his VTF-2). They are releasing another line of products in a month or so (the STF line) which will be even more reasonably priced than their already-great-value VTF-2 and VTF-3.

I looked for a previous thread that had several good recommendations on lower priced subs but could not find it. (help?) My recollection is that people advocated the Dickason Titanic at partsexpress.com, the Def Tech, the Paradigm and the Athena at the sub $400 level. But I think most folks are going to advocate spending a little more to get the Hsu or SVS.

I have never heard the fluance line, but I see them getting sold on ebay dirt cheap. Don't know the history of the company, but if it is in anyway related to Nuance, I wouldn't bother with them. Axiom, Energy, Paradigm, PSB all have entry level speakers that are more worthy of consideration.

Hey Davey,

Since you already have your Yamaha 2400, you should try auditioning any speaker lines you're looking at with them. Different speakers have different attributes and should be compared closely. For example, some have said here that the Rocket's and Axiom's sounds are like night and day. Take your time and trust your ears (the type of sound you like).

Davey, about two months ago, I went over to a buddy's house (that I get together with about 3 times a year). He has an entry level Onkyo 5.1 receiver, and to my surprise, a complete set of Fluance speakers. I have no idea which models they were, where he got them, or what he paid.

Before I post my thoughts, you should know a few things. First, I own the Axiom M80's, which are an amazing speaker. As much as I try to remain unbiased when listening to new speakers, I do generally tend to be disappointed. Secondly, we did not do any "serious" listening - just threw in Fleetwood Mac's concert DVD of "The Dance". I have watched this countless times on my system, so I am very familiar with it. Thirdly, his speaker positioning was not ideal, as I could never find the "sweet spot", no matter where I stood or sat.

Here goes......
My initial impression when I first saw them was "economy". The cabinets were finished in a black vinyl veneer that seemed no better than speakers from an all-in-one system from Wal-Mart. No comparison to the "seamless" Axiom cabinets. I popped off the grill to find much more impressive and expensive looking drivers. Not the aluminum variety found in Axiom, but nice looking none the less.

Listening......
The thing that stood out the most was how small and shallow the soundstage was. Whereas I am used to a massive soundstage, there was none with these. No matter where I stood, they just wouldn't "open up".

The bass was pleasantly tight and not over bloated - similar to the 80's, just lacking the dynamnic impact and accuracy I am used to. Still acceptable - better than others I've heard.

The mid's & hi's were not bad, just lifeless. Lead guitar came through ok, but Lindsay & Steve's vocals seemed "flat". There was no sparkle, no magic. No sense that you were listening to something special. This is the complete opposite impression people have when they listen to the M80's.

Overall, for my buddy, they are fine. He seems happy with them, and that is all that matters. They play far better than their cabinet fit and finish suggests. For me, if I could get a set cheap enough, they would be a perfect first speaker for when my daughter turns 9 or 10.

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For me, if I could get a set cheap enough, they would be a perfect first speaker for when my daughter turns 9 or 10.

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Wow... You are going to give her a real head start in audiophile training! Don't spoil her too much.

My 16-year-old daughter still does not stop turning the bass control knob to the max on everything she has her hands on, from her boombox to her car stereo to her CD/MP3 player, despite the semi-constant gentle "advice" from me suggesting that she is destroying the music by doing so. LOL LOL

Masa, she is already on her way. She is 4 and seems to like all different kinds of music. (Currently, I am sick of that Fleetwood Mac DVD because she plays it constantly.) She knows where I keep my downloaded music on the computer, and has no problem opening the files, changing directories, and adjusting volume. (I do not use any type of jukebox software) I have the sound card on the computer connected to the main stereo, and she refuses to play music through the computer speakers. Makes me smile. On my integrated amp, she knows that under no circumstances is the volume to be past "here". YES, I let my 4 year old touch the stereo! I have taught her the proper operation and respect required. Far better than forbiding her and then having her touch it behind my back.

Hi real80sman,

Nice to hear that about your 4-year-old. I did the same thing when my son was 3 or 4 (I just found a photo of him wearing a pair of Koss PortaPros at 3) and he always treated my components with care, including two turntables, one high end (he's 21 now and collects vinyl but also CDs). Like you say, you don't have to "forbid" children to touch A/V gear--just patiently teach them to use it with care.

Hey, Fluance rhymes with Nuance. I've never heard Fluance. I talked to a guy in Brooklyn who told me the Fluance were amazing at dirt cheap prices, but he upgraded to Axiom.

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YES, I let my 4 year old touch the stereo!

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And she won't poke around the tweeter dome like somebody's idiot roommate, right?

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I have taught her the proper operation and respect required. Far better than forbiding her and then having her touch it behind my back.

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When I was in your daughter's age, my father did exactly the opposite -- he strictly forbade me to touch his brand new LP set (Beethoven Symphonies No.1~9 by Karajan/BPO). Of course, that highly motivated me the evil boy, and I played the LPs again and again behind his back. Good or bad, for me this secret experience made an excellent introduction to orchestral music... In the end, I practically ruined his entire LP set by overplaying them (which I still have here in Dallas) -- I am sure he knew but he never ever reprimanded me for this little "criminal act." I have a great respect on his big heart. Well, maybe everything went exactly according to his plan...

sushi,

What kind of music is your daughter ruining by "over-bassing" it? Are you sure it's not acutally improving it my making it harder to listen to?

Good point, Peter...

I just have to disagree. NO music benefits from too much bass. Trust me, I've got neighbors who listen to mariachi at high volumes/high bass.

Are you sure it's Mariachi music? I think you're probably lumping all Mexican music into one category. I mean, there's ranchero and mariachi, but there's also, banda, grupero, conjunto (a.k.a. música norteña), orquesta, and La Onda Chicana (a.k.a. The Chicano Wave).

(Google can sure make you look smart! )

I actually know it's not mariachi. I think I actually like Maraichi. What they're playing is the kind with tubas and accordians. I just don't remember what that kind is called.

I have the same problem, the "Latin" Americans below me play tuba music through their shitty booom box with so much bass. All I hear is bum, bum, bumbumbum, bum. It sounds like the same bass riff over and over again for the length of an entire cd. It is so annoying. Yet when I play my system, which consists of Axiom, Velodyne and Denon components, Hardly any of the noise leaves my apartment. I wish everyone had good, clean speakers

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Hardly any of the noise leaves my apartment.

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You need to turn your sh*t (and I mean that in a good way) up to 11, then!

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What they're playing is the kind with tubas and accordians.

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That's polka.

"What they're playing is the kind with tubas and accordians."
"That's polka."

Sounds more like a nightmare I had last night.

Maybe he's living next to Weird Al.

Davey,

Are you sure Fluance is not a brand for a vacuum cleaner or something? Can't claim to be an expert but I've been interested in audio/visual for quite a while and Fluance sounds like a speakers churned out by someone in a garage!

May I suggest that you be careful when buying "unknown" speakers 'cos without reasonable feedback from dealers and consumers, you could end up paying a premium for something that might self destruct by used by date!

Fluance is a "real" speaker brand: www.fluancespeakers.com Nothing shady about them, AFAIK.

They mostly only market Fluance on ebay and other online stores. They do sell them however at a local import/export store here so I have heard a pair. These were the big floorstanders with the side firing woofer. Initial impressions were
1. Construction was very shoddy
2. Sound was flat,no dynamics, highs seemed muffled
3. Price was fair
You get what you pay for. If sound quality is unimportant by all means buy these and impress your friends with their funky looks and please the wife with their tiny footprint. If.however. you give a rats ass about what you'll HEAR from a pair of speakers then look elsewhere. Great sound is almost always a little more expensive.

Mike

Proac...now thats a nice sounding speaker.