Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater speaker of the house

Can you hear me now Zimm?

Hi Audiodreamer

I take it from the designation that the Energy sub is an 8" unit. A smaller driver definitely will not go as low as a big driver, however, it might be better for music. I used a 10" Velodyne with a 2 channel system and loved it, it may not go as low but it was quick, and could keep up with the music.

I see that some other Axiom user has a pair of Michaura M55s, which use the same 5.25" drivers as the M2 and M22s, but use the 3/4" titanium tweeter from the old M2, M1, Mzero speakers. For some reason, the M55s worked better for me in a 2 channel system than its slightly bigger cousins, the M22s. I have a paif of M22s in my garage system, (no sub) but I'll swap them in for a pair of M55s in one of my 2 channel systems and report back.

Axiom speakers are terrific and their sound quality/price ratio is excellent. There are other great speakers out there which rarely get the buzz they deserve. KEFs, Focals, Wharfedales and the EPOS speakers are really great and also provide some great bang for the buck especially in these times when we can expect even steeper discounts.

Good luck and welcome.

WHAT??? WHO IS NEAR ME???

Were the monks in the room with you. No wonder they are deaf.

No kidding. But I have to say, I was shocked the dB meter was sayin 104 to 105 and yet it does not seem that loud. I know that should not be a surprise, but I still find it amaxing that with good equipment (not great mind you) you can enjoy 104 dB. To bring the thread back into relevance, I have to say the QS8s never broke a sweat. This disk as about as close to a torture disk as I can think of as they use all 5.1 channels in seemingly constant attacks. The towers still impress me, but for our purposes I just have to testify: these QS8s F'n rock. I knew that, but WOW. These crazy blue bastards just beat on drums and low Hz pipes and while the sub is taking the bigger part of the beating, every time the sound circles around the back there is just no let up to the intensity. If Axiom does this with towers, I'm scared.

I've had my m80's at that level several times and noticed the same, being that it wasn't irritating. When I had my m3's at the same level in the same room, it was a different situation. Not sure if that is how you see, or should I say, hear it. I think the m80's would impress you but your PSB's seem to be holding their own.

Your Energy ESW-8 would work fine with the M22s however if you’re not happy with it then you’ll still want to replace it eventually.

If there is any chance you could fit a M22 below or above your TV to use as a center speaker that would give you the optimal setup of having 3 identical speakers across the front. Also a single M22 is even a little cheaper than a VP100.

If your putting your system together a piece at a time I also think you should decide on your main L/R speakers first. I think Axiom estimates return shipping on a pair of bookshelf speakers to be about $30.00 if you decided you don’t like the way they sound.

Depending on where you sit in relation to your speakers you could use a “phantom center” if you don’t get an Axiom center with the M22s.

Consider ordering from the factory outlet to save 10%. All my speakers are from the outlet and none of them have even had a blemish as far as I can tell.

After upgrading your mains what comes next depends on what you are least satisfied with in your current system. If you didn’t get and can’t do without a matching center I would replace that next otherwise I would run a phantom center and replace it last. If you watch lots of action movies and really don’t like your subwoofer then that would be next followed by surrounds. If you can live with the subwoofer then I would get the surrounds first and then a sub.

As far as which Axiom speakers to get I would go with the following:

Mains: M22s
Center: M22 (if you can fit one) or VP150 (if you ever plan to move to a larger room) otherwise VP100.
Surrounds: QS4 or QS8 (if you ever plan to move to a larger room)
Sub: EP350 or something from SVS or HSU (matching subs isn’t as important as other speakers)

Semper Fi,
Dean

@2x6spds

I compared the M22s with Focal Chorus 706s and thought that the 706s sounded better. They had more on the low end and also had a lighter more airy quality. Not sure they were $200 better (price difference at the time) but if money and having matching surrounds (QS8s) wasn’t an issue I would go with the 706s. But if I was to buy Focals the Chorus 807s sure sounded nice and not to expensive.

Cheers,
Dean

Hello Mr. Grunt

I just put a budget hometheater system together using used components for a good friend.

I ended up with the Focal C800V enter from ebay which I swapped out with my VP150 just to make sure it was working. I was gobsmacked. That was the finest sounding center I ever heard in a gorgeous piano black finish for $400. (used) I went with a pair of KEF 104.2s for L/R, and a pair of Mission DS77 surrounds.

He has been out of the country so we haven't finished his system, but I think there might be a Focal set up in my house someday.