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

Okay, I've got the tv, I've got the receiver, and now I really want to improve the sound. I've got a couple of friends that have Denon speakers and they sound great. But I have got to say that I am really curious to know how these Axiom's sound. Considering my family size and I am probably a bit impatient when it comes to things like this, I would only be replacing one piece at a time (or pair). My room is approx. 1250 cu ft. I have been looking at the VP150, M22, EP350, and not sure on the surrounds.

I did the wizard and it suggests the vp150, m22, qs8, ep500,or the same center and m2i and ep175, and qs4. Why would it make these pairs? The one thing I know for sure is the center. The question is which on should I replace first?

I would start with the pair of M22s to see if you like the Axiom sound first. If you don't then it's a cheaper return shipping cost for you. If you like the sound, then buy the rest.

Just keep in mind with the M22s you will not get the deep bass until you support them with a sub. Audition them to determine if you like their tonal characteristics.

I agree too. You could get the M22's and see if you like them and if not it would be cheaper to send them back during the 30-day trial period. I think that if you listened to them you will really like them, but again, you won't have the deep low end in any quality "bookshelf" speaker without a matching sub.

Denon makes good stuff, but that would be in their receivers, I didn't even know that they made speakers. Now, I am just guessing here, so you can take it or leave it, I won't bash you senseless as if I am a "know it all" like you may get elsewhere, but the Axioms should really be quite superior to Denon speakers as a whole, but not having model numbers to research, it would be hard to get specifics.

Anyway, as to what the configuration is coming up with, I don't know the dimensions of your room, but it is a volume equivalent to a 10x15 room with 8 foot ceilings. That is really close to the size of my room. I could easily have great sound with the M22 fronts, VP150 center, and QS8 surrounds, but I moved my setup into that room from a much larger area so I have M60 fronts. With that said, this combination is pretty solid for a "smaller" room like you mentioned. The sub may be something to consider "upgrading", but the EP350 is no slouch. Really, the EP350 and EP500 have the same size driver (12") and the same size "box", but 300 vs 500 watts and the 500 can go "deeper". I will let someone else speak about those since I've never compared the two.

I really like the QS8 surrounds, but the QS4's are good too. I just think that the QS8's would match the M22's much better since it uses the same speakers (5.25" and 1" vs the smaller 4" and 1" speakers of the QS4's).

You will get better matching sound timbre with the M22's if you pick the QS8's.

I hope that this helps somehow. Good luck, and keep the questions coming.

"Speaker of the House," and "Those in the Know," I think you're a poet Corporal.

As to the M22s, I would not bother with them unless you already have a subwoofer. On their own, they are, IMHO, thin sounding. If you have a sub that will fill in the lower octaves, then you might find that the M22s shine.

I have some Mission speakers around (made by Denon I think). They make very nice speakers. I still use a pair of Mission DS77 surround speakers in my office system. They are wonderful!! I have a pair of QS8s in another system so I have a frame of reference for comparison.

I'd like to hear a shoot out between some Axiom M3s and M22s with some Wharfedalee Diamond 9.1s, Epos ELS-3s or ELS-8s, Focal Chorus 706s, KEF IQ10s, KEF IQ30s, and some Usher Tiny Dancers just for giggles.

I hate to be the first to reply to my own thread, but oh well. If I went with the vp100 for my room size would I be as impressed or do I need to go with the 150.I currently have a sony center, from an old HTIB. Does not sound all that impressive. I currently have Polk audio T-15 for my L/R. I am not sure how it would sound or if it can be done, to make them be the center. I checked my manual, and it may work, but I don't know for how long. This would put me at 4ohms and I can only go down to 6 at full volume.

I goofed on the speakers, I meant to say definitive. Not a poet, just tried to think of something kind of catchy or clever. (I have no idea)

I think it would be hard for you to be disappointed in an Axiom rig if you were happy with the Denon you heard. I love Denon, but I have never heard them forging ahead in the speaker area outside their HTIB. I presumed they outsources those and just put their name on them. Anyway, my advice is to get bookshelf + sub if you are a bigger movie buff. I find towers are better at music. That is a broad overgeneralization ignoring cost and quality of any two competitors. But sometimes generalization helps make a decision when there really is no bad choice in the zone you are talking about.

As to the M22s, I would not bother with them unless you already have a subwoofer. On their own, they are, IMHO, thin sounding. If you have a sub that will fill in the lower octaves, then you might find that the M22s shine.[/code]


I have a sub although I am not that impressed with it. It is the Energy ESW-8 It does okay for music I suppose, but for movies I am not crazy about it. In your opinion would this work with the M-22? I think that this the biggest bookshelf, and I really don't have the room for floor speaker

I have had the M22s for a while without a sub, and I think you can really enjoy them without. Once a sub is included is when in my opinion they become phenomenal. I second the ideas to try it out, I love mine. Add a sub when you can

As I sit hear with the Blue Man Group DVD-A wailing at 100dB I am reminded that a decent sub (which mine barely qualifies for in most circles) is really a dramtic peice of equipment. The impact added is probably the biggest bang for the buck. I don't know your budget, but I do have experience with that Energy sub in a big room, and I would recomend a good sub if you budget can handle it - they don't give those little bastards away.

Edit: with the sonic peaks in all 5.1 chans on this disk I may need a new sub, keep that little Energy handy!

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.

Budget HT and Focal aren’t a couple of things you here together to often.


I didn’t get to hear a Focal center as the audio shop I listened at was strictly 2 channel stuff. He could order other speakers but didn’t have any centers in his demo loft. If I do get some Focals I was planning to shoot for matching speakers across the front but your assessment of the C800V intrigues me.


I have to agree with you. I’ve been wanting a Focal setup since I first heard them but I was only on temporary orders so my finances where unsure and I didn’t have the $ to afford such a system at the time. I have a real job now and hope to be closing on a house soon and I’ve already lined up the dealer for an in home demo.

Please post back if you have any more share about the Focals.

Cheers,
Dean

Since I often mention my towers are not Axiom, I should take this time to admit that the only characteristic of my system that stands out at 100db plus is a slightly bright flavor on the upper range. The Sax just hits a bit too high, DM's voice just hits the edge of shrill. I mean these are nits I'm picking, but in full honesty I could see focusing on that when I upgrade. But, in full honor to my trustee PSBs, I was surprised how much of that tone is helped by putting a layer of (UGLY) pink insulation board for about 24 inches in front of the speakers. I won't let the towers off the hook, but clearly in my room the reflections exaggerate these notes.

Did I merge with one of my new subs?

Sure looks like you’ve been assimilated.

Oh yeah, and we've seen the photos all over the web, you sicko.

That was CV?

I guess you haven't made it to the videos on EwwTube.