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2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
#254667 03/31/09 05:02 PM
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Hello all. First of all, I must say that I am relatively new to the in-house hifi game. I have a living room that's about 20' x 30' by 8' tall. There are two slants in the ceiling due to the roof. The ceiling is covered in wooden panels, and the floor is tiled.

Anyway, I finally want to get a decent setup, but without spending a ton of money. So I have two ideas:

1) get a used set of Klipsch RF-35 floorstanding speakers, matched with a Pioneer VSX-915, or
2) get 2 new bookshelf speakers from axiom, and a used subwoofer to boot. This would also be matched with the Pioneer.

I listen to more music than film, probably 80/20.

My question is, will the second option provide as much sound as the first in my given space?

For those of you who have experience with both companies, does Axiom eclipse Klipsch in sound?

I'd appreciate any input!

Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
dmbartender #254668 03/31/09 05:13 PM
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 Quote:
My question is, will the second option provide as much sound as the first in my given space?

That depends what you mean.

If you are talking about overall volume, the floorstanders will probably play louder. If you are talking about quality of sound, a good set of bookshelves will sound better than a poor set of floorstanders. I found this out when listening to two different levels of Paradigm speakers.

The M22 + sub is an excellent combination. In direct comparison to the M60, a very good floorstander, the bookshelf/sub combo sounded very, very similar.

I have not listened to the Klipsch you mention, so I can't comment there.


Fred

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Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
fredk #254669 03/31/09 05:20 PM
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I agree that a good set of bookshelves will sound better than a poor set of floorstanders. However, I've heard a lot of good things about the Klipsch RF-35s.

In actuality, I like the idea more of buying from Axiom, due to this informative website, and all the praise I've read online about build and sound quality. In addition, I'm sure the girlfriend would prefer cute little mounted bookshelves, as oppopsed to two gigantic RF-35s.

Can anyone comment on the compatibility of Axiom M3s with a Pioneer receiver?

Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
dmbartender #254671 03/31/09 05:24 PM
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The M3s would be just fine with that receiver.


Fred

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Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
fredk #254672 03/31/09 05:27 PM
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That's a pretty big room for bookshelf speakers.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
Wid #254678 03/31/09 05:34 PM
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Welcome to the forum dmbartender,

What budget do you have in mind in total?

Based on your room size and preferences (music to movies) I would invest in a excellent pair of floorstanding speakers first such as the Axiom M60's. Then wait until you save enough money for a quality subwoofer.


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Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
dmbartender #254681 03/31/09 05:51 PM
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+1 to what Fred says. It really depends on your goals for your home theater.

Rest assured that the M22 + good sub is a killer combo.

The only caveat to that is that your room is pretty large, 4,800 cu/ft. M22's are wonderful speakers, but they are still bookshelves. They may be somewhat challenged to "fill up" a space that large at higher volume levels. My room is considerably smaller at about 3,200 cu/ft. At higher volume levels, the difference in the room presence between the M80's and M22's is pretty clear. Even with the same sub at the same crossover settings. The M80's, with more drivers and a larger cabinet, can just move more air than M22's.

That said, I think you'd be quite impressed with M22's in that space, so long as you have a decent subwoofer holding down the bottom end. I was quite happy with the M22 + SVS setup for several years until I got the bug to upgrade to M80's. I'm even happier with the M80's, but I still love my M22's. \:\) Still, that's a pretty big room.....

You can tinker around with the Home Theater Wizard . It'll give you a ballpark idea of what Axiom would recommend. Not knowing your preference for music/movies, I selected all of them and the wizard spit out a system with M60's as the mains (+VP150 + QS8's + EP500). I can't disagree with that. Especially when you remember that M22's will need stands, and M22's+Stands are within a couple hundred bucks of M60's. Especially outlet M60's.

And Klipsch... I would encourage you to listen to them for yourself at a local HT shop and make up your own mind, because opinions vary. But personally, I don't like them. I don't have a problem with their bass or midrange, but I find their horn tweeters to be loud, obnoxious, and grating. They are very unappealing and fatiguing to me. I know that tens of thousands love them, but I am not one of them. I'd almost rather a Bose system than a Klipsch. Almost. ;\)

And don't forget, you can always email Axiom. They will respond. And perhaps surprisingly, they won't just automatically recommend their most expensive products ;\) .


Last edited by PeterChenoweth; 03/31/09 06:03 PM.

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Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
BlueJays1 #254683 03/31/09 05:52 PM
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I think for your size room, depending on your listening habits, the floorstanders are what you need if you like to listen quite loud and be able to fill that room with sound. A smaller bookshelf will fill a moderate size listening area quite nicely but you won't hear it well all around the room.

Have you heard the RF's? Do you like the way they sound? If you can handle the horn tweeters on the RF35s then by all means buy them. I think they are nice speaker, maybe a little too forward(bright sounding as some say) for my liking, IIRC. At 98 db sensitivity they will take very little power to reach some loud levels.

As Dr. House mentioned, I would recommend you stick with a good pair of floorstanders and get a good sub later. The floorstanders will cover the bass for most music easily making a sub not necessary, at least right away.

Maybe check the Hearing Things forum for someone nearby that could give you an audition of a set of Axioms. If you don't see any one that lives close by contact Axiom to see if there is anyone not on the list that they could contact on your behalf.

And welcome to the forum. \:\)


Jason
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Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
PeterChenoweth #254684 03/31/09 05:57 PM
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I would look at the M60's or M80's for that room. I'm listened to a lot of Klipsh speakers, used to own some RF floorstanders years ago. Axiom, is in a different league in my opinion than retail sold Klipsch speakers.

My room is bigger than yours, but I would still consider full range speakers AND a sub if possible..


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Re: 2 bookshelf + sub, or 2 floorstanding speakers?
SirQuack #254685 03/31/09 05:58 PM
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I also forgot to mention that I got sick of the horn sound over time.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


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