Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners What speakers to buy

Packer(fan, I presume), welcome. The loudness level that you use, the dynamic range of the program material and your listening distance(a more significant factor than total room volume)are the primary determinants of how much power is needed at your listening position and suitable speakers to produce it. Unless the level is extremely high and the distance quite long the M22s, with the fine sub you've described taking most of the heavy bass load off, should be very satisfactory.

In any case don't pass up the exceptional QSs for side surrounds. My first pick would be M22s plus QS8s and no center speaker. If tower speakers are wanted, the M60s plus the QS8s would still fit your budget if you order from the Factory Outlet(new speakers with a slight cosmetic blemish)with a 10% discount.

Unless again the sound level would be extremely loud and the listening distance long your 788 should drive your Axioms with ease. There are tendencies to overestimate, sometimes to a gross degree, the amplifier power actually needed.

For 95% home theatre use I would not recommend using a phantom centre. Just my opinion.

I agree

If you are sitting under 12' from the TV, according to everything I have ever been told by Axiom, you will be fine with M22's and a VP100. If you sit more like 12 - 18', you'll probably want a VP150. I would pair either with two QS4's, or QS8's if they fit the budget (they should, especially from factory outlet which is 10% off, plus another 5% if you buy five speakers.) It does not seem filling the room with sound is a priority for you, which the towers will be much better at, if only 5% of what you listen to is music.

Another alternative would be M60's and a VP150 with your current bookshelves as surrounds, but I think you'd gain more from going to QS8's from 20 year old bookshelves than you would gain by going to M60's from M22's.

Should do a fine as long as you’re not sitting to far back and don’t want things really loud. But you will have that same issue with any speaker brand, one advantage of most Axiom’s is that they are efficient and will play a little louder with the same power as many other brands.



I think how far back you plan to sit better determines which to use however, since this is mostly HT I would get the best center I could fit above/below the screen. I’m a big fan of using a phantom center but for 95% HT no way…get the best center you can afford/fit.



I would get the M22s. Matched with your subwoofer they will sound awesome. Since money is a factor why pay for towers when your subwoofer can pick up the low end. Should you ever wish to upgrade to towers in the future you could then move the M22s to another room or to the back as 7.1 surround back speakers.


QS speakers for sure. Which ones will depend on your other purchases and if you just want to spend more for them.

Here would be my options all from the factory outlet to save an additional 10%:

Least expensive:

5. 3 x M22 L/C/R, 2 x QS4 $970.90 shipped.

Or if an M22 center doesn’t fit then:

5a. 2 x M22 L/R, 1 x VP150 C, 2 x QS4 $1,177.00 shipped

You could upgrade the surrounds in either of those packages to QS8s and still be within your budget.

If I go with the m22 as a center. Where would that go? I've read it should be placed vertically not horizontally so it wouldn't be able to go below the tv and would have to go on top. That would mean the bottom of the speaker would be about 4 1/2-5 feet in the air. Isn't that too high up?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Seems most have been stating the m22's as the fronts would work well. As for filling the room with sound I want it filled in very nicely for the viewing area and am not too concerned how it sounds 25 feet away in the back corner.

About the factory outlet option. I've read a little on that about they are small blemishes and not real noticeable. They don't ship speaker that say have a big chunk out of the corner, or a deep scratch down the side etc do they? My luck I'd get the worst speaker ever shipped from the factory outlet.

The M22 center would be set up vertically. If you need to put it over the TV you can do so upside down so that the tweeters are at or close to ear level. This would give the best setup.

Space and aesthetics are the reasons not many people have vertical centers. That said, if you can accommodate it, it gives the best sound.



I ordered from the factory outlet and when my speakers arrived, I did a quick inspection to see what the blemishes might be. I couldn't find anything and decided not to look further (what you can't find you won't see??). Anyway, about 3 months later I happened to notice a tiny blemish on one speaker- a discoloured spot. If I look really hard, I can find it again, but I really have to work at it. There is nothing to worry about.

By the way, that JL 13W1 is an amazing driver and is still considered one of the best in the industry even though it is now an older design. You are probably getting the same or slightly better performance than the EP600.

are you the same fredk as on audioholics? I posted on that site as well, but use the id lbolts20. That's an old id I had setup and can't figure out how to change it to 2packer like I have all my other internet id's as.

If so you can see the build on the sub annunaki did for me. I'm very pleased with it. Just need some nice speakers to complement it.

Welcome fellow Wisconsinite. I think a couple M22's a VP150 and a couple QS8's will work just fine for your setup. Sounds as though you are well set in the sub department. Factory outlet keeps you under budget and leaves some cash for stands or some speaker wire. Be sure to let us know what you end up ordering.

Yup, thats me. I remember that thread. Annunaki has done a few builds for others. He's got a very good rep.

I choose option 5.