Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Speaker and Receiver choice

I want to purchase a pair of speakers and a receiver.

{My apartment is 12ft wide x 28ft long x 8ft high.
The sofa and TV are set up at the far end of the room, on opposite walls. Therefore TV viewing (and stereo listening) will be across the 12ft short dimension of the room}.

For the time being I just want to be able to listen to CD's, receiving decent sound quality...nothing elaborate.
I will probably buy a whole new stereo/home theatre system in the future.

Would Axiom M22's work fine...or any other suggestions?
What is a decent receiver?
What watts/channel?
I started looking at the Yamaha RX-2400, but realized by the time I would use all of its capacity it would be outdated. I just need a decent receiver for now...not looking at it for future expansion....something inexpensive that will work with a single pair of speakers.

Thaks in advance, Rob

Here's an inexpensive receiver. Dakmart is an authorized e-tailer for Denon B-stock. You'll save a bundle and still receive a full manufacturer warantee.

Hi Rob,

What's your total budget?

Craig (spiffnme) gives universally sound advice, and this is no exception. I'm a big fan of Denon (currently have an 1804, which is modestly priced but very feature rich). I've also had HK and Yamaha products in that price range and been delighted with each.

The M22's are a no lose proposition. Buy them, and then decide IF you need more bass. If so, get a good sub (Axiom, Hsu or SVS). You'll be set for a long, long time.

Tom,

Not sure how much I want to spend.

I started out looking for some small bookshelf speakers ...the little Best Buy packaged jobs (I didn't even get as far as looking for a receiver at that time).
I jumped on-line and soon realized that these small speakers weren't too great.

After looking at different sites, I noticed the Axiom speakers on the AudioReview site. I've been cruising through the site, and others, the past week. Yesterday I was about to buy Axiom M80s, QS8s, VP150, Hsu STF2 or 3 and Yamaha RX-V1400...then I came to my senses....I can't afford this, my TV is garbage and I have no place for more than two speakers now anyway.

So I am back to my original plan (I think) of buying a receiver and two speakers.
I believe that receivers become outdated quicker than speakers. I don't want to put more money than necessary into a receiver, since it will probably be outdated (or I'll want something better) by the time I am ready to set up a good home theater system.
On the other hand.. if speakers don't get dated as fast, I wouldn't mind putting extra money into buying a better set.

If there is a question of base quality I would probably like to get as large a floor standing speaker as possibly..instead of the M22s and subwoofer. I talked with the factory and they felt a large floor standing speaker was better than the M22s and a subwoofer...if they understood my question correctly.
I am guessing M80s are overkill for my apartment.
What about M60s?
Not sure what would be the best?
Also is the amp that Craig recommended suitably for larger speakers.
I don't think I want to spend much over a thousand...less probably.
Rob

Craig,
Thanks for the link to the Dakmart website.
(If this reply comes through twice it's because I am not sure how to use the message posting).
Rob

Craig,

So the Denon AVR-1403 would work fine with the M60's in my apartment?
Also, have you every kept track on how often the imperfect speakers, at reduced prices, show up on the website.

Robr,
I just received my B-Stock M60's (Boston Cherry) two weeks ago. I had emailed Axiom about the B-Stock speakers and was told to call 1-866-294-6688 and ask for Noreen Solman. Noreen can put you on a waiting list for any B-stock speakers you'd like. When B-stock speakers are available Axiom will fulfill the waiting list first before posting the speakers to the web site. I called and was put on the waiting list on November 25th and recieved my speaker December 1st!
By the way, the M60's sound incredible and I just have a cheap Sony DE-545 100 Watt receiver.

I just got a HK 525 refurb directly from HK for $500 shipped and LOVE this receiver. HK sells their refurbs on their website, and also puts them on eBay. They sell under the name harmanaudio. Best part is, they give a 2 year warranty compared to most giving 1 year.

The 325 was going for about $400 when I won the 525.

Remember, Denon and Yamaha highly overrate their amps. While what matters is how they sound, as a previous Yamaha owner, I feel I was misled, which maks me not want to purchase from them again. That 1400 you were looking at was measured at 35w per channel.

rdwarn,
Thanks...I have just been put on the waiting list for the M60s in Boston Cherry.
By the way..was there much wrong with the finishing?
I noticed most are discounted 10%, and others more than 10 (I guess those have greater flaws).
Rob

JimmyTango,
I looked at the specs on the Dakmart site (Craig's link), and it says the receiver is 70watts/channel...I'm little confused now.
Is this a mistake in the specs, or am I reading it incorrectly.
What's the consensus on a good, but inexpensive, receiver for the Axiom M60s?