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Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
#288142 01/22/10 05:04 PM
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I’ve been a board ‘regular’ for several years; more of a regular reader than poster, but around regularly enough to notice trends. One thing I’ve noticed from day one is that the VP line just doesn’t seam to get the praise that the rest of the line does (has). I can’t really remember a whole lot of complaining about the VP’s, but there has definitely been more non-positive talk about the VP’s than the remaining speakers. I don’t specifically recall anyone or any thread in particular where the VP’s got thrashed, so I’m just wondering what the deal is with these speakers and this perception. Is it real or is based of rumors, nonsense and legacy issues (real or otherwise)?

My motives for asking this are personal. I plan to swap out my vinyl Axioms for the latest version of Axiom speakers to a wood veneer sometime this year. (Well, if my roof replacement doesn’t go over budget anyway.) I would really like to try a couple VP150’s (one over and one under my screen) verses my current configuration of running two M22’s as center. Depending on what I do with the center channel; that will affect my choices for what I use for heights and width’s, subs and so on. I am also in the process of setting up a buddies’ home for surround sound and a VP would be the optimal choice due to his TV size and placement.

So generally speaking, I’m just looking for a broader perspective regarding the VP’s and what owners and other folks who frequent this sight (who are much more knowledgeable than I, which is just about all of you) think about the VP’s. Why do they not get the fanfare of the rest of the Axiom line up????

Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
michael_d #288146 01/22/10 05:14 PM
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Hey Mike,

I will try to provide you feedback asap. I'm in the process of collecting some comments from other forumns on this topic. As you know this seems to come up a lot regarding the VP series...keep you posted...Randy


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Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
SirQuack #288149 01/22/10 05:18 PM
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Man you're fast. Don't you sleep? I just sent you a PM too.....

Thanks Randy.

Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
michael_d #288161 01/22/10 05:55 PM
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I have a W150 and I find it does the job fine. I sit about 15' from it slightly off axis and do not have an issue. I do have other seating in the room closer and more off-axis, and nobody has ever complained about not being able to hear properly. I can only compare it to my old Boston center in my old setup but for me the 150 is completely adequate at minimum.

Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
michael_d #288163 01/22/10 06:08 PM
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I used to listen to multichannel SACDs fairly often and never found my VP100 to be sub-par in comparison to my M22s. Multichannel music will put a center speaker through its paces much more than most movies will, too.

One of the loudest complaints I remember hearing people make about the VP speakers in the past is that they were sibilant, particularly with S sounds. I never had this issue, but I know it's hard to miss a hard S when you hear it so I don't doubt that other people heard this. I chalk it up to accurate reproduction of a poorly-mic'ed recording. Perhaps center channels from other brands would smooth over the sibilance. Also, perhaps the changes Axiom has made to their tweeters over the years have more or less made this issue a moot point.

It would be hard to know for sure without being able to listen to a VP speaker that's 4 or 5 years old versus one that's fresh off the line today.

Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
pmbuko #288205 01/22/10 10:17 PM
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I think it's people listening with their eyes.

The design is "different", so consumers feel justified in questioning it. Pseudo-scientists complain that the multi-driver approach MUST induce nasty comb-filtering or other undesirable traits. Of course, Ian's not a hack and Alan has categorically debunked the notion of comb filtering being significant in Axiom's designs.

I will concede that the width of the VP150 might make placement problematic in some rooms.

I think there is overall a lot of negativity at AVS and some other forums and that it feeds on itself over time.

Personally, I think the VP100 is a very underrated speaker, and I am extremely happy with it.


bibere usque ad hilaritatem
Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
tomtuttle #288220 01/23/10 01:28 AM
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I think that Tom's got most of it there, but the mention of the sibilance also rings bells. However, since that's been a complaint across the Axiom lineup (often with little justification), I am somewhat inclined to discount it.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
Ken.C #288223 01/23/10 02:11 AM
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If a speaker is sibilant, it's always going to sound that way, no matter what you play, so I would also agree with the quality of the source as being very important here. When I listen to Diana Krall, it ssounds rather ssibilant, but throwing on some Norah Jones or Sade sounds very clean.


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Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
Adrian #288228 01/23/10 03:02 AM
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No issues with my vp150 here


-David
Re: Axiom VP Series Quandaries……
terzaghi #288237 01/23/10 04:11 AM
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So by the responses so far, would it be safe to assume that whatever issues the VP’s may have had, perceived, real, imaginary or otherwise, that they are no longer there and they get similar praise as the rest of the line up?

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