Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners The Might from Dwight - Review of the EP800v4

I find through my system a lot of recordings{C.D.s} that sound good through headphones sound terrible. Separated almost like the band not together at all. Or hiphop and RNB that sound like a really bad record was used for their tracks.

The quality of Tidal or Spotify eliminates a lot of bad C.D.s flaws. To witch I have never noticed the same effect from a Vinyl sounding like they mixed every part of the tracks at different levels.

In 2 Ch listening, I have lots of recordings that are a cut above many others; however, whether it is 'depth' or not I can't say. In HT, depth can be quite apparent due to surround wizardry.

With most modern music where virtually all instruments & vocals are amplified in some fashion, their output levels are mixed to be really close to being the same thus nullifying any apparent depth. The result is a flat wall of sound.

After all of the live music concerts or pubs that I've attended, I can't say that the drums sounded like they were way in the back as they most always are. Even in a symphony concert in a large hall from the 25th row, do the tympanis sound like they are way behind the violins? Not really; however, sounds of the various instruments are easily picked out by their azimuth across the stage.

Depth seems to be only regularly found in reviews in snobbish audiophile magazines that I find not to be very credible in relation to my experience in real world listening - both live & at home...

TAM

Both of my setups

2 way leema Xero minimonitors (extremely small image monsters)
3 way Statement 2 towers (extremely large bulky towers)

Each exhibit depth in each of those recordings. Its not silly "the entire soundstage falls away from me" kinda stuff, but clear separation in the 2 tracks I mentioned. I use Sublime- Badfish as a test track for this. There is a swirling siren at 2:06. Its there.

Put on Louie Louie by the Kingsmen. I was googling around to find what other people use. They sound like they are at the end of a narrow corridor on my theater setup (not in a good way!)

I wouldnt fret Mojo. Its not your speakers/sub. Its a setup issue. The setups I tune all have depth when Im done. Its a secret!

Hi TDIPablo,

It is possible to have your on-wall M80s made with a special cabinet that is less than 10" wide. If you want to pursue this option let me know.

Thats awesome

Sometimes I get the same effect just because the speakers do a really good job of distinguishing between instruments. No Doubt's Hella Good is a good example - on many systems and some headphones it sounds like a single bass track, but through Axioms and similarly toned speakers there are clearly at least two distinct bass tracks (one electric bass, one keyboard bass IIRC) and maybe three.

I have a bit of the same sentiment as you - sometimes it almost seems better when the speakers/headphones blur all the tracks together. It's kind of counter-intuitive.

He's on vacation in sunny YT so i'll do it for him.

MOJ, you're being overdramatic.



So by generalizing your earlier comments, it sounds like the EP800 pressurizes you larger room better than the EP600, and secondly, you had a distinct bass void at some location in your room.

Query, if you had two EP600s and no bass void, would it have sounded as good?
Or are you convinced the EP600 just isn't a good sub? (judging by your comments, that's what it sounds like you're saying)

I've been contemplating a switch to a more beefy sub for quite some time. The old EP350 was good in our smaller room, older house, but still had to crank it to 75% to get that chest thumping from a solid explosion sound. Love it for music, but it seems underpowered for movies.
I had my eye on the newer EP500 as a contender. Space is at a premium to jam in anything much larger, though i might be able to place two EP500s if i really changed around a few things including, at some point, replacing an older tv with a newer, on wall OLED thus freeing up space under the tv.

At some similar point, i will also be switching out the VP150 for the VP160.

Mike, I had the EP600v2. The sub suffered from too much distortion likely due to the port but not completely I think. Two EP600s would have been worse. It was as bad an experience as driving on Portage Ave with the year-round construction...LOL! It had no problem pressuring my 4,200 cu.ft. space but it wasn't a linear experience. The 800v4 was a God-send. It cleaned everything up and I have tight, transparent, effortless, fast, distortionless bass throughout my room and it doesn't distort no matter how much you turn it up. It's quite amazing, really.

You only need one 500v4. SlimPikins has one in his 10,000 cu.ft. space (for music only) and loves it. I tried a 500v2 in my 4,200 cu.ft. room a decade back and it had no problem with music and movies. If you do get one of the DSP-based Axiom subs, you might want to consider asking Ian to give you the gut punch mode (read my review).

The VP160 is sooooo much better than the 150. It's a no-brainer. I just upgraded from the 150v2 which I think you have, to the 160v4. So glad I did.

This would have been a question for sure.
Ported vs sealed.
The EP350 has suffered from 'port chuff' for years.

I'll keep those thoughts on the EP500 in mind. If i actually can find room for a second one, i might go that route.

Nooooooooo! I hate you Ian, with every fibre of my being! Ok, now I have to come up with a very subtle plan to convince my wife I need this massive upgrade.

(My life was much better thinking this was not an option )