Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Timber Matching SVS with Axiom

Does anyone run SVS fronts with Axiom surrounds?

I currently have all axiom speakers, but am moving to a new house and plan on starting over. The room will be 21 x 14.5. It is a family room with a fireplace at the far end and entrance to kitchen on the other. Therefore I will be viewing the Tzv\projector screen from roughly 12 feet with about 2.5 feet behind me.

I am thinking of using 4 in wall M3s for surrounds, 4 in ceiling M3s for atmos. I am not sure yet if i will go with the Axiom M60\80s or SVS ultras\ pinnacles for the front. I will decide this once i audition the fronts. However SVS does not have in wall speakers for the surroungs\atmos so i most likely will go with axiom for that. My question is whether timber matching is something i have to worry about in this type of setup if i choose SVS for the fronts?

Also any thoughts on the in wall M2s vs M3s for back and side surrounds? I know the bookshelf M3s have a somewhat unnatural bump in lower frequencies so thought i would ask.

At my place, I've heard various models of fronts with Axiom surrounds and centres. I've also heard mixtures of fronts, centers and surrounds elsewhere including Axiom mixes in those mixtures. I'm quite picky and yet I've never found different timbres to be detracting or distracting.

The M2s are more like your W22s. They have more detailed, clear mids than M3s and improved lower highs. But they don't reach as low as the M3s. If you cross them at 80Hz, they'll sound good even at high volumes.

Then again, some prefer the more mellow sound of M3s. I keep saying it would be cool for me at least to be able to switch the Axioms from M2 type sound to M3 depending on mood. That goes for my active LFRs as well.

I should also add M3 bookshelves are unnaturally bass heavy for my 1900 cu ft living room. The M2 bookshelves and on-walls are perfect in that regard.

I bought into the SVS hype and replaced my EP350 for an SVS PB2000. That was a huge mistake as I had no idea at the time the difference a decent sub makes in a room. I now have an EP600 and can't believe the difference it makes. Maybe not the best comparison you're looking for, but I learned a lesson, nonetheless. There is a good reason why SVS doesn't have an open forum on their website.

Hi listener

To answer you question, as long as the LCR speakers are matched you are ok.

The surround channels do not have to be the same brand to get great sound so long as they are properly positioned and level matched in output.

Even in a system with the same speakers all around, there will exist timber differences due to phase, acoustics and interference with your seating choice. The “head related transfer function” also plays into differences at a given angle.

Playing pink noise in each channel will quickly reveal differences, even in a matched system.

Thank you all for your input. That is great to hear. Rebulx, I was actually thinking of dual PB3000s for this new space. I have their SB1000 right now in my den and really like it. What did you not like about the PB2000? SVS always gets such great reviews... i guess i could demo those as well for comparison with Axiom. Does anyone know what the return shipping costs to return the towers and subs from the US back to axiom?

BTW the ceiling height is 12 in this room so around 3700 cu ft

In my experience the PB1000 doesn't stack up against Axiom towers.
I have the M80s in my system started with a PB1000 due to the low end of my M80s basically totally masking the PB1000 out right. I'm a proud owner of an E.P.500.

Mind you all the reviews I've seen on the 3000/4000 series have been very good. Plus they're rather large subs as well, Might help them actually produce something below 25/30 Hz.

If using Axiom towers I highly recommend one of the Axiom subs as well.

Before I went to towers SVS was sufficient {M3/M22} set ups I thought it worked great. Just not enough power for towers.

Sounds like a really nice space.

106” screen sounds about right.

I have a fair amount of experience using SVS Ultra Towers, SVS Ultra 16 sealed sub, SVS cylinder subs such as the PB2000 and the two other models up which elude me in terms of the model numbers. My experiences were very poor with all of the speakers in terms of performance and durability. Virtually all of the speakers failed in a very short term after installation.

I auditioned a pair of Bryston Middle T towers literally set next to the SVS Ultra towers and my God, it was stunning how much they bettered the SVS's in all aspects. I replaced one of the SVS subs, I think it was the 13 inch ultra cylinder sub with an Axiom EP500 and it was amazing how clean it sounded vs. the muddy mix the SVS put out. I then added in an EP800 V4 and things really ramped up in performance.

I found a pair of Bryston Model T towers which went in to replace the Middle T's... Yikes! Same sound signature, but the system elevated to a whole new level. I ultimately brought in a Bryston Model T sub which melded perfectly with the Axiom subs. Keep in mind that Bryston speakers are all built by Axiom and they share the same drivers other than the 8 inch woofers in the Bryston Model T series, but its all Axiom built equipment. Everything just works together in perfect harmony.

My advice is to skip over the SVS stuff, which I believe is all built in China and just do whatever Axiom combination you determine will work for you. The quality elevation is very evident.

I am considering using the LG ultra short throw projector and a 110 screen in this space. Just worried about day time viewing. My wife would like a tv for that reason.... I even considered a Samsung frame TV for daytime viewing and a vivid storm floor rising ALR screen to cover it in the evening.