Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46620 05/22/04 03:27 AM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 103
veteran
OP Offline
veteran
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 103
Hello!
My wife and I bought a new house, and I spent some time upconverting the game room into a media room. The game room measures 16" X 14" X 10", and is somewhat sound insulated. It is wired for 7.1 surround sound with 16 AWG cable.

What I need now is a 7.1 receiver with matching speakers. I'd really appreciate your input on which combination you'd select. I'm sort of a newbie in home theater/DVD Audio, so any input will be gratefully accepted.

I'm evenly split between listening to music (classical, easy listening, pop, soft rock) and watching movies (action, sci fi).

For a receiver, I'm trying to decide between:
a. Yamaha RX-V2400
b. Onkyo TX-SR 801
c. Denon AVR-3805

For the speakers, these are my four options:
a. B&W (602 S3 fronts, LCR600 S3 center,ASW 650 sub, 601 S3 sides and rear)
b. Aperion (intimus 7.1 speaker system S-12 sub)
c. JBL Northridge (JBL E80 fronts, JBL 3C35 center, JBL E30 sides and rear, JBL E250P sub)
d. Axiom Epic 60 with extra pair of QS8s

Thanks very much for your time ... have a great day.

Ananth


Axiom M80Ti, VP150, M3 on walls X 4, M3 ceiling X4, HSU VTF-3 MK3

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46621 05/22/04 05:57 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
Take it from me.. scratch that JBL off the list now. the axioms would completely blow away the JBL's. I had the old ND310. going to the M80's was such a difference, they are in a whole different class than the JBL's

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46622 05/22/04 01:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
There have been many comparisions to the B&W on here as well and the Axiom's beat them out.

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46623 05/22/04 01:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 149
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 149
Each of these systems is going to sound very different. They are all good for what they are. If sonics is driving your decision you need to get out and listen to each of them (Axiom has a very dedicated and loyal customer base many of whom open up their homes for audition). Otherwise you won't know if their sonic presentation is one you'll want to live with. If you're not so picky about sonics, I'd say get the one that best matches your decor. Again, they're all good (but different) and opinions are opinions. You'll need to do a little work to figure out which is right for you.

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46624 05/22/04 02:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 427
devotee
Offline
devotee
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 427
I would definitely say go with the Denon 3805, it is the newest and most feature laden reciever on the market. Denon also has one of the best reputations around.

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46625 05/22/04 07:23 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 24
T
hobbyist
Offline
hobbyist
T
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 24
Hey and Welcome!

Along with seconding the comment above about auditioning the various speakers you're considering (at least the mains), let me suggest that you shouldn't feel obliged to have your subwoofer be part of whatever system you decide on. Unlike mains and cc's, subs don't have to be voice- or timbre-matched.

In fact, unless you insist that the cabinetry coordinates with your mains/surrounds, you're probably better off considering a sub from a specialized brand like SVS, Hsu, Velodyne, etc. I think you'll find (and most here would agree) that they represent a better bang/buck value. Do a search for subwoofer and you'll find a ton of threads to that effect, I'm sure.

Congrats on the new house; enjoy the hunt.

Roger

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46626 05/22/04 09:32 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,951
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,951
For your musical tastes the Axioms would likely be a good choice but I question whether you need that many speakers in a room that size. If you go with Axioms a single pair of QS8s (located properly) would give you a pretty encompassing sound field.
I did audition some JBL E30s vs. Axiom M3s vs. Monitor Audio Bronze 2s. The JBLs had VERY bloated bass and a sssssssssizzzzzzling tweeter, but you would be using them as surrounds so maybe that wouldn't matter. The Axioms and MAs would both be better choices from the listening I have done. MA also has dipole surrounds, right?

Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46627 05/22/04 10:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 209
local
Offline
local
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 209
Out of the list you provided, I would choose the Denon receiver.

I wanted to echo what somebody else already said....forget about matching a sub from the same manufacturer of your speakers. Instead, pick your speakers of choice and mate them with a SVS, HSU, or even a Martin Logan. Although I am not a big fan of Martin Logan speakers, their subs are excellent.




Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46628 05/22/04 11:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,016
B
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
B
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,016
congrats on the new house. here is my .02 cents.

you are getting thumbs up on the denon, but the onkyo 801 would be a good choice also. i have the 701 powering m60's, 2 QS8's, and the VP 150. but my room is almost twice your size(28x26x8). i have PLENTY of sound to fill my room, and have never come close to maxing out the volume knob. i truly dont think you will be giving up anything with the 801..

not to mention, the set up,instruction manual, and remote control is much better on the onkyo products than the denon products. just my opinion based on my and others experience.

as far as speakers, as one person has mentioned, sound is a very specific thing.. it is important to buy what sounds good to YOU. try and find some speakers to audition, and decide which sound you like for yourself. and make sure you get a good sub. it is necessary for HT. dont skimp there.. you will regret it!

bigjohn


EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU THE SINGING BUSH??
Re: Axiom vs B&W vs Aperion vs JBL Northridge
#46629 05/23/04 04:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 129
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 129
Please don't flame me for my opinions!! I own an Outlaw 950 and a Parasound HCA-855a amp. The Outlaw has a ton of people who have never heard it that constantly bash it and the Parasound has an 85X5 power rating (It was bench tested at a dealer and put out 93 X 5 with all channels driven 20-20k). Last week I bought a Denon 1804 to put in the family room theater. It is rated at 90X6 and states "equal power amplifier section" in its features.

I tested the Denon against the Outlaw/Parasound Combo. Granted, the Denon was $500 and the Outlaw/Parasound combo set me back over $1300, but given the way people rag on the 950 and rave about Denon, I thought I would give my first hand impressions.

The Denon does not drive my speakers as well as the combo. At medium levels it just plain runs out of juice. It is quiet and really sounds pleasant, and it has the latest bells and whistles. The sub distance can be set (the Outlaw does not have this feature), but the Denon does not have the bass management capabilities of the 950. The 950 has a great remote compared to the Denon, and is MUCH easier to use than the Denon, and I have been an audio enthusiast for over 20 years, so I'm no newbie! I use a Home Theater Master MX-500 to better work the Denon system, but because it is not OEM like the 950's HTM SL-9000 remote, it still takes a little more to switch from, say, DVD to cable.

My speakers are M80s, VP-150, and QS-8s.

I sure hope this helps. The Denon is a decent receiver (better than I expected), but it does not match the 950/Parasound combo, and I think the 950 and 7100 combo would do well against any of the receivers in the price range.

I know the 1804 is not a 3804, but if they work similarly, I would suggest considering a 950 and perhaps the Outlaw 7100 amp. I know they have a special on them right now, which makes the price very competitive with the Denon 3804/ 3805.


"Life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness"...Go Packers! and Go Badgers!
Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 558 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4