Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Concerns about replacing my speaker system

I originally emailed this to customer support at Axiom a few days ago. I have yet to receive a response. Finances dictate that I sell the speakers I currently have in place, so I'm looking for quick response and I have not received one yet.

I appreciate you taking the time to read and answer my
questions.

I currently own a fairly modest "home theater" system,
but I'm considering replacing it with Axiom Speakers.
My current system consists of:

Sony STR-DA777ES receiver
Infinity Overture 2 main speakers
Infinity CC-3 center channel
Infinity RS-3 bookshelf speakers as "surrounds"
Hsu Research VTF-2 subwoofer

My two biggest concerns revolve around the "surrounds"
and my sub.

My rear-channel speakers are mounted to the ceiling
via Omnimount brackets 7' from the back wall. The
"room" is a combination of a living room and dining
room in our townhouse. The living room is essentially
12'x12' with the adjoining dining room 8'x8'. A
closet, a 4' jog in the wall to the dining room, the
fireplace and the bar over the kitchen counter into
the dining room are limiting factors in how the
speaker array can be placed. Plus the living room is
not a suitable place for speaker stands and a two-year
old. Honestly, the room isn't one that would really
accommodate stands anyway.

At this point, are Axiom bookshelf speakers my best
option for rear effects? I would think that the QS4
speaker would not respond too well being 7' from the
back wall. And I am committed to leaving a rear
channel speaker in this position due to the location
of the speaker connections in the ceiling. If the QS4
is not recommended, would the M3ti be an "acceptable"
alternative? Will I still be able to use my existing
brackets or can the Axiom mounts be adapted for
ceiling use?

Now for the subwoofer. I don't see "voice-matching"
the sub to the rest of the system a priority, but it
will be difficult to predict how a pair of Axiom M60s
will mesh with the sub or vice versa. I am very happy
with the Hsu subwoofer (flat response to 25Hz) and can't rationalize replacing
it unless compatibility becomes an issue. Your
comments on this will be appreciated.

As far as a potential Axiom system goes, I see the
M60, the VP100, and the M3ti (all in Black Oak) as
comparable replacements for the Infinity speakers I
currently own. Once again, your input would be
helpful.

Thank you for your attention to this email. Please
respond at your earliest convenience. I look forward
to reading your recommendations.

Todd Grosenbach

Rest easy, you're in for a treat.

1) KEEP THE HSU! I have the VTF-2 paired with my Axioms (as do many, many others) and it's perfect.

2) The Axiom QS8's (sorry I've never heard the QS4's) are by far the best surround speakers I've ever heard. I hear more surround effects than ever before, and ambient sounds are so much more immersive. It's really like "being there". I've played back multi-channel music with them as well, and they simply rock.

whom did you email?

I would go with the QS4s over the M3Tis. You will get a much more immersive enviroment. I believe you'll also be able to use the Omnimounts with them too.

I emailed support@axiomaudio.com. My initial thought was that if I didn't get it to the proper people, it would be forwarded.

As far as a QS-series speaker, I'm still concerned that reflections from a wall 7 feet away may garble some of the effects. If there is no problem with that aspect, what about how the speaker is "aimed" at the listening area? Should the "front" of the speaker parallel the front wall? Should the speakers face each other? These are questions that need addressed so that I will know how to set things up. My guess is that the top of the speaker needs to be parallel to the ceiling. If this is the case and the Omnimounts are utilized, the top of the speaker will only be approximately 3" (75mm) from the ceiling. The "plate" that is fastened to the back of the speaker is 4.75" tall (120mm) and may not be useable with either of the QS-series speakers I would use. These brackets are rated for 25 pounds each, my Infinity RS-3s weigh 15 pounds each--for these particular speakers, these mounts have worked perfectly. Problem is that it is not recommended to turn the plate 90 degrees to a horizontal position. In that aspect, there will only be side pressure on the mounting ball, no vertical pressure that will be needed for a horizontal mount. In my opinion, the use of the Omnimount is still in question.

Spiff, thanks for your input concerning the Hsu Subwoofer. Other than my Sony STR-DA777ES, it would be the component I would have the most difficulty parting with.

Thanks to all who have responded. Please continue providing me feedback about this. I'd really like to make the switch and I'm willing to part with the Omnimounts and do some spackle repair where they're currently mounted to make way for an Axiom speaker.

Todd

Your email may have been lost, because Axiom usually answers emails in a couple of hours after you emaill them. If you emailed them on a weekend, sometimes it may take a day or so. But definitely try again on Monday. You should get an answer within a few hours.

And I would suggest the M60's, VP150, and QS8's. The QS8's come with wall mounts, so you can just mount them on the wall the way they are supposed to be mounted.