Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Opinions on M80 imaging, sound stage, ETC

Have been thinking this morning, and before going off to catch a few hours of sleep thought I would get the general opinion of the forum. Most have seen pics of the system and I'm wondering if I could get opinions as to what any of you would 'expect' to hear from the Axiom speakers, playing an average quality CD, at say an 80 dB listening level at the sweet spot, in stereo, 5.1, and 7.1.

Trying all differant listening positions, as say 2 to 3 feet from in front each of the 5 M80s, and the QS8s. Also from each speaker, what would you expect to hear from the remaining speakers and so on. Trying to get the general feeling for imaging, sound stage, forwardness, what ever terms one want to use to describe a well balanced/calibrated system.This should not be all that effected with any brand processor, reciever, or seperates, as in any one making an Axiom system go from good to bad.

May be my music hearing is going deaf, and I'm not really be critical to what I'm hearing. Know this is kinda of a diffacult question, but should not be since memebrs have Axioms, and other than a bit large listening area and so on, Axioms are Axioms. LOL There are many memebers in the 60s posse, and as the general comment is the 60s & 80s are close in sound, with 80's being louder.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Oh, for music, I don't care Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, DreamTheater, Spocks Beard, Tubular Bells, NIN, what ever.

I too have the 80s and am very happy with them.I will try to give you some info on how they sound to me .

First off I have mine in a stereo set up.When I listen to music I like to sit in the sweet spot with my eyes closed.As far as imaging goes when I sit and concentrate on what I'm listening to I can pretty much pick out where each instrument is in the recordings.The 80s seem to sound a bit closer than where the actual physical placement of them are,I would call this forward.It doesn't matter if I sit,stand or sit on the floor the image does not change.

As far as the sound I would call them very detailed.I mean a cymbal sounds like it should as does guitar,piano or whatever the instruments are at the time.There are times when I sit there with my eyes closed listening and when I open them the sound seems to be coming from way out of where the speakers are actually placed.When a singer is front and centered I swear it seems there is a center channel playing.In this respect I would say they are very focused,the sound doesn't wander around it stays planted in that position.

Well I hope this is what you were looking for Dennis.Like I said this is what I think my Axioms sound like.

Feeling a bit insecure, are we?

I would go for stereo listening first. That will give you a good baseline as to what to expect from two. Use something well recorded (Sting-Mercury Falling and Brand New Day are a couple of my favorite test discs). If you're sitting in the sweet spot, you should be able to pick out where all the instruments are (bearing in mind, of course, that with mastering, the producers can do really weird things). Buena Vista Social Club is a great one for this, but I am of the opinion that disc could sound good if you put it in a discman, hooked up the headhpone jack to a pair of speakers from the 70s with blown drivers and cranked it. So it may not be the best test to look for quality speakers with!

Okay.....I'm listening to a new Billy Joel 52 nd Street (SACD multi-channel) that just arrived at the door a bit ago.

Now, I 'm hearing exactly what you two just described, and I have not changed one single thing since Monday.

Here is my offer, I'm at most an hour from downtown SF at non rush hour. I'm not going to touch, spindle, or mutliate one single setting on the entire system till one of the lcoal memebrs can make it out here in the next few days. Whom ever can, I will gladly buy them the best lunch/dinner in Tracy. Paranoid I'm not, determeind to get a third opinion that is respected on this forum...YES.

Ken, how about you and I try to help this man out together?

It sounds like a good idea to me, but I need to see if my back gets better.

I'm not broke yet, so the more the better, can use valued opinions in this matter. I don't expect to have it tweaked 100%, mainly want to prove to myslef, that I do know what I'm doing, and not off in left field some where.

Well don't kill youself. I have no plans for the next few days except building the new CD/DVD rack, its simple, and does not take any thought, so I'm safe on that. But I do have neighbors that like to offer suggestions on those projects, that I can do without. lol

Have you considered using lengths of riftsawn quarterround as an edge finish on your CD rack? I hear that looks really great.