I just recently purchased my theater system, and im getting a little concerned. I bought the M60s, QS4s, 150, ep350 and i read on here that most people say the EP500 is much better than the 350. I have a relatively small room ~2000 ft^3. I dont have the speakers yet (factory outlet), but i was just trying to get opinions on if the 500 is worth the cost compared to the 350. Is the 350 good, but the 500 is GREAT?...this may all be a moot point since im getting married in 4 months and have no money, but just trying to get a consensus. Thanks in advance for any info

Hi aouimet,

I think you'll be quite satisfied with the EP350 in your 2000-cu. ft. room: its output is tight and solid, but it doesn't qo down quite as deep as the EP500. Nevertheless, the 350 is "very good" on electric bass and acoustic bass and on kick drum", as I noted in comparative subwoofer tests I was doing earlier this week at the Axiom listening room.

To translate that into real-time experience, if you're watching the scene where the pods emerge in the remake of "War of the Worlds", there are lots of good deep rumbling and impressive low-frequency effects from the EP350. If you then switch to the EP500, the amount of ultra-deep output is awesome, and quite scary. But you'd only notice that difference if you have the two subs in the room and are doing comparative tests.

The other virtue of the EP500 is the amount of very low-frequency output. You could put the EP500 in a much larger room--say, 5,000 cu. ft or larger--and it would continue to be as impressive. The EP350 wouldn't keep up to it because its amplifier is smaller, the box is smaller, and the woofer isn't as linear because the 500 has the custom DSP circuit coupled to the 500-watt amplifier.

But I assure you that you won't find the EP350 disappointing.

Regards,

Another way to look at it is that if you get a 500, you will never need to upgrade.

Not true, there is the 600.

I wasn't gonna be the one to tell him that. Poor guy. Now he'll have to forego his honeymoon .

I think Alan summed it up really well.

I do recommend that people get the 350 instead of the 175 because the price difference is small, but EP350 to EP500 is a much bigger jump.

If you want to enjoy movies the 350 will do a great job. If you want to shake the room and scare people (or if you have a bigger room) you might want to think hard about the 500.

If you really want the EP500, may I recommend swapping your M60s for M22s. THe M22 EP500 combo in a room that small sounds amazing (I have mine in an 1850 cu.ft. room and it fills the whole room with heart pounding bass, and amazingly clear highs.)

Just a thought.

thanks for the advice...Im gonna keep the m60s because ill move to a bigger house in a few years, and then ill probobly decide if the 500 is necessary. It is painful waiting for them to arrive though. Thanks