I'm trying to help setup a sound system for my dad's living room. He has a large room with cathedral ceilings. Due to the fact that he has an entire wall of windows on one wall, three openings to hallways and two pocket sliding doors to contend with---a traditional speaker setup is not possible. I can't convince him to have traditional speakers in the middle of the room, since putting them near a wall isn't possible. Even in-wall speakers won't work. So the only option left is a soundbar. The best one that I have been able to find is the Definitive Technology Mythos SSA-50. This doesn't rely on reflections off of walls as much as from other brands, like the Yamaha for example. In the couple of reviews that I have read they have paired the SSA-50 with a Definitive 8-inch "sub" (if you can call it a sub). I doubt that that sub will be big enough for that room. So, I was leaning toward the Axiom EP350. Will this big enough for the room. If he was doing a more serious speaker setup for that room I would no doubt suggest the EP500. But, I am trying to get something to match the more modest setup that he has. I don't know if I can talk him into spending ~$1000 on a subwoofer when that is what the soundbar is going to cost as well. However, I don't want him to get the EP350 and be disappointed since it is too small for the room. Any suggestions (even if they are not Axiom subs, but Axiom is on the short list of candidates)?

- Nick

I have a 4000 cubic feet room. I would not say that I am dissapointed, but I'm sure i would be happier with the 500. However since your father has already settled on a soundbar I would think his expectations may not be all that high to begin with.

If he likes the sound of the Axiom subs I would say the 350 would work as it worked very well in Mojo's 4000cf basement, But I would still lean towards the Ep500 to really give him some shake or at least dual Ep350's.

My room is 8,000 cu ft and the twin 350's sound great, however, the 600 also helps. I've turned off the 600 before, and was amazed how one 350 or 2 sounded fine. The 500 will go lower though.

Nick, you may already have read this post, but if not, these are my thoughts on what you get as you move up the Axiom line. I think it takes a fairly discerning listener to notice the slightly deeper extension from one speaker to another. Your father may not fall into that category given the sound bar choice. (I'm making a big assumption... if he's a huge bass fanatic, then he might enjoy the slightly deeper tones more than I'm assuming).

Jason

So, from 28 Hz and up the ep350 and ep500 should sound identical in his room? Is the step-up from the amp in the ep350 to the ep500 to just give more lower end extension or is it to help with larger rooms as well? From what I have read, as the room gets larger it takes more watts drive the speakers to satisfactory levels.

- Nick

The 500 will play louder as it has a larger amp, and also has a DSP chip so it can't distort at max levels. The 350 has a new amp which is mighty fine, but there would be a point (fairly loud levels) where the 500 could out perform. Maybe get two 350's for about the same price as a 500.

Yea, but that sound bar will be distoring long before either of them even start to sweat......

Unfortunately, that is true.

Yep, for this reason I was focusing more on the difference in extension rather than volume, but it is true that the 500 definitely can play louder as well, especially in that good-sized room.

Honestly, if the soundbar will remain the center of the system even the 350 is probably overkill to match with it. If you think at some point he may upgrade his other speakers, than either the 350 or the 500 would be a great anchor to a future system.

Jason

I don't know about you but I wouldn't be using an EP500 or an EP350 as an anchor, too expensive and I don't believe they are water proof like the Algonquin's.

:D, true enough, very expensive anchors.

I realize that an ep350 to match a soundbar may be a bit of overkill. But, an ep500 is over-overkill. Also, going with something smaller may not be enough to fill the room with bass. Since, is sounds like the ep350 will work in that sized room, then this is what I will suggest. Thanks for the help.

- Nick

Are in-ceiling instead of a soundbar out of the question?

Paradigm has some really nice ones with 30 degree angles on the drivers to send it more to the seating area.

KEF also has angled in-ceiling.

Just a thought...

I have heard a few sound bars and never heard convincing surround sound from any of them. The pro configured one created some half convincing surround sounds but I felt I had to strain to get them imaged in my brain. I don't want to strain when watching a movie.

In short, in wall would be better but in ceiling would be a better compromise than a bar.

My own, non professional, opinion, of course.

What about something like orbs? They seem to get pretty good reviews and they are very small.

rick240,

I even considered in-ceiling speakers before the soundbar as well. But, he has cathedral ceilings which make things difficult. What makes in-ceilings and in-walls nearly impossible is that one wall is entirely covered in windows. It doesn't matter which way you orient the room you can't put a speaker on that wall and he can't get WAF to put speakers in the middle of the room. So the only option left is a soundbar.

- Nick

Fredk,

Even the orbs have to sit on a speaker stand in the middle of the room. The speaker stands are very minimalistic (similar to the speaker stands for the Bose acoustimass satellites) but I don't know if they will get WAF. I'll run it by him and see what he thinks. Maybe he could hand them by wires and they would look like they are floating in mid-air, that would be cool. Oh, I forgot about speaker wire though, so that probably wouldn't work.

- Nick

Sounds like he is really restricted in what will work. Too bad.