I'm sure I'm not the first to go down this road: Ascend v. Axiom v. Onix.
Anyway, I was pretty close to getting an Axiom set-up before I noticed Onix is selling their ELT LRS satellites for $100/pr. (B-stocks). That would be $200 + shipping for all four of my surrounds. Compare that to the $504 for four M2i's or $720 for four qs4's, and there's quite a price difference.
My question is, are the axioms really worth the price difference? Would I be doing myself a great disservice by getting Axiom fronts with Onix surrounds?
Thanks for the help.
Yes that is a reasonable price but do they have 2 pairs available and they will really not compare to the QS series for surrounds.
Doesn't look to be any more ELT b-stock available now.
I'll try to take a stab at this one. I have not heard the Ascends or Onix speakers myself, but you will notice that the ELT LRS, for example, are more, what I would say, geared towards music than movies. They are not di- or bi-polar, let alone quad-polar like the Axioms. In fact, I don't know (not saying that they don't exist) of any other speaker company that makes quad-polar speakers than Axiom.
If you are in to movies (which it sounds like you are) then the QS line of Axioms will give you a better, fuller sound field because of the greater dispersement of sound since the sound is fired from 4 different directions out of the same QS speaker. The ELT LRS looks very directional. Again, not saying that they are bad speakers, but for 5.1, the QS Axioms should be better. I don't have a 7.1 set up, so I can't speak to that directly other than a lot of people don't see the need for 7.1 unless the room is pretty large.
Good luck, and you won't be disappointed with the Axioms, even if they do cost more. (I understand your pain. I usually pick the "cheaper" route too as I am not made of money either.)
Good points, Nick.
I agree that the QS are probably better than the Onix' I mentioned. Yet the question is to what degree?
The point was to see if Axioms surrounds really justify a 3X price premium. For example, obviously a $2,000/pr. set of speakers should sound better than a $750/pr. set. But is the difference in SQ worth the extra $1,250.
Same applies here except on a smaller scale. Is a $360/pr. of speakers really that much better than a $100/pr of speakers when you're comparing Axioms to Onix's. That extra $500 on the four surrounds could go towards an upgrade on the fronts and centers.
If these ELT surrounds can do a fairly decent job, they seem like a steal at that price, especially if that means I have extra loot to buy M80's instead of m22s.
Here's a thought...
For the rear speakers directs are normally recommended rather than di/bi/quadpolar. On the other hand, for the surrounds there is a HUGE difference between the QSs and regular speakers (my QS8s arrived a week ago).
How about a pair of QS8s for the sides and something inexpensive for the rears ? That would let you get M60s if not M80s
2-QS-8s literly light up the side surround of my room which is med/large I guess. Room is 24Lx23WX9 peaked to 18. I experimented with side directs, and the "sweet" surround spot is so narrow, It is just not even a fair comparison. With the QS design, there is no "sweet" spot, cause it's basically everywhere. The quad design envelops the room. I use 22s as rears. I don't know the speaker, I don't think it's a question of better or worse, but application. As much as I love my 60s, I have to say the most impressive speaker to me are the QS axiom speakers in their line-up (HT wise) I have not heard all of them though. If I were to, and I think I will, buy another set of Axioms, it would be 2 more QS-8s, I have the amp to power 2 sets of surronds no problem (overkill??) Not that I would not buy any others, but room wise they would be the only possible addition I could add.
If you're looking to save some money I don't see nothing wrong with mixing and matching speakers. I have M22s up front with some Sony 350h bookshelves in the back, and they do the job fine. Truth is, no matter what you buy you'll probably be happy with it anyway, so you might as well save some cash.
In reply to:
2-QS-8s literly light up the side surround of my room which is med/large I guess.
Umm, not to split hairs, but they figuratively light up the side surround... if they literally light up the sides of your room, they're probably on fire.
Bren R.