I've done some looking around and listening, and several forums have referred me to Axiom so I figured I'd come here and read up. Which Axioms would you recommend for an apartment living room about 15x13 in size? Whole place is about 800-900 sq ft.

I'm looking mainly to just get fronts, center, and sub right now. Surrounds I'll probably pick up later

I don't have separates at the moment, it'll be powered by a Onkyo TXNR801 receiver.

Thanks!

You can't leave surrounds behind for an HT, without those, movie watching would not be very exciting. You can actually skip purchasing a sub and a center channel (use a phantom center, as I have read here). Just get M60s and QS4s or 8s now, and save up for a sub and center for later.

Living in an apartment is really an issue for having a sub. This is the main reason I don't have a real ht for now (only a HTIB from three years ago).

By that response I take it that M22ti's or M50 wouldn't be sufficient for a room of that size?

sub isn't a problem, neighbor-wise...I'm on the ground floor, only a tenant above me.

From what I have read here, M22s seems to be closer to M60s in sound than M50s. Since you are buying a sub to go with them, and considerding your room size, M22s would be fine. However, for 2 channel music listening without a sub, I would prefer floorstanders.

cool, thanks. Due to the way things are laid out, I'd say its about 9' from viewer to TV

I really don't listen to alot of music. I'd say 80% is movies or sporting events (NFL or NHL mainly) and the rest is xbox/ps2. When I do its when just I've got buddies over drinkin and playing cards (usually techno or rap/hip-hop)

My only question now is, would the vp150 be "too much" (if there is such a thing) in certain settings?

I don't have a center channel yet, but for a large room like mine (23x20) VP150 is suggested. Probably for your room vp100 would be OK. Others with Center experience will probably chime in soon.

I've had my M22s (with two subs) in about the same size apartment/living room as yours for about three years now, and I've been extremely pleased. My only complaint (and it's one that's common for the other apartment dwellers on this board) has been that I do have to be a conciencious tennant and a decent neighbor.

With those kind of restrictions in mind, the 22s are a fantastic choice. They're more than capable of filling the room (and equally capable of annoying your neighbors), and they're wonderfully accurate speakers. In short, they're perfect for the home you're currently living in. The only question you should be asking yourself is whether you want to stretch for a pair of floorstanders so you'll be just as happy later on when you finally move out of your apartment.

You may find your 80-90% movies/games and 10-20% music habits will change after you get your Axiom speakers. I built my system figuring on those percentages, but found that having great sounding speakers has siginificantly increased my music listening. My M22's are fine in a room larger than yours, and I wouldn't trade them for M60's because of space restrictions. However, I do frequently lust after a pair of M60's.

I run a VP150 for the center and don't think it's "too much" although it was turned down 2-3db more during setup compared to the rest of the speakers.

I meant to comment on the VP150. It's not overkill in the least, and I wouldn't step down to a VP100 (no knock on the 100, but I'm very happy with my 150, thank you).

Agreed. The only way a VP150 would be "too much" is if it looked big and stupid on top of your TV. I don't think there would be *much* difference between VP100 and VP150 in your room but that is just from other people's comments.

For "mostly HT" in that room M22s are perfect. If you think there is a significant chance of becoming (re-becoming ? is that a word ?) a music addict or are likely to move into a larger room in the next couple of years then think about floor standers, otherwise don't bother.

As others have said, if your budget makes you choose between surrounds and center I would go for no center rather than no surrounds. The center helps a lot if you are sitting way off to one side, and helps make up for crappy main speakers by giving clearer vocals, but the M22s are about as clear as any speaker you are going to find at a reasonable price. Every receiver I have seen will split the center signal between the mains if Center is set to NONE in the speaker setup -- but do check with your receiver manual first (or just ask here, someone probably owns the same receiver ).

Let's stir the pot a bit shall we?

In case you haven't already......go back a bit to the "Reviews" page and take a good long look at the reviews of the M2/M22s and then the M3s. Not a great difference there really, but a somewhat significant one.

The M3s and their bigger brothers; the M50s, have a somewhat different voicing that some folks find downright pleasant

(If nothing else, it's a fun read!)

Dan, welcome. For the size of your room and the intended use the M22s would be excellent for mains. As both Skerdi(thyname) and John B. mentioned you can at least temporarily do without a center speaker and let the mains form a "phantom" center. After the mains, the surround speakers, especially for movies, should be the next priority, and QS4s should suit your room well. Having a sub would also be highly desirable. So far as power, your 801 should have more than you'd need and there'd be no good reason to consider a separate amplifier, which should only be seriously considered if you'd need several hundred watts per channel.

Dan, my ear isn't refined as the other listeners on this board, but I just got my system below and I couldn't be happier. My room is a little smaller than yours (11x12) but the wall mounted m2is have no problem at all filling the room with PERFECT sound. I'm sure the bigger speakers would sound just as good or better, but I just didn't have the space. Plus if you can get a whole set instead of just the 3 fronts and the sub. You really can't go wrong with anything from Axiom. Just my .02

Hi dan

I own a condo and my living room is about the same size as your room. I picked up the Epic Midi system (M2i's for fronts, Q4's for surronds, vp100 centre, and ep125 for sub. I dont' have any problems with the loudness of the system. In fact it's a great system for such a small space because you won't have to worry about creating too much noise that will disturb the neighbours and at the same time you won't sacrifice sound quality.

The other reason I chose this arrangement was that I was also looking ahead for when I finally own a home (which has happened, I move in next spring) and I finally get to create a basement home theatre. I was planning to move the m2i's to the rear for a 7.1 system with M60's becoming my new fronts. This way I can still use my condo HT components for my new home HT system.

I have heard that having a good sub is more important than surrounds (or good surrounds).

So, I just bought a Hsu stf-1 since the stf-2 Dr. Hsu recommended was too large for my layout and my WAF.

Next I guess I need to break down and get surrounds. I hear they are a really good addition for music and very important for movies (I listen to 95% music).

Also, besides the M22s I would recommend the Ascend cbm 170s - another company of course. Problem with ascends - they look rather plain (some would say ugly) and Ascend does not make bipole or quad pole surrounds as of yet. Hope no one has any problem with my recomending the ascends on this here Axiom board.

Any comments? Someone please tell me good surrounds are not important - it will save me $400!

For movie watching, surrounds are very important. There is a big difference from 2.1 to 5.1 or 7.1 in enjoying movies through a home theater.

Shucks guys....even for TV watchin' surrounds are important, what with most stuff broadcast being listenable in at least PLII.