I celebrated the settlement of a case last night. I had a few friends over (audio nuts), broke out the good scotch (Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old Single Malt), the cigar box. I fired up the Axiom LFR1100 Actives with the Penta ADA1500 amps, the Oppo UDP205 and started with the explosively percussive soundtrack to The Accountant. The attack of the drums was stunning. Volume was high, impact incredibly powerful, and never a hint of compression, glare, clipping ... only the pure reproduction of the soundtrack. Then Holly Cole's great album, Temptation. The Axioms reproduced her voice beautifully. The mids (where the music is) were pure, rich and accurate.

One friend has a pair of Marten Django XL speakers (about $15,000) driven by top of the line EAR mono blocks and preamp. He wouldn't say the Axioms sound better, but he kept muttering, "these are good, really good!"

I love my main 2 channel system, Harbeth Anniversary 30.2s, Line Magnetic Premium 845 amplifier with NOS 1964 Bugle Boy 12AX7s, Full Music 300Bs, Nordost Frey 2 speaker cable, Marantz SA10S1 disc player. As to 'attack,' dynamics, transient response, there was no comparison. The Axioms are significantly superior. The mid range of the Harbeths driven by an excellent tube amplifier (and an $8,000 Marantz disc player) are arguably superior, but in terms of the overall presentation ... winner: AXIOM! Who would have figured?

I have spent some time with the wonderful Rogers Audio integrated tube amp driving the beautiful $10,000 Wharfedale Elysian4 floor standers. I love this combination. The system is a giant killer! However, I think the Axiom LFR1100s are simply superior. Why? DYNAMICS! The Axioms are incredibly dynamic. PURITY! I think this is, in part, due to the fact that the Axioms have done away with the cross-overs. Instead, each speaker is driven by 5 channels of amplification mediated by the excellent DSPs.

I have also spent a lot of time with a pair of Wilson Sasha DAWs (about $38,000) driven by a gorgeous D'Agostino power amplifier (would not look out of place in Captain Nemo's Nautilus), D'Agostino preamp and DCS Rossini ... about $200,000 worth of audio. This is a remarkable system, and so much more expensive than the Active LFR1100s that it would be unfair to compare them. Nevertheless, the Axioms do not embarrass themselves in the comparison. But, there is just something unique and wonderful about the Wilsons and the Sasha DAWs are, IMO, the sweet spot in their lineup.

A word about the appearance of the speakers. The Axioms have the gorgeous rosewood satin finish. I am waiting for these speakers in the high gloss finish, which I prefer. The Harbeths are beautiful sounding speakers but the walnut cabinets look like the box speakers come in. Actually, they look like a wood crate which you if opened would be full of fish. Brits.

Bottom line: the Axiom LFR1100 Actives with the twin 5 channel ADA1500s are truly world class speakers. I did not expect the digital amps to compare with my favorite tube amps, but the combination is fantasic. Bravo Axiom!

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Thanks Phil cool comparison.

The Actives run through one of the D'Agostino or a Rossini would be a real treat. To bad they only specialize in stereo and not multi channel.

Comparing audio systems is a lot of fun!

I am so excited about the LFR1100As that I want to connect the amps and DSPs with balanced XLR interconnects. I'll get a chance to do that after next week. Appellate brief due on Thursday of next week.

I also want to hook up twin EP600 subwoofers, also with XLR connections. I think they should blend seamlessly and give me a pretty flat frequency range down to 20 Hz in-room.

That should tinkle the ice cubes.

Hi brendo

I listened to the LFR1100As in stereo through the Marantz AV8805 processor. I have to get some more XLRs, so I can connect the Marantz with balanced interconnects as well!

Anyway, yeah, 2 channel through the D'Agostino preamp and DCS stack should be pretty incredible!

Phil - This is one terrific write up. It takes courage to compare the Active LFR-1100's to these world class speakers, and to do so with an open mind. Well done!

Phil, thanks for the review. Your setup is very close to what mine will be: 8805, 2x1500-5, actives, 600s, even the rosewood (satin in my case) .... Very exciting.

P.S. I’m sure the rosewood improves the sound quite a bit ... don’t tell Mojo and Craig that ... as we don’t want to upset them ...

I am a wood newbie. I was struggling between rosewood and walnut. Ian and others convinced me to go walnut and I am really glad I did. The rosewood would have been too red for my place.

Rich, when are you receiving them?

Not if you are color blind!

Good morning everybody!

So, Mr. Craigsub, are you going to use XLRs or RCAs?

I like a bit of red in my cabinets, not my politics.

We went with XLR's - there is noticeable "deeper blackness" to the overall presentation vs. RCA's - a clear indication of a lower noise floor.

Craig, how long are your runs ... can’t imagine XLR vs RCA would be noticeable unless you have grounding issues or some EMI source near by. I’m assuming with the 7703 (think that is what you have).

Now on the XMC ... I know Emotive’s claim to fame is a full differential path which might be better but in complete silence I have to put my ear with in inches of the speaker to hear the noise floor (and that’s with a 2nd rate amp) ... when the music is playing and I’m sitting 8 feet away I can’t imagine it would make a difference ...

Soon I hope ... I ran into some issues with my order (probably on my end) but I’ve had even bigger issues getting into the house that I have not had time to straighten it out.

Rich ... it isn't just the length of runs (2 meters each) - it's how many are in the system, too. There are 10 between the DSP's and the amps alone, plus 2 from the pre-amp to the DSP's.

I am still using the 7703 - and may toss the Emotiva plus an ADA-1000-5 in our theater with the M100's, VP180HP and M3 surrounds.

We have an Akitika PR-102 two channel preamp due in next week that I want to try with the Actives.

I will put it out to the ones whom do. Is it better to put the dsp and the amp with the speaker, so you really only need two longer patch cables from your preamp out. Or keep the dsp and amps with the preamp and then deal with the 10 unshielded speaker wires to where the speakers are?

Craig, I’m sure you hear what you hear ... just trying to guess why
Suspect the balanced outputs of the 7703 are a cleaner path. Bet the 8805 is similar (have not tried the XLR outputs yet).

I was going to use the XLRs wherever I could when the ADAs came in .... mainly for the cool factor on the short runs

The big advantage to having the amp and DSPs outside is that you can replace and/or reuse your amp for something else. I’m not really worried about runs under 25’ for speaker wire (as long as it’s gauge is appropriate)

Sometimes, I need to communicate better. The RCA's were picking up a light hum - not a ground loop at 60 Hz - but a light hum. It was inaudible at the listening position, but was at about 2 feet.

The XLR's are dead silent outside the very faint hiss one will hear through the tweeters on any system at 2 inches.

I wasn't expecting much of a difference in program material, and it turned out it was better. It isn't better in a Stereophile "The violins had more presence, while Amanda's voice was even more sultry than before." It was better in the silence is making for "deep black background."

For 2 channel, the Marantz 77 and 88 series are supposed to be the same.

I'm getting a little hum from my left channel. Hoping going XLR will cure it.

When I first got my 'original' LFR1100 they had a humm to them. it was not the correct frequencty for a ground loop, but it turned out that my amp and the Axiom DSP were using a different method of doing the ground isolation and RCA cables just didn't want to work right. I went with XLR and the problem went away.

Disconnect the PreAmp from your DSP and see if you are still getting the noise. so you'd just have the DSP -> Amp -> Speakers and nothing else connected. This is what Andrew had me do and where we figured out the problem.

Thank you Mat. That is what Ian suggested. Haven't had the chance to try it yet. If I can find my box of XLR cables I'll try that today.

Rich, I read somewhere you are planning an MLP of 8 feet. Be very, very careful with the gain. You'll start experiencing head problems without any warning.

I'm going to try setting up on my wide wall ... if that does not work out then I'll change to the short. I'm looking for more of a comfortable living room area feel where you enter from the side v.s a theater where you enter from the back. This of course made the room design interesting as I needed to plan for both orientations ...

The room is about 21x16+ (finished) which will probably put you around 9+' for the MLP by the time you allow room for the speakers and back wall.

Not sure what you mean about "head" problems ... headaches?

I have found that systems sound better when speakers are on shorter wall.

That’s the generally accepted rule ...

Ooops. Once again, I have demonstrated an occasionally firm grip on the obvious.

I must say ... after moths of listening these things rock... simply the best sounding kit.
I feel my room is the limiting factor when cracking the volume...

I like all the sound recommendations... especially those that bring out the best dynamics.

Slight humm here at 0 volume... Likely the gain on the lines
Keep up this forum

I have an Integra Research BAT 7 channel amp with balanced outputs and a Marantz AV8805 processor. The Marantz uses XLR with European PIN arrangement. The Integra Research utilizes the USA PIN arrangement.

I have to figure out how to replace the 2 and 3 plugs on one side of the balanced cables. Don't know how to do that. Don't want to fry anything.

I still have a slight hum, but the sound quality is off the chart anyway.

It shouldn't be to hard to get replacement connectors and swap the pin arrangements. Check out Monoprice or a music shop you could get the XLRs for about 10bucks each. Then just remember to label the ends.

Or you may be able to just open some of the ones you have and do the swap. Most have screws unless they're pro grade, then they would would be soldered.

Hi Philip,

We can make these special cables for you. What length do you need them?

Wow!That's great Ian. 50" should do it. THANK YOU!