After much discussion, hours of listening and comparing, I finally ordered Axioms last week. I got two M60's, a VP150, and 4 QS8's. I was super exited when the FedEx gal dropped them off. I got them inside and was impressed with the looks. Very nice speakers indeed!

Now here is where the trouble begins. I open the M60's and put the spikes on the bottom. The first few go on easily then I have to 'encourage strongly' the final couple. It seems to me that should not happen. This lack of attention to detail is concerning, but I did get the spikes on so all was still good.

I got the M60's and the VP150 setup. It was getting late and I did not get the QS8's up yet, but I had to hear my new speakers. I setup my Onkyo 705 to just the 3 fronts and my sub. I turned on some music and put the AVR in 'pure audio' mode (not processing - going straight to the mains). I immediately heard a cracking sound from the right main. This was very pronounced with drum heavy tracks. I tried several CDs and got the same cracking. It was late so I went to bed (disappointed).

The next evening I swapped the speakers and replaced the speaker wires. Once again I got cracking (from the same speaker moved to the other side). I'm now positive it is the speaker. So I contact Axiom Audio. First they want me to swap tweeters with the other M60. Are you kidding me? I'm not taking apart a speaker I just purchased. After a few more e-mails, they agree to send a replacement. Great. Now I have to wait a few more days, but I hope it will be worth it in the end.

Incidentally, while I had some time this weekend I did install the QS8's. I decided to run Audessy to see what it would detect. It did come back with an error on the bad speaker(no surprise there). I do, however, have other concerns. When Audessy is running, it plays a special sound. When playing this sound in the past, it sounded similar on all speakers. With the new Axioms, the center sounds very different from the main (the good one). Also, if Audessy detects too much ambient noise, it replays its test tones lounder 2 times. Audessy had to do this on the good M60 (never had this issue before). I'm not sure what this means, but I am not encouraged. Guess I will see when the new speaker arrives next week.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm not quite sure what to make of all this yet. I'm really hoping the new speaker settles everything. I'd really like to keep the $1000 I saved when choosing Axiom over B&W....

Your Audessy issue is normal. Different speakers will sound different with pink noise, in general. These differences will not be detectable when listening to normal (ie, not pink noise) material.

Congrats on the purchase dewd. I'm sorry to hear the one M60 is BOA (busted...). It happens sometimes.

Some people are comfortable swapping out parts and diagnosing problems in home. I'm a geeky guy and would have probably gone for it. I suspect Axiom is just trying to minimize the cost of repair. I expect shipping a tweeter is a lot less than the entire speaker.

Let us know when you get the replacement and get them fired up. Don't forget to post pics.

Dewd,

You have to understand that sometimes, as a result of shipping, the wires could possible jiggle loose on one of the drivers. This would not be a fault of Axiom. You have never received a package from UPS, FedEx, or DHL, that was damaged?

It is very easy to unscrew the driver and look inside to verify you don't just have a wire that came loose, which is a very simple fix.

I suppose if you don't want to try these basic troubleshooting steps to help Axiom , that is your choice, but I would not bash the manufacturer for something that could possibly be a shipping issue.

taking a tweeter out takes 5 seconds...

I bet axiom could have sent you a new tweeter faster than a new speaker too.

But hey, if you want to wait the extra time and go through all the hassle of re-boxing the old speaker then go right ahead!

Hopefully your issue gets resolved though... Problems like this can be frustrating for sure, basic trouble shooting can really help resolve the issue that much quicker.

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!!! I just spent $2500 on a product and now I am supposed to take it apart to fix it? I'm not sure what to say at this point.....

BTW - I'm not bashing Axiom. I understand things happen. The speakers appear to be well made with the exception of the one bad main.

I think the other posters are just suggesting a possible cause (shipping) a possible quick fix. If your uncomfortable in doing this check that's OK.

All it requires is removing a few screws... and does not void your warranty or otherwise harm your speaker.

I understand your concern, but by implementing basic trouble shooting techniques we can help keep the price of our future axioms purchases down!

Again, I hope everything gets resolved quickly for you.

Actually, Randy, I don't quite agree with that point of view. If the wires aren't attached securely enough to withstand the jiggles of shipment, I'd say the attachment method needs revisiting.

While it is very easy to unscrew the driver, not all customers are comfortable with that. (I know someone who accidentally poked a hole in a driver because their screwdriver slipped....) Any frustration they may feel is completely understandable and shouldn't be downplayed.

The tone of your reply is harsh and uncalled for.

I know nothing of this poking holes in drivers thing.

Man, I was so pissed...

I think I did an admirable job holding back laughter...

Yeah, you did. Looking back, it was impressive.

I've actually hit speakers with a screwdriver multiple times (in the car, largely), but it seems to matter less when you do it to woofers not made out of paper.

oh, excuse me.

Sirquack - Peter's gonna start deducting posts from your tally unless you come correct, son. You know he has that power now, right? Check it out... it's in the fine print.

Not going to lose any sleep over it. I don't see the Tone issue anyway, and am saying nothing different than the others. I appreciate what Axiom has done for me in the past, and if I can save them a little of their own money, but checking something that could be a 5 second fix, I'll do it everytime.

If you recall, one of my new 350v3's was not working when I got it, it took me 30 seconds after talking to JC of easy troubleshooting to see one of the main hookups had come off the sub driver. Was it a problem from the manufacturing line? In this case it was and Amie followed up with them to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Oh well, time to go back to sleep.

I wouldn't hesitate to crack open my biz' either, especially if I had an excuse, like a broken tweeter. But others obviously feel differently than us. I don't think your tone was too harsh. You're sticking up for Axiom. So, maybe Amie we reinstitute any posts that Peter deigns to take away. I guess you're at the whim of the gods, now.

Dude, you said deigns. +125 posts for you!

Do you normally drive around with the speakers in the front seat or strapped into special harnesses in the rear?
Is this just for trips to the mall or for long vacations?

Well, that's better than it could have been before I edited it...

I've opened many speakers and operated on them. I've replaced the caps and resistors in the cross overs, added damping, changed the wiring.

Anyway, everytime I unscrew a driver from the MDF cabinet and then screw it back together, I think that the contact between the screw and the MDF is degrading. I wonder whether whatever improvement I hope for from my tinkering is offset by the sonic consequences of the inevitable relaxation of the connection between the screws and the MDF.

All this to say, quality control is important. The fewer times anyone unscrews these things, the better. Some folks don't mind taking things apart. But all of us purchased finished products, not kits.

My experience with Axiom quality control is excellent. I've never received a defective product from Axiom. They obviously take quality control seriously. Every once in a while, someone on the line lets something get by them. I don't blame Axiom for trying to enlist the customer in the cause of repairing a defect, but ultimately, I'm sure Axiom will stand by their product.

Good luck with your new speakers. Please let us know how you like them once they're sorted out.

With pictures.

And smilies...

...an little hearts drawn around the sides... an...

My replacement speaker should be here Wednesday. I have already started to update my HT pictures on my website....

I am not opposed to fixing a problem myself. I recently repaired a rear projection TV by soldering in two new convergence integrated circuits. I saved big money by doing it myself. The difference was that the TV was already 4.5 years old and well past the warranty period.

I'm sorry if I offended the natives. I simply expect more when the cost is so high. Axiom did send a new speaker I was just surprised by the request to swap tweeters.

Hopefully tomorrow I will finally get to watch movies

You know, if you live in a place called Mechanicsburg, we expect you to be able to fix anything!

And since you live in PA, we expect you to have a father.

I think what CV is trying to say is, (and I could be wrong) since you live in PA, we expect you know who your father is.

Oh, I said what I meant, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. Ha ha.

Charles, since PA=father, your comment has deep psycho-sociological significance indeed.

Thanks for tying this together for me John, I was a little confused. But there isn't a day that goes by that Beaker doesn't learn from the wise Dr. Honeydew.

deigns

deigns, deigns

deigns + deigns

deigns * deigns

deigns ^ deigns



What's my post count now?

1746

And you said "dude" and "deigns" in the same sentence. I bet that's a posting first.

The dude deigns to abide your presence.

Mark it zero, dude.