I am the holdup now. I have a green light. I have Vinyl samples to choose from - and the Cinnamon Beech is a good match for the downstairs entertainment center - if I ever decided to move the system to the Great Room. I am struggling with the $650 premium for the Custom Vinyl. The FO Blacks would fit into the Bonus Room decor just fine - as would the wood look.

The Audition bit has not panned out either - contacting Axiom directly just resulted in them advising me to contact some of the Audition group that I have already PM'd in vain.

I need a sign. Maybe if I fast for 3 days and then go into a sweat lodge I will have a vision?

Too bad that Axiom couldn't help more with the audition.

There are pockets of Axiom fans here and there. If you're far away from one though, there's not much that can be done. I remember that when I was shopping for my M80's, I tried in vain to contact one of the 3 or 4 people in St. Louis (90 miles away) that said they would demo. None responded. I believe that Wid is the closest Axiom owner to me, and he's about 200 miles away. You may be in a similar situation.

My advice would be that if you're really worried about it, and can't find a demo site, just order a pair of M22's. M22's will give you a very clear picture of what the "Axiom sound" is all about. If you dislike it, Axiom will stand behind their 30 day return policy. You will have to pay for the return shipping, but with M22's I can't imagine it being more than $35 or $40 to ship it back to the NY return address from NC. And if you do like the sound, but have no use for the M22's, I'm pretty sure that Axiom lets you trade-up within 30 days too. Again, you might be out for the return shipping. But IMHO, spending $35-$40 to make sure that a $1,000+ purchase will please you is worthwhile.

Or if you're just dead-set on finding local speakers, find either a Paradigm or B&W dealer. Speakers in the Paradigm Studio Reference line have a similar sound quality to Axiom speakers. Pretty close, IMHO. I also think that B&W 700 series speakers share similar sonic characteristics as well. Not to say that either are *exactly* like Axiom speakers, but from my listening experiences I'd say they're "close enough" to give you an idea of what you're in for. Of course, that's all subjective, so YMMV.

Maybe it's time Axiom did a road show. They could outfit one of those fancy pop-out sides RVs with all their speakers and drive around the country with it.

Better yet, they could have me drive it around the country.

An excellent idea. Just so long as it's not a white van.

You'd hit your head. And gas mileage would be better if Ken was driving.

Argon, do you have any travel planned? Perhaps you could visit an Axiom owner near a destination rather than near your home.

Yes, Plenty of travel planned - ANY owners in San Pedro Sula?
Tegucigalpa? Anyone? Bueller?

I may have to go the paradigm route - oh wait.....Tweeter shut down.....and there is nothing else around here....But I whine. I am going to buy sight unseen.

I said I was waiting for a sign....the first thread that popped up this morning was the one on ridiculous upgrades. Like I said, I can't justify $650 upcharge for a different color vinyl. As soon as I come to grips with that, I'll place the order and begin my month long vigil.

Edit: I just did a dealer locater on Paradigm Reference and there is a Custom Installer that is listed as a storefront for Paradigm Reference series. I got an answering machine and left my number. THey are open from 10-3 on Saturday so if all goes well, I can stop by after the class I teach on Saturday is over. Thanks for the tip, Peter.

The upgrade within the 30 day trial period is free no shipping charges, at least that was the case for me and my M60/M80 session (2007) and my QS4 to QS8 upgrade way back in Jan. 2004

You're going the wrong way. You need to go NORTH to find the Axiom owners



You wouldn't be alone. I bought my M22's and VP150 sight unseen. It was a leap of faith, but I have no regrets. Wouldn't it really be 'sound unheard'? Axiom caught my attention because of the very high user ratings that their speakers had gotten over on Audioreview.com. At the time, they were about the only brand that seemed to have several models in the Top-10 lists. Then a little discussion from the happy people here convinced me that it was worth a shot.



Very good. I hope it's a worthwhile demo for you.

From what I remember, in comparing 100's to M80's I felt that the 100's were a bit brighter up top and had a tiny bit more bass at the bottom end. That's remembering back from a couple of years ago, so YMMV. But otherwise they're within the same "acoustic genre" of what you can expect from M80's. They were clean, well balanced, and pleasant enough to listen to. Just that every so slightly overzealous tweeter was a bit too much for me.

For me, it really boiled down to price. If I recall correctly, a pair of S100's was about $1k more than a pair of M80's, not including sales tax. Had S100's been priced the same as M80's, it would have been a tougher decision.

IMHO, if you find yourself enjoying the sound of the S100's, I'd say there's a very good chance that you will enjoy the sound of M80's.

That's cool, Jay. I didn't know the upgrade policy covered the shipping. Even more awesomeness for Axiom!

OK.....The owner called me back. He rattled off the models that he has set up on his floor. He mentioned several models that come up when you hit the "reference series" on Paradigm's web site. I can't remember if he has the S100's - and I was actually considering the M60's. Is there a specific model number that would cross to the M60? Maybe the S60 (Studio 60)? This is good news - I won't mention to this guy that I am using him as a surrogate Axiom set up.....

Oh..and one other thing. I have read all the pro reviews and have been lurking around here for years. I am almost certain after reading what all you regulars have to say - and by the members that post avidly for a while but fade away to enjoy their speakers after purchase that I will be ecstatic with the upgrade to my hodgepodge......Rob

I had the same in vain luck with 'cold calls' to people listed on the audition page. Also when I asked Axiom to contact specific user names I gave them, still... crickets.

I found unless you run across some one active on the forums (or their brother, who's name happens to be Peter ;o), you are mostly out of luck. While it felt like I had several people to contact from looking at the auditions list, it was extremely frustration to attempt to contact several people over several weeks to still come up with no auditions in my area (initiating from that list).

I was very fortunate to have one guy, Ken something or other and Adam very generously have me over to here their speakers. It was fun to meet some guys from the boards and get more insight into the world of Axiom. But they both told me they are not allowed to show the secret hand shake until after 1,000 posts!

GREAT bunch of guys here on the forums! I just wish someone would contact each person on the audition list to confirm they are still active and willing. As a potential Axiom owner (now a real owner), it was a time wasting, frustrating venture for me with the auditions list. YMMV

New2Axiom is listed and about 2 hours away from me. He has not responded to my PM's. James at Axiom e-mailed me today to say that he is going to e-mail him directly - so we'll see. I am going with Peter's suggestion an going to hear the Paradigms on Saturday. Does anyone know if Axiom takes orders on Saturday?

Hi Argon, Axiom will take your order on Sat OR Sun from 10am to 9pm (Est)as far as I know. When you call the toll free # at the top of the page, you will get Alan, Brent or JC who can take your order or give you advice about your system ect.

YO!

"...HO...HO...and a bottle of Rum"

Rob(and Dave), it's disappointing to learn that Axiom in apparently less interested now than they were on at least some occasions in the past with assisting prospective purchasers to make actual contact for an audition. Although I've frequently suggested this, apparently it's useless.

I'll take Dave's advice and ask right here and now if anyone in the L.A. area reading this forum thread would be willing to host an audition of Axiom's M60's and/or 80's with an EP350 or EP500. I'll supply the cd's and vibrant conversation together with a pizza, wine and/or beer or soft drinks for good measure and my great appreciation for your hospitality.....Lee

[quote=PeterChenoweth.

IMHO, if you find yourself enjoying the sound of the S100's, I'd say there's a very good chance that you will enjoy the sound of M80's.

[/quote]

Peter,
I did not get to listen to the 100's but I did listen to the studio 60's. The Salesman was very helpful and accomodating and seemed knowledgeable. He assured me that the 60's were akin to the 100's - I took it to be the same type relationship between the M60's and M80's. If anyone knows that to be a faulty assumption, I would appreciate hearing it. The speakers (studio 60's) were light years ahead of anything that I have ever owned. If the Axioms are close as everyone says, I am sure I will not be dissappointed...........Rob

That was my experience as well. The whole studio line was a lot better than anything I had owned.

They are that close.

I think the Studio 60s an M60s are very similar sounding just as the M80s and Studio 100's are similar, If you really like the 60's then order the M60s, I fear you may find the forwardness of the M80s to be too much for you and we may turn you into another Bob. I think if he had ordered the M60s he would have been better off.

I dunno. Everybody is different. I found the M22s quite forward compared to he M80s, but not at all compared to the M60s. When flipping back and forth between the the 80s and 60s I did not find either forward... all of which makes no sense, but thats what I heard.

I agree the M22s, especially my V1s are more forward than either of the M60 or M80s. I guess maybe forward isn`t quite the right word for the M80s, definitley more detailed with a higher treble presence on the M80s than the M60s. Quick question Fred, were the M60s, M80s being driven by the A1400. If so this might account for them sounding more simialr than I have heard them.

Nope. I don't remember what the receiver was though.

The 80s are definately more detailed. That is what drew me to them.

That extra detail is also what made me get them over the m60s. The v2 M22s now sound closer to the M60s IMO, remembering back to when I had framer2180's here for those XO comparisons I did.

Very good to hear, Rob. I'm glad the demo was at least worth your time.

As the others have said, I would think it a fair assumption that 60's are to 100's what M60's are to M80's. Since you were impressed with the 60's, I really do suspect that you'll be pleased with the way Axiom speakers sound.

If my Axiom speakers vanished and for whatever reason and Axiom replacements weren't an option, Paradigm Studio's would be very close to the top of my list for replacements. They are, IMHO, very good speakers that can acoustically compete with Axiom's. They're just twice the price.

Good luck!

Order 'em already!

Yeah.....You are right. I am not usually such a waffler when it comes to decisions.

As for the Paradigms - the man I talked with told me I was seeing the latest version of the Studio Series. They were real wood (veneer, I assume) and he said that this is the first time Paradigm has had the real wood at the price point he quoted. Since I was not serious about buying, I did not haggle his original quote which was ~ $700 more than M60s if you choose the Vassallo option.

I have spent a considerable amount of time learning the ins and outs of my AVR over the past 3 weeks. For Home Theater, I determined that I had it connected completely backwards. I had gone from the DVD and Cable box to the TV first and then to the AVR. Dolby PLII decoding the 2 channel input that my TV had is ok but when I changed the hookups to go to the AVR first and experienced the 5.1 input - the difference is night and day. Now I just need to pony up and get the speakers....to your point.......Rob

Rob, the latest Paradigms are easy to recognize...they have the curved/eliptical shaped cabinets versus the rectangular "boxes" of the previous versions. As far as I know, the previous versions had real wood veneer as well.

These were the elliptical shape. I have never looked before this past Saturday - since I was really using them as surrogate Axioms, I did not research before going. Normally when I walk into a place to make a purchase of this magnitude, I have researched it to death and I generally know more about the product than the guy that is trying to sell it to me. I am sure that none of you suffer from this "affliction"?

Nope, never happened to me

My wife read me an article from the paper while we were driving about a new article called "The Tyranny of Choice". The theme was about decision making process. It was boiled down to two types - Maximizers (those who always aim to make the best possible choice) and Satisficers (sic) (Those who aim for good enough whether better selections might be out there). The Maximizers agonize over choices and decisions - and are generally not as happy after making the decision. The Satisficers generally made decisions that met their basic criteria and then moved on and were generally happier post decision. I realized that she was targeting the "Speaker Decision" - as it has come to be called. So.....when I got home, I ordered the Cinnamon Beech and quit agonizing over the Vassallos. So.....T Minus 4 weeks....

Congratulations!

Like you Argon, I don't know if my looooong drawn out speaker decision was more straining on me or my wife. I know HER answer!

Well....I kept playing the North Carolina Powerball lottery - I just didn't get the cooperation that I was hoping for. In the end she just "showed me the hand" when I would think of another way to ask about "it". She would finally say "are the going to SOUND different???" I would tell her that the "guys" had assured me the sound was the same no matter what the finish was. Next retort would be "get a life" and the conversation would be over. She doesn't know it yet but the next upgrade(s) just popped up on my horizon - Blue Ray - followed by a better AVR........

Argon,
Good luck. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. "The guys assured me"... good luck with that.

Maybe consider telling her you ran across this HT forum of MIT alumni/ Mensa women, who highly recommended...(fill in the blank).

Then be ready with a gooood back up story like: "Wow honey, that website must have just been deleted since yesterday. That is very peculiar!" (be prepared to duck quickly)

You do the best you can with the $ you have. I would love to have ordered the HG cherry, particularly since is was on special, but it was above my budget.

My system still sounds great and looks just fine.

Enjoy the 4 week wait.

I promised myself that I was NOT going to post after I ordered....but it was like I was compelled to post right after I hung up the phone. Is there some kind of subliminal message as you are placing your order? Something like....you must be true to the forum. you MUST post - you MUST post - you MUST post......

What else are you going to do while you wait for your speakers? Wash the dishes and mow the lawn??

or shovel snow

Nah. That will melt... in a month or so...

I do not think he has the joy of shoveling snow in North Carolina. But he could get out there and spruce up the yard. That will help with the WAF.

I was just covering things for those of us North of the border, luckily even it is mostly melting uphere too.

I thought maybe you got hit by a late season storm. Even the ski resorts in the mountains are usually closed by now.

Couple of points.....it has been between 85 and 90 degrees here since Friday - so luckily we have had no snow issues. Second, I am way ahead of you on sprucing and manuvering. I purchased vintage metal lawn furniture that was manufactured in the 50's and 60's last year for her birthday (she had mentioned it in passing and I picked up on it). I took this past Friday off and took it to this local place that will bake the caked on paint off, sandblast the rust and then powder coat it with the color of your choice - all for this year's birthday. As I was "basking" in the approval glow, I ordered the Epic 60 - not bad if I do say so myself

Not bad at all.


Kudos to you for picking up on that. You do realise though that this will be held against you when you apply for your Mancard Platinum.

Hmmmn... I never thought of us (US) 'mericans as being south of the border. That proves Einstein's theory of relativity, I guess.

Most of the mountain ski resorts stay open till may long weekend, but we have been getting 1-2" of snow just about every other day lately.

DAAANG! Did I say that out loud?

Really? In the 5 winters I spent out there (a long time ago), only Sunshine was open past the middle of April. Norkway was the first to close and Lake Louise had a lot of mud/gravel at the bottom by mid April. The only good skiing was the sumit and some out of bounds runs you needed to climb up to.

Argon,
Don't listen to Fred (God knows we don't ) . 'Real men' pick up on their wife's nuances (and other crap like that). And as you experienced, occasionally it can be a positive thing! Another one is learning to 'duck' at just the right time!


PS. Fred, my mancard gets a demerit. I never plugged the M60 in as a center.

You're right Fred, I just heard Louise is shutting down this weekend, and Norquay was 2 weeks ago(I think), leaving Sunshine the only one left till the long weekend. I must have mis-understood the Snow report I heard the other day.

Wellll......when I do nail one, it sure makes the sailing smoother!
Incidently, what do I have to do to be considered for the Platinum Card?

I have no idea, as Fred will confirm. But I hear in these trying times, the criteria has gotten more stringent.

Sooo.......Fredk is the gate keeper of the Platinum level?

No, but if you've seen pictures of my HT you would understand why I'm the posterboy...

I wanna see, Fred, er mancave posterboy.