Just placed an order for standard black M60s and a VP160 center. I'm replacing Energy speakers from about 15 years ago that were much less expensive. I hope I have an immediate WOW factor!

I'm using an old Pioneer Elite receiver (120 watt at 6 ohm; $2300 MSRP in 1999). However, I use an OPPO 103D Blue Ray and send signal to the "decoded input" on the receiver, basically making it an amp. The OPPO has all the modern deciding, so this works great. We listen to music and will use these speakers for surround sound.

My questions:
Should I also buy a subwoffer? If so, should it be ported or sealed? Any suggestions on make and model that would fit my new speakers? I have a very cheap $100 subwoffer that I've used for years, but I'm sure it won't help these new speakers sound great.

Thanks everyone! I'll let you know my thoughts on the M60s as soon as they arrive. Now the big wait...

SJ, welcome to Axiom. I'm sure that you'll get great enjoyment from your M60s and VP160.

As to whether you need a sub, you say that you'll be listening to music in surround sound. If so(i.e., no ultra low bass movie effects), the M60s have very good bass down to a bit under 40Hz, which is fine for most music. If you aren't going to be plumbing the depths such as pipe organs reach you don't really need a sub.

Hi SJM

I expect you're going to love the M60/VP160 speakers. I have the VP160 and think it compares very favorably to the VP180 which I also have. The VP160 and 180 are by far the best center channel speakers I've had, and I've had a bunch.

I have a pair of M100s. Currently, I'm using an Epik Legend twin opposing 12" sealed subwoofer. I like it.

Powered subwoofers will relieve the amp and speakers from working hard below the cross-over frequency, which I figure for the M60 should be about 60 Hz. Experimenting with your favorite will be fun.

For music, I prefer a sealed subwoofer, but you should check the specs to make sure the sub can be crossed over at a sufficiently low frequency to guard against bass bloat.

I'm looking at the Axiom EP500 but the EP400 would work beautifully with either the M60s or M100s.

Enjoy your new Axioms. They are superb speakers. Enjoy the music. Welcome!

Thank yo for your replies. I can't wait for the speakers to arrive. How do you guys feel about the standard vinyl cover? I ordered the standard black because we have dark wood floors and furniture, but I'm wondering if I might want to get true veneer.

As you can tell by my equipment, I'm certainly not an audiophile, but I do love good sound. I still have some money left in the budget, so my quandary is, do I use it for a sub, or surrounds? If I go with surrounds, I'm thinking of the QS4s with stands. Any thoughts on these?


Thank you for helping. It's very refreshing to be on a forum where people are supportive and helpful to a newbie, instead of bashing and ridiculing "stupid" questions.

Oh, don't tell my wife what all this is going to cost. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission!

Steve

If you decide on the surrounds they come with their wall bracket included, so you may not need stands.

The Axiom Subwoofers are a high recommendation from me, I just upgraded from an SVS sub to an Axiom E.P.500, And it is so much more detailed than any small sub I've had previously.

The standard vinyl black is what I started with on my 1st M3, it's fine match for many mixed furniture shades. Though if you have plenty of wood furnishings I would say the Boston Cherry would go better. My M80,Vp160 and Ep500 are Boston Cherry and a great match to all kinds of different wood colours{shades}.

Welcome to the forum there are some really well read, educated guys here in the forum. They may seem sarcastic or even offensive at times to some of the ignorance of this hobby.

But when it comes to placement, EQ, power supply, Even grilling techniques, this is one of the best places to ask.

Happy listening

Thank you Brendo. That EP500 is about my total enhanced budget. Do you think I'd be adequately served with the EP350 sub and QS4 surround for about the same cost? My room is 12x20 with 8' ceiling. The TV and system are along one of the 20' walls. I don't want to scrimp on quality, but I also want to say married. I can certainly forego the surrounds if the base is most important. To tell the truth, today we do not listen with surrounds--not sure why. Based on JohnK's comment, just listening to music I should be fine, but not sure I will with movies.

Thanks!

Steve

Surrounds are going to add more to your movie watching experience in the near term than a sub will. I am pretty happy with my EP350, but I really don't listen at high volumes at all, nor do I frequently watch movies.

Check under the DEALS tab. Call Debbie at Axiom and ask if she can put a B stock EP 400 and surround package together for you. Good luck

The answer to this question is always.....yes you need a sub. The single most important speaker is the sub. There are some exceptions which are high end very $$$ two channel scenarios but 99.5% of the time...you need a sub.

PS. I have M80's. Guess what, they need a sub.

Start saving

I like the sub idea; I'll call Debbie about the B stock EP 400.

My current speakers are Energy Connoisseur C-8, that I purchased around 2000. I just looked them up and the MSRP on them was $1500, but I know I didn't pay that much as I was young, had a young family, and was pretty poor. 1" aluminum tweeter, 2-6.5" aluminum injected woofers. I'm listening to them now, and they are really pretty nice. I also have a KEF sub that I bought from Costco for probably $150. I'm very anxious to compare the M60s. Hopefully they will WOW me (and, of course, the wife. I definitely understand the woofer must be replaced!

Anyone familiar with the Energy Connoisseur C-8?

Steve

Welcome, SJM-
I would talk to someone at Axiom before jumping on an EP400. You might do better with an EP350 for your size room if you primarily listen to music.

I am not sure there is a huge, in your face, wow factor jumping from those Energy speakers as they are a very good speaker rooted in the same design scheme as Axiom. I suspect it will take some time to truly appreciate the subtleties in what you are hearing which is where the wow factor will lie.

As for the EP400, great for music, but so are the EP350, EP500, EP600... you get the picture. If you are going to be using it for HT at any time I would go for the bigger driver as it will add SPL to a bigger room easier but that EP400 is a great little unit.

The speakers arrived Friday, as promised by Debbie. I've been listening to them since, and I'm very impressed with the center channel and the EP500. Those are definitely staying. jakewash is right, we don't hear a lot of difference with the M60 so far. I'm breaking them in for a while before doing a blind test, but they may go back just because if I can't really hear a difference, why spend the money?

I'll update next weekend.

Thanks all!

Steve

I have the Energy Connoisseur C-3 and found a huge difference when I plugged in the M80's.

I guess for you as they are similar sized speakers the difference is not as in your face. I would also try moving the speakers around a bit. You might be loosing some of the magic if you don't have the speakers in the right spot. That also might be true with the C-8's so have some fun experimenting.