Hey folks,
I remember reading some time ago that Axiom's started building their new QS4's with the same titanium tweeters as the QS8's, whereas before the 4's were built with a slightly lesser quality hybrid tweeter (or something to that effect--maybe you can clear this up for me). I was wanting to complete my HT by purchasing from the factory outlet, but was wondering if the outlet QS4's will have the new tweeters or the old tweeters. Anybody have a clue?
Much thanks,
JT
Here is a response Alan from Axiom gave another member back in April. Not sure if anything has changed but I don't think its a question of old or new....
No, there are no plans to replace the hybrid tweeter on the QS4s. It's a matter of having two distinct QS surround models, one for medium to small rooms, the other for larger rooms. The voice coil on the QS8s is 1 inch, compared to a 1/2-inch voice coil on the QS4 tweeters, so it's just a matter of improved power handling at high volumes in bigger rooms.
The actual frequency response differences between the two tweeters would be insignificant. The same applies to the larger woofers on the QS8s vs the smaller ones on the QS4s, but the QS8s pump more air into bigger rooms with lowered distortion. They are two different models for different applications at different prices.
By the way, as you get older, you do lose extreme high-frequency hearing but the good news is that it doesn't matter--there's little musical content of importance between 12 kHz and 20 kHz. Although audiophiles cringe when I tell them this, all of the important energy and content of most instruments lies in the midrange and upper mids, to about 10 kHz. That's why a speaker's performance through the midrange is crucial. It's also where our hearing is by far the most sensitive, and where we largely make judgments on good or bad qualitites of speaker performance. So don't worry about a few harmonics of cymbals or violin at 18 kHz. You'll never miss 'em. Besides, most males over 40 have little or no hearing left above 14 kHz, no matter what they claim.
Regards,
Alan Lofft
QS8 Specifications
Max Amp Power 400 Watts
Min Amp Power 10 Watts
Freq Resp+/-3dB (Hz) 95-22K
Freq Resp +3dB/ -9dB (Hz) 65-22K
SPL in Room 1w/1m 95 dB
Anechoic SPL 1w/1m 91 dB
Impedance 6 Ohms
Woofer Dual 5.25"
Tweeter Dual 1"
Dimens. (in.)(HxWxD) 8.25x11x6
Weight 11 lbs per
QS4 Specifications
Max Amp Power 175 Watts
Min Amp Power 10 Watts
Freq Resp+/-3dB (Hz) 100-22K
Freq Resp +3dB/ -9dB (Hz) 80-22K
SPL in Room 1w/1m 94 dB
Anechoic SPL 1w/1m 90 dB
Impedance 8 Ohms
Woofer Dual 4.5"
Tweeter Dual 1" hybrid
Dimens. (in.)(HxWxD) 6.5x9.5x6
Weight 5.5 lbs per
I have no idea what "hybrid" means, in this case. The Factory Outlet speakers are NOT returns. They are all newly manufactured, so you wouldn't be getting "old" speakers should you order from the Outlet.
Sorry, guys... you're out of date! The new QS4s have the standard non-hybrid tweeters--I've got them, and I've looked! I would guess that since the non-hybrid models have been out for awhile that the factory outlet ones (especially if there is a wait on them) have the new tweeter as well.
Well, I just copied and pasted the above from the current Axiom web site. If it's no longer a "hybrid" in the QS4, then somebody goofed.
I figured that's what you did.
I'm pretty sure somebody goofed. When you look at the photos of the QS4s on the website (maybe the older photos), the tweeters are clearly different from the ones on my 4s, which look exactly like the ones on my M50s, except the side metal bits are somewhat truncated (to accomodate the small sides on the QS4s.)
Yup, I definitely remember reading about this change taking place.
Any new QS4 either A or B stock should have the new tweeter.
It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask the Axiom staff when you order though...
Yo kcarlisle,
Thanks for clearing that up. Yeah, I think I better just call their staff to make sure. It's probably no big deal, but for some reason, I just want the model with the latest configuration, even if I have to pay the extra $40 for A-stock.
P.S. sorry about cal gettin' screwed BIG time.