What do Axiom users usually use as amps? I am looking at the Outlaw 770 or the Adcom GFA-7700. I don't have the budget for it yet, but would like to do research as soon as possible.

My speakers are M22 fronts, VP100, QS8s and M3s for surr. backs.

I'm curious as to what separates will do to my sound. I've only heard from a Home Theater store guy saying that separates are the way to go. So...is it?

My receiver is Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K

No, DA, your 1014 is almost certainly entirely adequate for your setup and separates aren't the way to go; there's no special magic which results from using two boxes instead of one to do the same thing. What's needed is audibly flat frequency response and inaudibly low noise and distortion, and that's what your 1014 is already giving you unless you're using an extremely loud listening level in a huge room(in which case you also need different speakers).

Absolutely it's the way to go since a good amp can make a difference between a muddy, compressed, shrill sounding system, to a clean clear warm sounding one. I've never been fond of Adcom, although I know many people who do love their amps, but my experience with the Outlaw, B&K, Rotel, Krell, and Arcam amps have been extremely positive. Like Axiom, Outlaw has proven to make high quality products with out the high price, and they have some of the best customer service around. The best thing to do, I think, is to give one of the Outlaw amps a shot and make up your mind by listening to the product yourself. Good luck!

I agree. Although receivers are just fine for most, I too prefer separates. It's like car audio too me, I just couldn't live with the head unit's amp section. However, I’m hearing a lot of positive reviews from the HK, Denon and Onkyo receivers. I actually heard an HK avr335 at the office that sounded great to me yesterday, I work in the IT and for a home theater/automation integrator industry.
So needless to say my tastes are a little influenced by the gear that I get to play with. It's like shopping for a car and looking at BMW before I look at the Saturns .

I guess the best advice would be to go listen to separates and receivers on the same speakers to see if you can hear a difference. If that's a practical choice.

I agree with John K on this one, the 1014 is more than adequate for that system, for sound quality and power. If you find you need more umffff later, you can always add monoblocks or whatever....

good luck


M60's VP150 EP350 4-Qs8's
Denon 2805
Sanyo PLV Z2 Projector
Toshiba P.S. DVD Player
Samsung HD OTA receiver