Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Yet another Metal Head with a question.....

Hey guys, question. I listen to all differnt tyoes of music, but mostly hard rock and metal, from classics like Sabbath and Maiden to a LOT of Death Metal ala Cannibal Corpse, Death, Amon Amarth, Krisiun, that type of stuff. I've been looking for a home theater setup for my newly finished basement. I'm afraid though that the system I get/can afford, will be great for TV/movies, but will not cut the mustard with listening to loud heavy music. Like the Epic Master 175 or 350. Click teh link here and you can see a pic of the basic layout of the room and where everything will generally be upon completion. I would love to hear some opinions. Thanks.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/bigken69/BASEMENT1.jpg

HP, welcome. Although I'm not all that familiar with "metal", the dynamic classical music that I prefer gets very "loud and heavy" indeed at times. From your mention of the Epic Master systems, I take it that you'd like to hold the cost down to around $1,400, but that you may be wondering about a more powerful sub. With your 6-7' listening distance, the M22s would work extremely well when supported by a strong sub. For something in the $400 area you might consider the HSU VTF-1 or SVS PB-10 to help with your heavier stuff. Instead of the VP-100, you might consider using an M2 vertically, which works very well. The QS4s should be fine. On your diagram, your "rear" speakers, which are actually side surrounds in a 5.1 setup, could be separated a little more widely than is shown, to give more of a side effect.

Note also than you can get a 10% discount by ordering your speakers from the Outlet(new, with possibly a small cosmetic blemish), and an additional 5% discount for five items at a time.

I'm far from a techie expert here but I know what I like. I bought M60's and a VP150 and I'm currently using some old stuff for surrounds.

I listen to every kind of music and I don't often go as heavy as Death Metal but metal is, and always will be, my music of choice when I need to get cheered up or get motivated.

So from a guy with similar interests, I'm sure they won't fail you on bass and/or power and you will hear every scratch of the guitar pick. Hell, you could probably pick out a hangnail on the hammer strikes. So nice to finally have speakers that don't sacrifice clarity for bass.

I was looking at an SVS sub locally and it sounded awesome once I convinced the salesman that turning it up so loud that it rattled it's own case was actually not 'preferred' by some for good sound. I actually ended up going back to Axiom and spending a lot extra $ on their EP500 sub based mostly on their great customer service and because I was so impressed by the quality of the others I bought. I'm not disappointed with it either. It can make your ribs vibrate like you are front row center but it's still blending well. I never heard the two subs side by side so I can't say if the extra money was warranted but I like to reward a company that treats me right and this is definitely a sweet sub. Someday, I hope to have the cash to complete the package with QS8s.

Short story, me and most of my friends are reformed metal heads and every single one of them wants to buy new speakers from Axiom next time their wives are asleep.

Thought you might like a solely amateur ear's perspective.

Wow, I did not think anybody would like to Amon Amarth in this message board!! Great band, I had the chance to watch them life last year in Washington D.C supporting Children of Bodom.

By the way, I wonder how you post those sketches here.

I've pretty much decided to scrap buying a whole system and get a real good pair of front speakers to start. now I;m considering the M60v2 or M80v2. I'm also looking a Klipsch F-3 or Rf-82. I'd like to hear some more opinions if anyone has them.

I had my new m80's cranked up pretty darn loud today playing some Ozzy and Dokken, simply amazing and what a killer sound.

M80's are the way to go, but just make sure you have an amp that can handle their 4 ohm load (you'll want Harman Kardon or Denon, or better).

In the end, this depends on your budget, and how far into audiophilia you want to go. But one thing's for sure, the M80's with a good amp will ROCK! Add an EP 500 or SVS or HSU sub to those, and you will not regret your decision.

Tell us more about your budget and other plans for electronics and we'll have some more suggestions for ya.

Amon Amarth's new album sounds soo sweet and rich on my axiom's using pro logic 2.

They have the 2nd best sounding cookie monster vocals next to Opeth, at least from all the bands I've heard.

I would love to hear a band with the sound of Opeth without the idiotic growling. Any advice?

HP, thank you for your advise, I'll check that band out. As for the speakers, I have 60s and am more than happy. However, if I had to do it again, I'd buy 80s, not that I heard them, but if you read all the reviews here.... also, no more buyer's remorse issues, you're all set with 80s.

As for Opeth sound without growling vocals, they do have such album, Deleverance or Damnation I don't remember. Opeth is a little "too progressive" for my tastes, I like more their earlier stuff, until "Blackwater Park".

I would recommend "Edge of Sanity" in Opeth's line, not so much progressive but very close. Their vocalist Dan Swano is #1 in death metal vocals I think. His voice is really deep and at the same time clear and melodic. You can actually figure out the lyrics. Check out "Purgatory Afterflow" and "Crimson"!!! This guy also goes "clean vocals" many times.

Opeth is an aquired taste, at least they were for me. I remember buying the album Still Life roughly 3 years ago and initially I wondered what all the fuss was about. I'm so glad I force fed myself that album, because the phrase "it'll grow on you" doesn't even begin to describe how different the music sounded to me after quite a few listens.

Soon after I started buying the rest of their albums in this order:

Blackwater Park
Deliverance
My Arms Your Hearse
Morningrise - my current favorite
Orchid
Damnation
Ghost Reveries

Damnation is the mellow album with no growling, just singing. I like it, but I love the contrast of the two vocal styles together.

Ghost Reveries has such sweet production. Even though it's a metal album, I would have a hard time finding another album to match it in sound quality.

Morningrise doesn't have near the production, but it's so beautiful once the melodies click (this will take numerous listens, this is a very progressive album).

My absolute favorite song is on Deliverance, and it may be their most accessible. It's called "A Fair Judgement" and it has the most beautiful guitar solo I've ever heard. I usually don't think about the guitar solo first when I think of a song, but I do with this one.

I highly recommend trying to get used to the growling vocals if you can, because if you do start to like them you will have 7 amazing albums chalked full of GREAT music

Cameron, thank you for your detailed review of Opeth and recommendations. One clarification here: I do enjoy growling vocals a lot, starting with all Melodic Gotheburg Death metal scene up to U.S Death (Chuck Schuldiner R.I.P). It was Ken (kscarlile) complaining about those vocals.

I stoped purchasing Opeth albums after "Blackwater Park". Could you please tell me if their "Ghost.." compares with anything else in the past (Orchid?)? I also think you should hear Edge of Sanity.

I'll have to check out Edge of Sanity. It sounds like we have some similar tastes, I like Death a lot too. I have Human and The Sound of Perserverance and both are excellent.

As far as Ghost Reveries, I would recommend it just on the sound quality alone. However, as far as the actual music goes it is closer to Blackwater Park than Orchid. It's still very different from their other albums though, I think all their releases have their own style and sound.

I really do recommend Deliverance. Their best back to back songs (IMO) are on that album, A Fair Judgement (I talked about this one above) and Masters Apprentices. Masters A. is very progressive and has a great HEAVY 2 minute intro with a great crunchy riff to go along with some evil as hell vocals. I can just hear him belting out "There is a DEATH I'm awaaaaatiiiiing!!!!!!! ". Great stuff.

Whoops, check that. There is a short 3 minute mellow song in between A Fair Judgement and M.A., but it is the perfect set-up for the heavy as hell intro to Masters Apprentices.