Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater M22's and EP800

Does anyone run these together? I heard the 800 is tuff to blend right with smaller speakers. Thoughts?

Sure seems like a bit of an overkill.

I don't see any problem with it myself, but I run a VP160 with M22's and I like it just fine.

Hi Michael, nice alias name BTW!(see my avatar)

Funny you should ask - I just had this exact question a few weeks ago as even though I am forced to stick with an on wall type setup with my M22's I do have room for an EP800 at the back of my HT room (I currently have the EP500). Anyway, I traded some messages with Alan Loft on this, here is the condensed output of the conversation:

The EP800 has greater dynamic range/output capabilities compared to the M22's so they are not matched in their sheer output capability. However the EP800 can still blend tonally nicely with the M22's and provide serious bottom end for great sound. So, with that pairing you could be pushing the M22's very hard while the EP800 would still be taking it easy, but played within the limits of the M22's it could be a great pairing - you just wouldn't be using the full output (loudness wise) of the 800.

So, that being said, how big is your room? If large, you might want to consider the 60's or 80's with the 800. Hope that helps.

Cheers,

It will be for movies and games. I was going to pair it with my M80's but I want those for a music only system. Just trying to figure out if it will drown out the m22's. Thanks Dan, that's what I was thinking

FYI, aside from having the room, the reason I am looking at this for an upgrade is that my version of the EP500 pretty much cuts out at anything below 20Hz. While that's still very low, and I have plenty of output at that level, I'd still like to start plumbing all the way down to 10Hz or so, maybe just because it's possible! So, I'd be thinking of the 800 just to hit that 10-20Hz range that i am currently 'missing'. Maybe it's good ol upgradeitis setting in. Since I can't upgrade my mains and I already have 7.1 and don't have room for height or wide channels, the sub is all I have left!

I was considering two 500, but I love deep bass.

Well, there's always 2 sets of mains. One stacked above the other on the wall. Hmmm. I wonder where I've seen that before?

should work fine as long as you calibrate/setup everything to blend nicely togethor.

until a few weeks ago, my sub had always been tuned to 16 Hz and i liked it a lot.
then i changed the tuning to 11-12 Hz and discovered a whole new experience in many movies and sometimes on TV.

so far, my sub has been able to take all comers (movies) and more, even if it is not very large, because my room is small and it can be filled quite easily.

in my mind, it's worth it, no question about it.

Hmm, now that you mention it, it does ring a bell.


Now you're making my upgradeitis a full blown illness!

I think the term for it in the religious vernacular is covetousness.

I would think the M22's might strain a bit at the kind of db's the EP800 really performs best.

JohnK has M22's + EP500's, i think he has a pair of 500's not sure though... Maybe he will join in to give his opinion.

The thing is you wouldn't be getting your money's worth out of spending that much on a sub with those speakers. I would go for the EP500 myself, then two later!

Michael, as Alan indicated, you may not be able to take full advantage of the maximum loudness capability of the EP800(unless you simply play it as loud as you can, without regard to correctly balancing with the M22s). In any case you, not the sub, are in control of its level, so it can't automatically "drown out" the M22s or any other speaker. If you want, you can turn its level down to zero.

My view is that I'd suggest using two EP500s rather than one EP800 and placing them so as to minimize the affect of room modes on bass smoothness(typically at the midpoints of opposite side walls or front and back walls, or in diagonally opposite corners). Although on some material the deeper extension of the EP800 would possibly be of audible benefit, the two subs would provide more than enough maximum loudness capability and have the advantage of greater smoothness of response when properly positioned.

Thanks John. The two 500s sound like a great option. I am still tempted to pair the 800 with the M80s.

Or pair a 500 with an 800 and get the best of both worlds. Besides, you can always upgrade to two 800's later!

So the 2 EP500's will play as loud as an EP800 but not as low?

If you really want the EP800, you probably should just go for it, regardless of what others think. I really want one too for my small future home theater. Not needed, but the cool factor is worth it to me. I was planning to mount it horizontally under the screen. I just hope the speaker covers don't become the cat's favorite scratching post. Probably have to spray it with perfume occasionally. She hates anything that smells good to people.

Cat the sage. He is right on in the first sentence. Get the 800 Try it. If you don't like it return it.