You said 10K, and that you only have a TV.
Can you clarify? Do you mean to say that you still need the speakers and electronics for a complete HT? Based on that assumption, here’s what I’d do, which by no means is the “right” thing to do……Just what I’d do.
I wouldn’t hesitate going with Axiom. Ya, I have a full array of Axiom speakers so I guess I could be called a fan boy, but I also have a set of much more expensive speakers that aren’t Axiom too. That being said, don’t let the “budget” price of Axioms fool you into thinking they are not on pair with high end speakers. And their EP subs are very hard to beat, at just about any price point. From your description of the Axiom system you listened to, something was amiss. If you would have said they are too forward or too detailed or just plain bright……then I’d say you probably don’t like the way they sound. But I haven’t ever heard anyone describe their sound the way you did.
For your room size, I’d go with the 80’s for mains, a pair of 22’s for the center channel, and four QS-8’s for the surround and SB’s. For sub, I’d go with two 500’s, or two 600’s if you still have money left over to upgrade from the 500’s. There’s a gazillion different choices of finish for Axiom speakers now, and they all come with a price. You could keep it simple and go with their standard vinyl finish or go all the way up to the wood veneer with a piano finish. If you go with rosewood in a piano finish (the most expensive option), and two 500’s, that’s about 9K. If you go with the same speakers in a vinyl finish, that would run you about 5K. Or, you could even go with factory outlet stuff at another 10% off. Personally, I’d stick with the real wood finish.
Besides speakers it sounds like you are going to need some electronics to drive them. Depending on what you do with speakers, your choices vary from one extreme to the other. I’m drooling over the new NAD Master Series separates right now and trying to convince myself that I really don’t “need” them, but I suspect they’ll be sitting in my rack before too long. The Pre / Po and seven channel amp combo has a retail price of 6K. Or, on the other extreme, you could go with a mid line AVR for about a grand and probably be quite happy with it. Somewhere in the middle is Rotel. They have a great little 7.1 AVR out now with HDMI switching for about 1K. It has 5 power amps so it’s perfect for a set of 80’s. You just pick up a separate two channel amp for the 80’s at about $800. The RB1080 is a great amp and it plays well with the 80’s.
So what about your DVD player?? If you don’t have one yet, the Oppo 971 does a terrific job and it’s dirt cheap. Or, you could dump a grand on one of the new Denons, another grand on a Blue Ray HD player and other grand on a HD-DVD player…….Lot’s of choices here.
So really, how much of your money can I help you spend??? I just love spending money, even more so when it's not mine.
