Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Need Help deciding on 'Stealth' system

I'm in need of some serious help deciding on what speaker system I should purchase for my complete HT upgrade. The 'boss' (or SWMBO) doesn't want large speakers in the living room cluttering things up so I need to consider a stealth installation. This setup will be mostly used for movies but will occasionally used for music (80% vs. 20%). So far, I've decided on the TV and receiver... the Panasonic TH-50PX500U Plasma and the Denon AVR-3806.
I'm struggling with the speaker set up for this 7.1 system. I've been considering using in-wall speakers but I just discovered the Axiom Architectural Series and they look very intriging and may get the stamp of approval from the boss.

Could someone provide me with some good rationale why an in-wall speakers setup would not be as good as the W3, W22, and W150s?

I have been considering Mordaunt-Short speakers for the in-walls (and/or maybe Polks) until I saw these new Axioms.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Brian

Sounds like you're the perfect customer for Axiom's new in-walls. If they get the boss's thumbs up, I say go for it!

OK.... but why? In-wall speakers are far, far more stealther than the new Axioms, which will please SWMBO much, much more. As it turns out I'll be paying about the same price for in-walls as the Axioms.. maybe a bit more for the Axioms.... so I really want to get the best sound quality I can get for the price. I realize that this is an Axiom site but why should I choice the Axiom AS over a true in-wall (completely stealthy) setup.

Thanks

The rationale behind the Architectural Series was to give customers the option of a quasi-inwall solution, while maintaining the performance standards of Axiom's acclaimed traditional M-Series speakers.

They are designed to remove the negative effects of an open-back inwall which relies on the wall cavity for it's enclosure. They appear to have a very easy method of mounting as well.

the axiom on wall's are a fairly new line from axiom, not many people have heard them yet, you could pm Tharkun, and check out his thread "W3 Pics & First Sound Check" in the hometheater section for some information on them. i have never heard any in-wall or on-wall speakers so i dont know much about them, however i think the axioms are worth trying out, if all else fails just utilize the 30day gurantee and ship em back to axiom

Completely in-wall speakers generally sound like poop. There are a few companies out there that may be able to pull it off (Energy Veritas, Snell) but you'll be paying HUGE sums of money for those bad boys.

Axiom's new W series has split the difference. You don't get the completely in-wall stealth, but you DO get the sound quality AND the cost savings. Seems like a perfect compromise to me.

The only in-walls I have heard that I liked were Triad Inwall models.....don't know which models.......and they were expensive. Check out their website to see if they have a dealer near you. They are a completely sealed design yet mount in the wall. They seem to have a limited low end response, but a good sub will take care of that.

That's one of my big concerns... since this is an existing room I'm going to have to tear out drywall and properly box in the frame in the stud cavity to get the best sound quality from an in-wall. And, if I ultimately don't like the sound I've wasted a lot of time and effort in addition to money.

One benefit of the W series from Axiom is that you can preview their sound before you install them. The bass won't be as deep as when they're installed, but you should be able to get a pretty accurate sense of their sound before you take saw to drywall. The same isn't really possible with true in-walls.

Don't forget that, with a wall mounted plasma, unless it is coutnersunk into the wall, it will stick out at least 3 or so inches. Therefore, having speakers on the wall, sticking out a couple of inches, will not really "destroy" any flat wall aesthetic going on there. In fact, I find the painted metal grill look to be kind of cheesy, and much prefer a cloth grill.

Axiom offer the AS series in white with white grills, which I think would compliment a system quite nicely without being too obtrusive and without sacrificing soudn quality.