Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Could use some help deciding.

If you have that much to spend dont forget to calibrate your system and invest in room treatments.

Drew

I differ a little from others (and by the way, hello everyone...been awhile). As Ajax has mentioned, listen to a "good" set up before you make any decisions. I would also look around at the other internet direct speakers out there so that you have an informed decision on whatever you go with. Nothing worse then getting something and then only wishing that you went another direction.

As for me, and others here, I have three systems that cover two of the internet direct companies and love them both, yet both sound very different. You need to ask yourself what type of sound you like and try to pick that out when you do go for your listening "interviews". I then bought just mains to make sure I liked what I got. Nothing worse then getting half a dozen boxes in and then figuring out that you have to return a half dozen boxes. Many of the companies will honor the "package deal" if you go back to them before or after and expalin the issue to them.

Anyway, you have a great budget to play with. Once you find which amp to go with, check audiogon.com to see if you can get a great deal. 99% of the time you will find the item you are looking for there. With the saving you realize in the pre/pro you can have more to invest in speakers, wire, seating, DVD/CD player...ect, ect.

Half the fun is in doing the homework and set up as the satifaction of hearing great sounds was because of your hard work.

Good luck,
Craig

Thanks for all the good advice everyone. MDREW, the TV price is not part of the $10k. Its a rear projection Pioneer Elite 64" that's 2 yrs old. I also have a Pioneer Elite DVD player. I surfed online at Outlaw's website and priced their 990 Processor and their model 7700 Amp. These seem to be their best separates. The amp generates 200W per channel in 7.1 at 8 ohm and 300W per at 4 ohm. Do any of you have opinions on Outlaw equipment? Is 200W @ 8 ohms enough power for the Epic 80 system for me to get nice clear sound? Price for both is only $3,250 so I don't know about the quality of this equipment. A rep at Axiom gave me Outlaw's name as a place to look for equipment.

Outlaw is a great company to go with. Tech support is always willing to help, with any subject. I was once on the phone for 45 min with the tech as he walked me through initial set up. Very nice people and great product line.

I've heard good things about Outlaw electronics. I don't have any though. Yes, their amps will drive the 80's very nicely. This is just me, but I'd go with Rotel over Outlaw. This pair will run you about $2300

http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rsx1057.htm
http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rb1080.htm

If you went with them, you'd have enough money left over for your speakers. You could go with one EP 500 for now and buy a second one later if you decide you need it. For the hell of it, I just put this in a cart to see what the price would be.......

1
Remove Pair VaSSallo Series M80 Towers
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Burnt Sienna Grille) $2,200.00 USD $2,200.00 USD
1
Remove Pair VaSSallo Series M22 Bookshelf Speakers
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Grille) $825.00 USD $825.00 USD
1
Remove Pair VaSSallo Series QS8 Surrounds
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Grille) $862.50 USD $862.50 USD
1
Remove Pair VaSSallo Series QS8 Surrounds
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Grille) $862.50 USD $862.50 USD
1
Remove VaSSallo Series EP500
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Grille) $1,850.00 USD $1,850.00 USD
1
Remove VaSSallo Series EP500
Color: Cherry Bordeaux Piano (Gold Accessory Pack & Grille) $1,850.00 USD $1,850.00 USD
Subtotal $8,450.00 USD
Home Theater Discount
(5% discount if we ship 5 items to you at one time) $422.50 USD

Shipping Included
Total
$8,027.50 USD

Going this route, you'd have two great subs, some kick ass electronics to drive some very purty speakers. Jut a little over 10K. This will at least give you something to ponder over......good luck.

Once again, thanks for the advice everyone. I am close to picking a system now. I appreciate all the help. I am leaning heavily toward B&W 802D's, HTM2 center, ASW 825 sub, 805 rears, a Rotel RMB 1095 amp and Rotel RSP 1068 Processor. Yes, I know this is not an Axiom system. I heard those B&W's and they just blew away everthing else I had listened to---even the Paradigm Signature 8's. Of course, they are almost twice as expensive as the Sig 8's, but I don't intend on buying another system for several years and I want a good one for my first one. The whole thing before setup and wires is about $22,000. I know this is far above my initial budget, but I just didn't like the sound of anything I heard at the stereo shops in my $10k budget. I can still afford the B&W's without doing any loans or selling a child, etc. Once again, thank's for all your input.

OMG, my next car won't cost that much and I bet it will get used more. I wish I had that kind of spare change.

With that kind of funding, why not order the M80's, just to see how they sound, return shipping is a drop in the bucket in that price range. I would be interested in your thoughts on them as you have now heard lots of competitor speakers.

Jakewash,
I realize how expensive this B&W system is, but you wouldn't believe how good it sounds. If you have heard the 802D's then maybe you do know what I mean. Nothing I have heard comes close to these speakers. Final cost with sales tax, cables, installation will run $25,000 I suspect. It's pretty bad that this cost as much as a new car. I may still order the Axiom M80's and have a listen. I'll see how things progress.

If you like the 802’s, then I suspect you won’t like the M80’s very much. I wasn’t overly impressed with them myself and preferred the 703’s over the 802’s, but they do have a large fan base. The important aspect is what sounds good to you and you have found a set up that does. Congrats on your choice and enjoy your toys.

One thing I might suggest is for you to look at some different electronics seeing how your budget got blown to hell anyway. Most shops that sell B&W also sell Rotel and try to push that combination because the two are in bed together, but I think the 800 series are better paired with McIntosh. I’d also be looking real hard at the NAD Masters Series Pre/Po and AMP. If they sound half as sexy as they look, they’d put them little blue pills out of business. But if you are sold on Rotel, then I’d look a little harder at the AVR I recommended above because it’s the only thing Rotel has with HDMI. The 1068 that the salesman has you sold on does not have HDMI switching. I can tell you without any doubt that you most definitely want HDMI switching. Put that right at the top of your list of wants/needs. If you salesman tries to tell you that you don’t need it, or that you need HDMI 1.3 or anything else, get another salesman that knows what in the hell he’s talking about and is not just trying to unload out dated products on you.

I could be wrong but I've heard that people switching HDMI through a receiver were having issues with HDCP going to their TVs. ??? Most were ending up having to hook their cable boxes and HD DVD/Blu-Ray players up directly to the TV rather than routing them through their receivers. ???

Or did I misunderstand the issue?