Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Help Me Choose - Axiom Vs. Rivals and which Axioms

Hi guys,
i've been speaking to some HT enthusiasts as well as going to different stores to try and find the perfect 7.1 setup for my basement home theater.

Axiom has always been a contender because they're Canadian and well priced, but I'm conscerned as to how they might sound.

Main Rivals that come to mind are:
- Magnepan setup: consisting of 4 MC-1's ( or 2 MC-1 fronts and MCC-W's rear) and the CC3 center mated to a sub that hopefully will be fast enough to keep up with them.

- B&W setup: probably something from the 600 series, havn't heard them yet because you need an appointment at the local dealer 2 do so.

- Focal

I'm going to bay bloor radio in a few hrs to see what they have available.

The axiom setup i'm considering (pending listening approval of course) is one of the following configurations:

1) M22ti for Fronts on my bookshelf, VP150 center, 4 QS8's for surround, EP500 sub for bass (maybe 2 later on down the road).

2) M60 towers for fronts place about a foot infront of my tv/wall unit bookshelf thingy, VP150v2 center, 4 QS8's for surround, 1 EP500 sub.

Things I liked about the magnepans when i listened to them with music: unbelivable clear, you can hear strings on the guitar, each note, everything. Bad thing about them: not really and low range sound so subwoofers or 2 are a must. May not be dynamic enough for home theater?

Oh, my room specs are as follow (pics to come if needed): total basement room is 12 feet wide, 8 feet tall and about 30 feet long. 15-17 feet of the room is home theater (so 12Wx17Lx8H). the home theater area has a brick fireplace on the left side and where the tv is tehre is a library unit surrounding it on the back wall. The whole place is carpeted and soft funiture consists of: paintings, an L-shape arrangement of 2 sofas, and some other typical basement stuff.

What do you guys think? Also, i'm in the Toronto area, if there would be any one kind enough to let me audition a pair, I will bring the beer and snacks

Thanks and best regards,

Omar (possible future axiom owner )

Skip the M60 and go for the M80, they are much clearer(I just did this). For HT a subwoofer is still a must so the Maggies lack of low end isn't that big of a deal. The M80s I can hear the strings reverberating as well as the pluck on good recordings.

Sounds like you just need to hear some Axioms, so come you guys out in Ontario, speak up and let this future Axiom owner have a listen.

jake, thanks for your thoughts.
my reason initially for not listing the M80's as an option was the fact that they are 4 ohm.

My new Onkyo 705 will probably not be able to run them but it would run anything else in the product line. I suppose it isn't a major conscern since i can connect the other speakers to the reciever and then the M80's to a 2nd hand stereo amp.

Hey Omar,

Glad to see you away from AVS.

The 60's would be fine, you don't have to go with 80's. I owned 60's for many years before my current 80's, and I would not say the 60's are lacking in detail.

Just to give you an idea, the 60's have been mentioned time and time again to be as good or better than B&W 703's, so they would be in a different league from the 600 series. I almost purchased a pair of 703's 5 or so years ago, that was until I heard my 60's.

My room is much bigger than yours, and my 60's were very adequate. Everyone has a different opinion, but not sure I would say the 80's are much cleaner. Yes, they have a bit more detail, but that is because of dual tweeters and midrange. This does not mean the 60's can't perform. They are beautiful sounding speakers.

You could also go with 22's and a sub combination to get fabulous results.

Randy

hi sirquack

yeah AVS forum is a bit...er....hardcore?

I think that might be the word I'm looking for. Unless you're talking about how to create 3d holographic images or link 8 amps to power the world's greatest 2 channel, i have a feeling it isn't noob friendly Lots of good info though.

I think i will give the 60's a try, worst case scenario is i don't like em and trade em back to try the m22's.

Heard some definitive speakers at bay bloor today and honestly for the price I was not impressed.

Hopefully Axiom will give me what i'm looking for because i'm REALLY not looking forward to try and place a set of maggies in my room

Keep in mind if you order from the factory outlet you save 10%. You also get the usual 5% if you purchase 5 or more items, which includes any 5 items.

Your Onkyo should make the 60's sing.

I found the 60s laid back especially compared to the M22s I have, which is what prompted me to exchange the M60s for the M80s. The detail is there with the 60s, you just have to listen more carefully or crank them up a bit to get the open/airy, transparent, sound the M80s have.

The Onkyo would most likely would work but not to high volumes.

The M60s are definitely easier listening than the M22s with those 6 1/2" drivers. They are not as forward as the M22s, the vocals take a back seat to the music, but they have a richer warmer/fuller sound than the M22s.

I am sure you will like the M60s enough to wonder what the M80s sound like.

Interesting, I think that is the first time I've heard someone think the 60's are laid back compared to their little brothers and sisters. In the years I owned 60's, and the many auditions I held at the plex, most people felt my 60's were actualy a bit forward.

Now the 60's to 80's, I can see where someone would experience a bit more in those areas you mention.

Music style, room acoustics, placement, personal taste, etc... all have to do with the end result.

I've heard this same comment before. There's no question in my mind that the 60s are more laid back than the 22s. I'm starting to suspect that Axiom made some major changes.

good to know
is the factory outlet different from the website?

Do these speakers need 2 be "broken in" before you hear what they will sound like in the long run?

And lastly, i think i want to try out the M80's. The maggies will cost around that much, so might as well give axiom a fair try in the same price range.

I don't have a 4 ohm reciever, but would it be possible to still plug in just the two speakers (and maybe the center) just to test them out in the short run? will there be a high risk of damage to the speakers or reciever?