Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners If you could do it again

My primary love is classic rock music and I convinced myself it was time to rebuild my stereo starting with an amazing set of axiom speakers... then it happened, my TV just went black.
I brought home a new 42" HD LCD, just in time for football season. It was a little big for the living room and my wife suggested I follow that great Canadian tradition of moving down to the basement.

I carved out a space 13'L x 10'W in which I plan to set up a mini home theatre. The M80's are my dream speakers, but would they be total overkill in such a small space. What about the M60's instead? Then there is that whole crazy notion about listening to music through a home theatre system.

I sure like the look of the inwall speakers, but can they really perform as well as towers. So this is where you come in. Do I go with a modest theatre package and a dedicated pair of music speakers, let's say the W3's, QS4's, W100, EP175 & a pair of M60's for when you need to let it rip. Or is it possible to reach that live zone with the W22's, QS8's, VP150 & let's say an EP350.

I need some expert advice from the axiom listeners.

Cheers, Brett

If the floor space allows, go for the floorstanders, the full range they produce is much better than any of the other possibilities. My HT area is 12x16 and open to another 12x16 in an 'L' shape, I have M80s, VP150 and 3QS8s, so I say go for the full out system and never look back. Everything sounds amazing and I just set the receiver to pure direct for 2 channel listening through the M80s. Then you have the best of everything for SACD or DVD-A and movies.

If you are unable to accomodate the floorstanders then either of the 'W' series possibilities you have chosen will work great as well, although I favor the W22 scenario a little more; it's more personal preference for the better(more pronounced) mid range the 22 series has over the 3 series.

I would recommend calling axiom and giving them your specs, they will suggest a system without saying "Go all out". Of course if you go with the best, there is no looking back, but why go for the best if, say, M60s are all you need and you can save the extra cash for other equipment. I have found the axiom reps won't try to sell you something you don't neccessarily need.

but as jake said, I would def go with the floorstanders.

I think you really need to listen to some speakers and decide how they fit with your music taste. The 22's tell you like it is and if a classic rock recording of yours isnt that great, they will not be forgiving. I have some Neil Young that doesnt sound that good, but Stevie Ray Vaughn that is great on my 22's.

I personally like the M80's much more than the 60's. In fact I prefer the sound of M22's with a sub to the M60's...but that is just my preference.

You can easily get by with 22's, VP150 and QS4 or 8's for HT and music in DPL, but if you are very critial and like 2ch music, then you may want to step up to M80's. Find somebody in your area and get an audition if you can.

Just curious as I am currently listening to Young, what disc disc displayed this to you?

I ask this in anticipation and I believe it is between M60 and M22 (M80 is a no go to 4 ohms). Sub is no issue.

Then again maybe 4 ohm isn;t either with a new Axiom amp. (Really trying to do the justification for that for WAF).

"sleeps with angels" was disappointing and "weld" is a terribly recorded live album.

Conversely, when I listened to Nirvana's "unplugged" album it felt like I was in the 5th row. It was a very realistic recording that wasnt muddied. SRV's "The sky is crying" sounds great and "Live Alive" is good too for a live recording.

I always love the comment about the M22's that "they dont break the news to you softly, they just tell you how it is".

Try and have a listen to some. I know the listening session we had at Mojo's with M3, M22, M60 and M80's really opened my eyes to what I prefer.

Thanks for the replies.

I am really leaning towards the inwall speakers. I have spent years lugging around tons of gear and for once would like to have a clutter free area. I've just sold off a rack of crown amps and am in the process of switching to a PC based audio/video storage system feeding a quality receiver. I will keep a pair of juke box cd players for my core music collection, at least until I am convinced sound cards and file formats are up to par.

My motivation for purchasing a system based on the W22's is not saving money. I am excited about the prospect of saving the floor space.

Is it actually possible to substitute a set of tower speakers with inwalls? Or is the W22 truly meant for home theatre applications, and light for the main event.

I should think that W22's and a good sub would be just fantastic in that space. Call Axiom.

To set your mind at ease, I've been very impressed with both types of Axiom bookshelves I've heard (M3, M22).

To unset your mind from ease, all I have is towers.

Regarding sound cards and file formats:
I took sound cards out of the picture. All CDs are ripped via lfac to the server, and handled through a SB3 into a Pio94.

no compliants Sound quality is as good, possibly better if your CD player had an inferior DAC and it was fed analog to your receiver.