Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Looking for Home Theater advice....

Couple of other guys? I thought it was just me and you, must be the name

Well, you and I count for at least four, and then there's Mojo and Spoiler. Spoiler did the comparison between the PB13 and the EP500, though he hasn't said much on it yet. Maybe if I keep prompting him he will finally post some thoughts. Tune in Spoiler, calling Spoiler... hint hint.

Ahh, but Mojo was never really looking to buy the SVS, just wanted to compare, where I was really in the market for a new sub.

C'mon Spoiler post your thoughts or at least PM them to me, I am genuinely interested.

no pms allowed. You have to share.

hey....thanks for all the great reply's I really appreciate it. now i'll try and answer the questions for me as brief as possible as I don't want to keep rambling on. first off about my budget. I think for the speakers alone i'm looking at about $3000-$4000. the paradigm set i've been pricing out (mon 11's, adp390, cc390, pb13 ultra) came to $4312 will all taxes and what not included. with that combo i've been thinking about also dropping down to the mon9's. the axiom sets are a lil less m80 set w/pb13 $4161, and m60 set w/pb13 $3809. now if I dropped down to the ep500 with those it would drop considerably.
For music I mostly listen to rap, hard rock (korn, tool, nin, rage..etc), dance, well a lil of everything. I like to listen loud and appreciate good bass responce. I really would like floor standers as opposed to bookshelf style mainly due to them being fuller sounding, and the more aggresive look to them.
Due to where I live I can't sample listen to the paradigm's (would have to order from a neighboring city), and the cost of sampling the axioms then have to send them back would be very costly. I'm really just looking for the best scenario for my application....something that i'm going to be happy with for at least 5 or so years. Right now i'm using a Panasonic HTIB so i'm pretty sure it's going to be a night/day difference.

Well, I currently have a Paradigm setup of Monitor 11v5, Cinema LCR330, and ADP 170s (with an EP350v3 sub). I really like the Monitor 11s and will tell you straight up you would not be disappointed with them.

Having said that I have a Paradigm fanatical friend who wants to buy them off me before I move as I have been ruminating on the merits of 3 tower fronts and upgrading my surrounds anyway. I own M2s (for computer spks) and M3s (for gym) and I have auditioned M22s and M80s. They all sound phenomenal. I have not directly A/B compared them but the impression I get is that the move to M80s (or possibly 'M82s') is mostly a lateral with an incremental increase in SQ (despite the frequent calls that Axioms are only comparable to the higher Studio line). The improvement on center channel and surround is where I'm looking to make it worthwhile. The cost of changing over to an Axiom system [QS8s, an M60 center, and either M80s or M82s (M60||M22) for mains ~$2k from Factory Outlet] is on par with doing an upgrade on my system as is. If I didn't have an easy sale lined up I likely wouldn't consider the change worthwhile (other than the QS8s ).

Heres my take based on advice I have received from others on this site when I was trying to decide.

The reason I asked what music you listen to is that music is not all recorded optimum levels of quality. A most of the newer stuff and lots of the old stuff can be compressed and/or clipped because of the volumes they are mastered at.

If you had answered that you listen to a lot of classical and/or jazz it would be a no-brainer. Much of this material is well recorded and plays well on the M80s

The stuff you listen to may fall into the compressed category and may not benefit from the detail that the M80 is capable of. Some of it may actually sound worse.

So, my guess would be that you would be very happy with the M60s as fronts as they are more forgiving of less than optimally recorded material.

Your comment about bass and the music you listen to suggests to me that you would like the harder hitting PB13 more than something like the EP500.

If you are within 3 hours of the nearest city with decent audio dealers you owe it to yourself to go and listen to some speakers before making the decision to buy. In the end, only you know what sound you like so others advice is at best a rough guide.

Also, look in the Hearing Things forum and post to see if there is someone close that can give you an audition. Nothing can replace listening to the speakers you want with the material you most like.

Hope this helps. I will now let those more experienced comment/correct where appropriate.

ya have to admit most of the music (if not all) is d/l'd from the internet (mp3 burned to disk). the only brands I have locally are energy's, and the closest paradigm dealer (that has instock) is about a 7-8hr drive from me. I can get them 150km's away (audiotronic) but they don't keep them instock.

I would go with the M60. After you listen to some well recorded music, you may well change your music axquisition strategy. The M60 is a huge step up from HTIB.

Where in BC are you?

Prince Rupert