Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Newbie needs advice

Hi all,

So I am here for a bit of advice on the new stereo set up that I am interested in. I have read about 200 threads in this forum this weekend (and thousands in the AVS and other similar and manufacturer forums) and have a bit of an idea but need some help. I have also been researching speakers for weeks on end and I narrowed it down to SVS and Axiom. Axiom seems to have the quality, look, price, sound (I hope) that I want and are made in Canada (I am a native-born Montrealer who now lives in New York).

My budget is a bit limited to $1500, including the sub I just bought(I am moving to a new place, need new furniture plus all the other expenses get in the way). The basement that will be my AV room is 12x15x7 but is open on the side where my HT will go (L shaped room with an 8x8x7 extension, with the HT at the corner of the L, it just has to be that way).

What I have: Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH and Hsu VTF-2 MK3 (both aching to be used).

What I am thinking of buying: M22's, M2's, VP100 (I like that they all have the same tweeters and woofers).

Will these be enough for my room? I can't really spend too much more and I am not really the type of person to buy stuff on credit just cuz credit is there (I know I can use the trade-up program later if necessary). I know about the factory seconds but it would only save me $90 on what I want and I like new stuff and it would net me less $$ if/when I trade them up later (I do have eyes on M60's with M3's as rears but I'd likely keep the M2's to put upstairs with a cheap receiver for the wife, eventually). Also, I am moving soon so I'd like to make my order 2 days before I move so it arrives at my new place in Pennsylvania when my stuff gets there as well.

So what do you pros think?

/Exhale/

PS- I can't wait to join the Axiom family!

You'll be just fine with that setup. Of course, we'd all like to see you get QS4s for surrounds instead of M2s, but if that's not where your budget goes, that's not where your budget goes.

Thanks for the quick reply!

What would the QS4's really give me over the M2's.

Oh, and usage split is Gaming 50, Music 20, TV 20, Movies 10%.

Much better surround--as the QS4s are not direct radiators (ie, you don't get the majority of the sound beaming directly out from the front of the speaker) you get a more diffuse surround field, which is what movie sound editors at least are expecting. Remember that in theatres, the surrounds are often made up of a series of speakers along the walls. That's not practical for home setups, so multipolar speakers such as the Q series or other bipolar or dipolar speakers simulate that.

But overall the surrounds are less important than the front 3 and sub, afaik. I can save $200 on surrounds now and get SQ8's later when I have been at my job for a bit and can afford them and kick the M2's upstairs for a second, small music only 2.0 system.

This is quite true. Many people come here with the idea they'll be buying their final system and MUST BUY IT ALL AT ONE TIME. So we're all kind of geared for that.

kcarlile,
I am ready to place my order tomorrow, I think.
A few last questions after ton's of research before callin' it in.
1) Is buying factory direct for an extra 10% off (above 5% off for 5 or > :o), an no brainer? Are the blems pretty much not very notieable? Or can they be pretty obvious and you are just rolling the dice on the degree of 'noticeableness' ;o). Assuming you are Ok with waiting 4wks rather than one (incl. shpg).

2) Have newbies found that Axiom is good about sending your info to local owners you specifically said you'd like to get in contact with? I understand once a possible 'shower' gets your info, they may choose not to contact you. I was interested in 2 close to me. I got an email the same day I spoke to Axiom (2/12), but they were 6 hours away. I don't know how that person got contacted. Maybe it is just that the two parties I asked for are busy with the 3-day week end.

3)Any opinions on the VP150 vs M2 as center? ANy problems wiht laying M2 on it's side?

I have a Denon 1909 (90 wpc), 31'L x 23'W great room, so need as full a sound as I can get. Looking at: M60, VP150?, QS8 surr, M2 7.1 rears (backwall is 16' behind list. pos.)
Thanks for any pointers. :o)

Mod, welcome. It appears that you have about $900 left in the speaker budget. My suggestion for the best setup for your room right now(consider an upstairs setup later)would be M22 mains with a vertical M2 center and QS4 surrounds. This totals roughly $1050 but with 10% off from the outlet plus an additional 5% off for 5 items ordered it comes down to the $900 area. The outlet speakers are in fact "new", but with a slight cosmetic defect that most of us have had difficulty in even finding, so no need to be concerned about that.

If you really want to go with the M2 surrounds to be switched upstairs later plan, this would even be a bit less expensive. You'll be operating in fairly close quarters, so if you use direct radiating surrounds you might consider placing them to the side but aiming them toward the back, so as to increase the proportion of reflected to direct sound. Experiment.

Dave, as my previous reply indicates, there's no need to be concerned about the condition of the speakers from the outlet.

Generally, Axiom doesn't get directly involved in arranging auditions; the prospective purchaser should attempt to make direct contact with owners in his area by sending a PM(private message). If instead Axiom is asked to assist in arranging an audition, in many cases they're able to do so, but as you say, the nearest possibilities may not be available for one reason or another.

Again, as I indicated in the previous reply, a vertical M2 would be my suggestion for a center. This is for wider and smoother horizontal dispersion. If it was placed on its side the horizontal dispersion would be both narrower and asymmetric.

Dave, no concern about the factory outlet, most of us have never found any nicks or blemishes when looking them over, they are brand new speakers, with full warranty. They are not returns.

Mod, have you considered ordering from the Factory Outlet, you get 10% off everything, plus if you buy 5 or more items you get another 5%, including accessories.