Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Audio Only System Renewal

Update:

Last weekend I set up my new M2s & EP400 where my vintage AX2s/Velo system previously resided. The smaller form factor of the new speakers in Boston Cherry is nicer in appearance than the standard black in our room. The FMS24 stands with the smaller M2s perched on top have a more elegant look - good for WAF.

This new system is simply outstanding as an audio only setup. My tube amp drives them easily to excessive levels in my large space that compares favourably to the output of my previous set up - thankfully proving my initial thoughts that they would be up to the task.

The M2s are accurate, powerful & the EP400 is a monster of a sub for music in a remarkably small package. At about 1/2 Volume & Crossover at 80Hz, it easily vibrates my hardwood floor & whacked my couch nicely from 8' away. For initial testing I played a Spyro Gyra SACD - Good to Go-Go - that is energetic fusion jazz with lots of fast, dynamic bass from drums & electric bass guitar - no one note droning here! The system performed admirably with the EP400 being most impressive. On all other music, including Cameron Carpenter's impressive, dynamic organ pieces, it ably rendered everything that I played accurately & with authority.

All in all, the diminutive M2s/EP400 combo makes a killer audio system even in quite a large room. My thanks to Ian & his crew for designing & manufacturing a very nice sounding system.

Pic of my new set up:



TAM

Very cool, Tom. Great review. I'm sure your experience will be very valuable to others.

I love it when my couch is nicely whacked.

That sub looks disproportionately small. It's... smaller than a wooden duck.

Did you play with placement any? The proximity of the M2's to the side walls is making me really uncomfortable.

Thanks for the picture!

My couch needs whacking....

Tom:

That 'duck' is a very large Canada Goose carving - probably bigger than real life - 25" long by 10" high. I have it there to hide the power cord in the black plastic conduit until I can hide it behind the baseboard.

The M2s are in the alcove & placed there mostly for aesthetics as there is just no other way. They are about 11' apart & are toed in slightly - the outside angled speaker side parallels the short wall. I get great imaging inside the alcove & often it even extends outside the confines of that space.

I'm not worried about it as it sounds just fine to me...

TAM

So the cord is ducking behind the goose?

Mark:

If you want to really get your couch whacked, get a cat.

Hmmm, perhaps it was one of my cats whacking it when I was listening & the sub isn't as good as I thought.

Actually, I think that leather furniture probably reflects more sound than fabric coverings might. It may react a little more in a tactile sense. I think that I'm babbling now.

And yes, the cord is playing with the goose...

TAM

I never should have taught you how to post photos. Now, you just make me all jealous and stuff!

Very good, Tom. Enjoy.

I'm sitting in YVR airport playing with my new BB Playbook tablet. Grabbed one on sale to accompany me on our European River Boat Cruise. Seems to be a great unit so far. It'll be interesting to see how it works over there on our boat as I'm kinda new to this hi tech stuff.

Just waiting for KLM to whisk us to Amsterdam this afternoon.

TAM

Well, 'whisking' wasn't really the correct term - even with good tailwinds that cut half an hour off the flight, it is still a long haul across Canada and the North Atlantic in the middle of the night.

Bicycles everywhere over here in Amsterdam - quite incredible.

I hate being away from our cats; however, our house sitter is probably doing just fine 'herding' them without me.

BTW, the reason for the delay in setting up my new system is that Ian (on his own initiative) tweaked my EP400's DSP's Coding to produce some more output below 25 Hz. This took a couple of weeks of code writing, experimentation and testing on his part.

I really appreciate his efforts and the results sound really good to me...

TAM