Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater A new Axiom owner soon! I have questions...

I fortunately have my 3 setups in irregularly shaped rooms. While it is more aesthetically difficult to set up systems to make them pleasing to the eye, more often than not, nasty things like bass standing waves & nulls tend not to be as prevalent.

Everything is a trade-off it seems...

TAM

Hi Mad, looks like you're gonna have a killer setup soon! The only things I would mention that I did not see when reading this thread are:
1 - have you considered a vertical center channel? - the VP180 is awesome from what everyone says (have not heard it myself), BUT 3 vertical M80's across the front would be ideal and slightly cheaper, assuming you have the height for it. I started with a horizontal center and switched after a year or so to a vertical and am happier for it.
2 - EP800 orientation - you mentioned the height, but if it helps with the WAF or placement, note that you can order it in a horizontal configuration.

FWIW I have a Pioneer Elite (SC05) that has been going strong from day one and very much like these receivers. Almost all of my minor complaints with it have been addressed in the new models.

I also have experience with both SVS PC13 Ultra and my Axiom EP500. Based on this experience I think you'd be happy with either, but I am jonesing for an EP800 upgrade myself one day.

Good luck with the upcoming bonus.

Cheers,

Nick, welcome. Your proposed list of components is excellent with one clear exception: the Pioneer VSX-42 wouldn't be suited to your use. Justifiably you're satisfied with your Rotel 1095 and plan to continue with it. It has more than enough maximum power output for any reasonable use with the speakers you're getting. The problem is that the VSX-42 doesn't have the pre-outs to feed it voltage.

A receiver with pre-outs should be chosen and my suggestion would be to also select a receiver with Audyssey auto-calibration and room correction systems. While some manufacturers include their proprietary systems for this(e.g., Pioneer MCACC and Yamaha YPAO), it's notable that manufacturers such as Denon, Integra, Marantz, NAD and Onkyo have selected Audyssey in preference to their own proprietary technology. An important factor is the lack of specific correction to the sub channel(possibly needing it the most)in MCACC, but which Audyssey performs. My suggestion would be one of the Denon or Onkyo units. If you were buying in the U.S. I'd pick the factory refurbished Onkyo 709 for about $450 from Accessories4less, but unfortunately they can't ship to Canada. A suitable Denon or Onkyo unit would be available in Canada, but at a substantially higher price.

One comment you made is a bit puzzling, i.e., that later you'd "like to add more power amps". There appears to be no good purpose to this since your 1095 is more than sufficient for your 5.1 setup, and if you're considering back surrounds in addition to your QS8 sides, or front height/width speakers, whatever full-featured new receiver you get would be able to drive them without difficulty.

Hello and thanks for the great reply.

You are totally right. Later on after I posted that, I started looking at the receiver's specs more closely and realized exactly what you stated, no pre outs. Thanks for letting me know. I would have felt stupid if I bought that. lol

If I go Pioneer, it will have to be the SC series. They are pricy.

I find your take on Audyssey very informative. I would think sub level is important too. I will definitely start looking around. Thanks again. Great input I'm getting here.

Onto the "power amps" comment I made earlier. My Rotel is rated at 330w @ 4ohm. While this is more then sufficient, I've always liked to have lots of head room. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I've always swore it makes a difference. Maybe it just makes my penis feel bigger. haha. In either case, I was thinking on either a 2 channel or 3 channel power amplifier, dedicated to the fronts. Another company I'm new to, emotiva, seems very nicely priced. Xpa2 seems really nice.

It's definitely not a must have. I'll be very happy with the Rotel for now. Just something for down the road, perhaps.

I need to focus on a new receiver and a new player. I've heard great things about Oppo on these boards. Any others I should look at?

For the type of receiver I'm looking for, I can expect to pay around a 1000. ouch. lol Here's one example perhaps?

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/d...3b6607a297ben02

I should make note I'm looking for a 7.2 channel for future expansion. All these speakers and equipment are literally something that's going to be with me for a long long time, which is why I'm being a little OCD about it all

cb919: no, I never considered a 3rd m80 for a center. How is this cheaper? I think for general aesthetics and WAF, I'll be going horizontal, the vp180. Thought about even downgrading to the vp160 to save some space, but I doubt it.

So far as adding/changing amplifiers you would have to double your power to even have the system sound like it gets louder, so in your case you need to look at 600W or more @4ohm amps and even then it is only a few dbs louder; not really worth the dollars spent IMO. When/if your present amp breaks down this would be the time to upgrade.

FYI, the VP160, IMO, isn't really a downgrade, it has a different configuration that gives you better off axis listening, so if oyu are going to have seats that are outside of the front main positions you might want to consider the VP160.

So far as the avr goes I would look for the features you want and go with it, the amp power doesn't matter for you as you are strictly using it as a pre/pro. I really liked the feature set on the Onkyo 818, recently on sale around Calgary for under $900. It has Audyssey XT32(cheapest price point for this I believe), networking ability etc. The amps inside this unit are no slouch either.

hey, thanks for the heads up on the vp160, i'll definitely have to look at the more closely. thanks.

I found a Onkyo on Ebay

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Onkyo-TX-NR709-7-...=item4ac050112a

100 for shipping, but still way cheaper then what I'd pay up here

Thanks for all the other tips. I agree I'll take a look at that onkyo

You all have been so helpful in guiding me through this!

I will know by the end of next week if this purchase is going to happen for sure. Crossing my fingers

cb919:

Just realized why you meant an m80 would be cheaper. I don't think the wife would like it though. lol

Have you seen this, it should be free delivery

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/onky...19e41660b42en02

or this

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/onky...d5744ba64a6en02

oh wow, I really like the price point and features of the first link. That's going on my favourites. Thank you