Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Out with the new and in with the newer

I don't know but since there are no more Axiom speakers for my curious exploration, I don't know how I'm going to satisfy Mike's craving for hyperbole.

I'll have to wait until Axiom improves the actives. In my mind's eye I can see where 11 more drivers should go. Not sure about any more sphincters though. I will say the actives are the only sphinctered Axiom that has performed flawlessly in the bass regardless of where it was placed in the room. I really don't know how that has been accomplished.

I hope Axiom gets to those improvements after releasing the octa-sub with 15" drivers.

If only you could get Bryston stuff directly from Axiom. Would be interesting to see how they compare. Probably pretty subtle if you're comparing actives.

Take the red pill.

https://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-Sound-Studio-Construction-Recording/dp/007177274X

Mojo, “there is no spoon.”

Stay in wonderland and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Not saying build a room. But understand the matrix.

I don't know if the Model T vs. actives is subtle or not. 8" vs. 6.5" (sort of) woofers...and more wood.

I will tell you when the actives were in my 1900 cu.ft. living room, the bass just kicked ASS! I mean it was unbelievable. And it was gooooood. Not bloated but just indescribably perfect. I couldn't get anywhere close to maxing out my measly 70W into 4Ohm Pioneer. I was like at -20 and my chest was pounding. That was the most awesome thing I ever heard. And of course the rest of the spectrum is so accurate too.

I moved them into my 4,200 cu.ft. space and the bass diminished. Don't get me wrong. Far better than M100 but they just don't have the same kick. I can't push them to disco fever levels without the dual 500s in place. Practically, it makes no difference to me because I have no need for that SPL but if I did, the 500s take over.

Yes, the room is so very important but just take a look at what the actives can do. I hopped them around and they sounded terrific in every room. I've never experienced that before. So an accurate family of curves goes a hell of a long way to removing the room from the equation. Bose sort of did that in a cheap and dirty way. Their speakers had (have?) no response below 300Hz and above 8KHz. They sound great as long as no one expects stereo everywhere but nowhere.

I gotta get that book.

True, without subs the Model T would dig deeper. But from what I can tell, there are no omnidirectional models in the Bryston line.

Right. No omnis but there are active Brystons. Their curves don't look as pristine as the active LFRs. Not sure how much of the pristininess is due to the LFR aspect vs. the active aspect.

I have an update on the active LFR1100s.

In my main space, I wasn't completely satisfied with how they didn't completely acoustically disappear and their soundstage width. My reference for disappearing is M2, M3, M5, M50 and even the M2OW in my living room. My reference for width is M2, M2OW and M5. All of these speakers have given me width way outside the speaker boundaries right to my side walls which are 5 feet away from the speakers. All speakers give me excellent depth including the M100.

Ian told me years ago to work at eliminating "position error". All of the smaller speakers I mentioned are less prone to position error when it comes to imaging. Bass response is a different matter; the M2, M2OW and the active LFR1100 are the best in the bass error department. The actives are exemplary and I really would love to understand how such linear bass response was achieved because it is quite uncanny. The QS10 and VP160 also need bass correction. There's only so much you can do with passive speakers and I think what could be done was done very well by Axiom in the v4.

So regarding position error, I spent the last 3 weeks moving the actives ever so incrementally to maximize acoustic disappearance and extend width. I am very happy to report I am now completely satisfied with how they disappear and more satisfied with width but can't say I'm completely satisfied. To get the surround effect that Craig described with Pulse, I have to turn the volume up to an uncomfortable level. That results in total immersion including the aircraft coming from behind and up above and crashing in front. I want that at a lower volume. I am disappointed with all the work I've had to put in. I don't expect anyone out there to go through what I've been through.

It's worth noting I am very picky. I am sure others would say I was over-analyzing. But I also know what I was hearing so I had to try to fix it. Movies were never a problem but certain songs were.

I still don't have to use Audyssey XT32 for 2-channel. I turn it on for movies though to correct the QS10 and 800.

I theorize the panacea for the vast majority of listeners will be the active M5. Those will likely minimize position error and give incredible soundstage while disappearing. The only thing they won't achieve is the SPL of the LFR1100 but they'll still be no slouch giving clean 107dBC peaks at 12 feet away.

I just can't get enough of drums on this system. The visceral impact, imaging and room saturation is extremely addictive.

I know what you mean, I am addicted too. It is like the drum kit is in the room with you. It something I always wanted to achieve, these LFR1100 Actives actually achieve it.

You've fulfilled your calling, Ian. Somewhere on the other side, there will be an Axiom, rockin' our souls for eternity.