Axiom Epic 80 too big for my room?

[PHead1223]

Hey all! I am new to the forums here, and I could use some help on picking home theater speakers. I am planning on getting the Axiom Epic 80 500 (2 m80, vp150, 2 QS8, and ep500) with the QS stands, but I am thinking it may be overkill (but part of me thinks there is no such thing). This will be a big jump for me since I am upgrading from a small 2 speaker shelf system that cost $300. I have never had a surround sound system, nor have I ever watched a movie in surround sound (except at the theaters).

What is needed: 5.1 speaker system (and stands, if needed).
Room Dimensions: 13'x17'x10' (LxWxH) = 2210 ft^3. One of the 13'x10' sides is open to the kitchen. All other sides are walls/ceiling/floor.
Intended Usage: 60% Home theater and 40% Music
Listening Distance: 9 ft
Budget: $3,500 or less for speakers/stands.
PreAmp (already purchased): Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
Amplifier (already purchased): Sherwood Newcastle AM-9080 (4 ohm stable)

Is this overkill for my room? When I think of smaller speakers like the Axiom m60s, I think why not spend $300 more and get the m80s? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[mazersteven]

IMO Overkill is personal thing. What might seem crazy or overkill to you might seem like to little or normal for someone else.

Both bookshelf, or tower speakers will be find for your room.

 

[mazersteven]

I would want to know how that Axiom package compares to this Rocket package.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=11.1

You could pair this system with a good SVS subwoofer. Or do some research and find out what this sub will sell for.

http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=15788

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub.cfm

 

[mazersteven]

Hey look at the Rocket 760 special.

http://www.av123.com/specials.php

And I answered my own question about the MFW-15 subwoofer. It's $499.

 

[the grunt]

Is this overkill for my room? When I think of smaller speakers like the Axiom m60s, I think why not spend $300 more and get the m80s? Any suggestions are appreciated

If you have nothing better to spend the $300 on for your HT then I say go ahead and get the M80s. I was in the same situation in a slightly smaller room and went with the Epic 80/500. Both the Axiom customer service and the people in the form suggested that even the bookshelves would work for me but I knew I wouldn’t live in an apartment forever and wanted to future proof myself a little.
I did let them talk me out of the EP600 but it looks like you don’t need that sort of intervention.

 

[PHead1223]

I would want to know how that Axiom package compares to this Rocket package.

I have seen the Rockets while doing my research, but I have not read much about them. I will look into them. They look great! Thanks!

 

[PHead1223]

I was in the same situation in a slightly smaller room and went with the Epic 80/500.

That is good to hear. I am still leaning towards the Axiom Epic 80/500. I too want to somewhat future proof my purchase because I don't think the wife would let me upgrade anytime in the next 10 years, and we may have a new house with a larger room where the m80s would be needed within that time frame.

I did let them talk me out of the EP600 but it looks like you don’t need that sort of intervention.

I didn't even persue the Epic 600 because it has a very low WAF. I had a hard enough time convincing her to let me get towers instead of an Orb Audio satellite system.

 

[Vanhoecke]

I'm trying to make the same decision. My room is a little larger than yours -- 13'x19'x9' (W/L/H). I initially planned on using the M80s and the EP600. I'm doing 7.1 surround so I plan on getting 4 QS8s and a VP150 for the center. This is basically the upper-end recommendation you get using the Axiom on-line product guide. I spoke with Alan Loft at Axiom several times. He pushed the M22s and the EP500 for my room. He indicated that his personal home theater is slightly larger then mine. He initially had the EP600 and returned it for an EP500. That made me more confortable that the EP500 could do the job -- I now just have to wrestle with my male ego wanting a big honking EP600 in my HT. I hestitate to go with the M22s simply because I feel like they may be too small. Feedback I have recieved from others generally suggests that the M80s would be overkill because the EP500/EP600 would already handle everything below 100 hz. Depending on how you set your crossover, the woofers on the M80s would be redundant. This lead me to consdier using three VP150s for my L/R/C speakers. They have a significantly higher power rating (400 watts vs 200 watts on the M22s) and a much flatter frequency response curve (although it drops off quickly below 85 hz). Hopefully, the EP500 can handle the low end. I ran this idea by Alan during one of our email exchanges. He indicated that three VP150s would "work" and that it would be acceptable to mount the L/R VP150 vertically on the side of the screen -- altough to be honest the tone of his message clearly favored the L/R M22s over three VP150s. I was considering getting both and doing a side by side audition for 30 days (I ran additional speaker cable to bi-wired my front speakers during my pre-wire). I would then send back the pair that I didn't like. Which reciever are you using?