Axiom Speaker Advice for Small Room

[DavidJ]

My room is about 9x10 feet. It's a small upstairs room that I've taken over for HT, and opens out onto our staircase (we call it our gallery). Based on reviews I've read everywhere, I'm pretty sold on investing in some Axioms, but I don't want to go overboard for the size of room. But I do want great sound quality.

I already have an SVS SB-12 Plus (a real eye-opener that one, and it's not even fully calibrated yet). I'm thinking one VP150 and a pair of QS8's. My receiver will likely be a Yamaha RX-V659. I'd really like to splash out on an Arcam at some future point, but they're $2000+ in the UK, so I figure on a Yamaha to get me started relatively cheaply.

I have a pair of old Wharfedale 505.2s I bought when I was 16, running as fronts. I still think they're great, given their age, but I'd like to upgrade to M22v2's when money allows. At the moment, I have a huge Thomson CRT, and I'm running 2.1 through an old Denon stereo amp, using the high level inputs on the SVS. A bit makeshift, granted, but it's a toe in the water at least.

Thing is, based on so many positive comments, I'm not worried about buying Axioms without hearing them first. That might sound stupid, but being in the UK, it wouldn't be exactly easy to audition them first. Plus, although I know good sound when I hear it (I have Sennheiser HD600's and Grado SR60's, plus a CMOY amp for my iPod), I don't have the experience or audiophile vocabulary to be so "fussy" (no offense intended) as to make a shortlist and wade through it. I just want great bang for buck, and I'm happy to put my faith in the advice of more experienced people. That's what reviews are for, after all.

I'm not careless with money, and I am a good chooser - I love filtering through reviews and I reckon so many people can't be wrong about Axiom, BUT, although they won't need to run at anywhere near full stretch, will they be overkill or give me problems? Perhaps a VP100 and some M3's would be better, but then we might move at some point, and I want to build in some redundancy for a bigger room. I'm also going to buy a Behringer Feedback Destroyer at some point and set up the SVS with Room Equalizer Wizard.

Any advice gratefully received, but please don't recommend me any other brand without good reason, because I really want to buy Axiom.

Many Thanks - if you've got this far!

David

 

[evilkat]

Hi David, IMHO I don't think you should skimp on the center channel, given that something like 60% of your movie sound-track comes through there. If you're a big movie fan, I think u should step-up to the v150 and keep the M2s since there's not too much of a difference between the M2s and the M3s. Also since it's a small room, and you don't need very powerful speakers for the surrounds, y not go with with Q4s?

 

[DavidJ]

Axiom Speakers

I am a movie fan, but I'm also looking forward to buying lots of SACDs. It was the larger M22 I was interested in, btw!

Is the only difference between the QS4 and QS8 power? I don't mind paying some extra to get top of the range; I don't really ever want to buy surrounds again.

 

[the grunt]

Hi David, I am in a similar situation being in a small room with Axioms. Most people who have owned both QS4 and QS8s say that the QS8s play louder and a little deeper. Unless you plan to move to a much larger room later I would stick with the QS4s and put the savings toward something else you want now. It’s not likely that you’ll be moving to a room that’s too large for the QS4s to fill without also wanting to move up to 7.1 which means buying more speakers later anyway.

Since you think you may move later I would buy the M22 over the M3 or M2s when you replace your front L/R. They will move up to a larger room better and with the subwoofer you have they will sound great even in a large room.

Buy the best center speaker you can. As evilkat said it’s one of the most important HT speakers. With that in mind if you plan to add M22s as front L/Rs later then I would get one or two M22s as for the center if you can fit them above and/or below you screen. One M22 costs only $235 USD vs $408 USD for the VP150 and I think most people who have tried both as centers prefer the M22. Post your questions in the Axiom forum and you might get more feedback on this.

 

[Zer0beaT]

Hey David,

Go for the M22, VP150 and the QS8. Those M22's are awesome and fairly small. They're tall but thin. You'll need a sub if you're going with Axiom the 350 (I think that's model) should be more than enough.

Don't skimp on the the center and regret it later like I did. The VP100 was actually pretty good though when I was using M22 as front mains, but when I got M60's I realized the VP100's limitations and would love to upgrade, you might aswell ensure no regrets and go with the VP150. And the QS8 vs QS4 I imagine is the same thing. The M22's are great though.