axiom's advice to me...WOW

[mikey d]

I contacted Axiom yesterday to ask a few questions about their ep80 system and to maybe get some advice. After I recovered from the shock I was plesantly supprised, I was told that my room wasnt really big enough to warrent m80 towers that the m22 bookshelf speakers or the m60 towers at most would be best and the ep500 sub would probably be more than enough.
they suggested i get the epic grandmaster setup for considerably less money!! the only differance between the above mentioned and the ep80 is the step down in sub and front tower speakers.

this has to be the first time a company didnt try to upsell me on a product regardless if i needed it or not.

Im still stunned. Im not sure if I should follow their advice on the front speakers or just get the m80 towers.

 

[JennAir]

The person that answered your question took a longer view of the situation rather than just the sale. It doesn't make much sense to sell something that isn't the best choice and end up with a dissatisfied customer.
It's nice to see that.

 

[jhan1000]

I contacted Axiom yesterday to ask a few questions about their ep80 system and to maybe get some advice. After I recovered from the shock I was plesantly supprised, I was told that my room wasnt really big enough to warrent m80 towers that the m22 bookshelf speakers or the m60 towers at most would be best and the ep500 sub would probably be more than enough.
they suggested i get the epic grandmaster setup for considerably less money!! the only differance between the above mentioned and the ep80 is the step down in sub and front tower speakers.

this has to be the first time a company didnt try to upsell me on a product regardless if i needed it or not.

Im still stunned. Im not sure if I should follow their advice on the front speakers or just get the m80 towers.

There have been similar accounts with Axiom by others as well. It is definitely refreshing.

I have also heard similar stories with HSU, AV123, and SVS. Internet direct companies seem to set a high standard for customer service and giving good advice.

 

[JennAir]

Internet direct companies seem to set a high standard for customer service and giving good advice.

They have to since all their business is based on "word of mouth" rather than the salesroom pitch. I'm a big believer in Internet-direct buying with the exception of few companies that have "savvy" sounding names but crap equipment.

 

[gene]

Im still stunned. Im not sure if I should follow their advice on the front speakers or just get the m80 towers

I am not sure why you wouldn't follow the recommendation of the manufacturer. If they tell you the M80 won't work well in your room, believe them and go with a more appropriate model.

 

[jcsprankle]

If it helps, I just auditioned the M60s at an owner's home and they sounded great. He had a rectangular room, maybe 15x20 and the sound was engulfing. He had the whole setup including the VP150 center, QS8 surrounds and an EP600 sub (the sub was turned off most of the time since I just wanted to hear the mains).

Let me tell you, when he fired the sub back up, popped in the Dark Side of the Moon SACD and played "Time", I was blown away!!

 

[RMK!]

Axiom CS

Mirrors my experience with Axiom. They even told me their center channel speaker would be a poor match with my mains. Like has been said, these internet companies rely on word of mouth and these forums for much of their business. IMHO Axiom is one of the best.

I contacted Axiom yesterday to ask a few questions about their ep80 system and to maybe get some advice. After I recovered from the shock I was plesantly supprised, I was told that my room wasnt really big enough to warrent m80 towers that the m22 bookshelf speakers or the m60 towers at most would be best and the ep500 sub would probably be more than enough.
they suggested i get the epic grandmaster setup for considerably less money!! the only differance between the above mentioned and the ep80 is the step down in sub and front tower speakers.

this has to be the first time a company didnt try to upsell me on a product regardless if i needed it or not.

Im still stunned. Im not sure if I should follow their advice on the front speakers or just get the m80 towers.

 

[Tom Andry]

They did the same thing to me. Went in thinking of m60's and walked out with m22's. They talked me down on some of the other speakers as well all with the argument, "In your room, sonically, there will be no difference." Hey, who can argue with that?!

 

[gmichael]

Wow! Great to know this. Thanks to eveyone for this inside information.

 

[ironlung]

"Worst attitude ever" should be my sub title

My pessimistic view always expects the worst in people and I'm rarely dissapointed.

I'm not saying Axiom does not give great service. Nothing but great opinions around here and I'm sure their entire line is top notch. Is it possible that the sales person might be steering you away from the top of their lineup because of things like profit margin and stock availability?

If SVS has a warehouse full of 12-plus 2's and the ultra drivers are unavailable until August they might tell you the ultra 2 is way overkill to still make a sale today and leave you with a warm fuzzy.

Back to the love fest,
Ironlung

 

[mikey d]

its just hard to believe a small bookshelf speaker can be as good as an m60 or m80 tower. Why make the towers if their not better in some way??

why havent the m22's been reviewed and compared to the towers if they are so sonically similar?

Im not an expert so i really need things spelled out to me i guess.

Tom how do you like your m22's?

 

[gmichael]

The bookshelves may not be better in every case. But base can load up in a smaller room. Maybe they feel that the base will over power the mids & highs and make it all sound muffled a little.

 

[jhan1000]

its just hard to believe a small bookshelf speaker can be as good as an m60 or m80 tower. Why make the towers if their not better in some way??

why havent the m22's been reviewed and compared to the towers if they are so sonically similar?

Im not an expert so i really need things spelled out to me i guess.

Tom how do you like your m22's?

How big is your room anyway?

 

[JennAir]

The bookshelves may not be better in every case. But base can load up in a smaller room. Maybe they feel that the base will over power the mids & highs and make it all sound muffled a little.

That would be my thought as well. The room is a big influence and it doesn't make sense to overload the space. Even if it doesn't overload you may be wasting your money if there's no real improvement in the sound with the larger model. Might be more impressive to the neighbors though.

 

[mike c]

My pessimistic view always expects the worst in people and I'm rarely dissapointed.

aah, a fellow graduate of CSP University ... Go CSPU!
(Cynical Skeptical Pessimistic University)

 

[Ajax]

Axiom is interested in creating satisfied customers rather than making quick sales. They will not recommend anything but what they feel is best for the customer.

The size of your listening area will influence that recommendation. If Axiom feels the M22s will be adequate, you can bet they will be. On the other hand that doesn't mean the M60s would be overkill.

I initially purchased the M22s. They, along with my HSU STF-2 subwoofer, performed just fine in my 11.5' x 18' x 8' room, providing all the clean volume that space required. And, they sounded terrific. However, I felt there was something lacking in the upper (mid) bass range, which, IMHO, had more to do with the limitations of a bookshelf speaker itself, rather than the quality of the speaker. I returned the M22s for the M60s, and was completely satisfied. Many contented M22 owners have not experienced what I did, and have no complaints about them at all.

The M80s can be a little more finicky when it comes to placement in smaller rooms. That may be a factor in Axiom's recommendation.

 

[bsheldon]

That is good to hear again about Axiom. Most all of the highly regarded internet direct companies are highly regarded, not only for the great value their products represent but the high level of customer service. SVS, Hsu, Axiom, Aperion, Ascend, Onix, etc. all really do go out of their way to make sure their customers are happy.

 

[ironlung]

An Axiom employee is on the board folks

Axiom is interested in creating satisfied customers rather than making quick sales. They will not recommend anything but what they feel is best for the customer.

Kidding..Kidding...Kidding


Could you admit that my scenario is at least possible?

 

[cthomp]

Axiom vs Aperion

Speaking of Aperion, How does Aperion match up to Axiom dollar to dollar,
speaker to speaker for home theater use? I've have read a lot of good things about both!

 

[ironlung]

aah, a fellow graduate of CSP University ... Go CSPU!
(Cynical Skeptical Pessimistic University)

RAH! RAH! SIS BOOM BAH!