Axioms, wharfedales, any insights?

[Xsound]

I had pretty much decided on the Exiom epic grand master, but upgading to the VP150. Now my business partner has bought into a pro-sound company that carries wharfedales. He can get me a significant discount on their products. Does anyone know much about wharfedales? Is their sound close to another speaker line? Are they phasing out the Diamond 8's for the Diamond 9's? What about the Pacific Evolution line?

I have a pioneer elite vsx-54tx. My room is 18x21 with vaulted ceiling. I am a little concerned about the efficiency of the speakers in a room the size of mine. The diamond line seems to be rated at 86db.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[20to20K]

Those are pretty inefficient speakers...

I don't know much about either brand (other than hear several people rave about Axioms) but I do know your AVR is 110x7 and if you're running 5 (or more) speakers that are 86DB in a room that size your gonna have sound level issues if you like to pump up the volume. You may wind up getting a seperate power amp for at least the two fronts and maybe a 3 channel amps to include the center as well.

I've got a Denon 3805 with about the same power rating, with 3 speakers rated and 87DB (the other two are 91) and I needed a two channel amp to pump it up to the volume I felt happy.

Are those Wharfs 8 ohm or 4 ohm? If they're 4 you've got the additional concern of excessive current being drained out of your AVR possibly engaging the protection circuitry.

You shouldn't let these issues stop you from getting the speakers you like though...just be aware of them and be prepared to make provisions if they are real issues. The speakers are the most important component of your setup (IMO) so you have to be happy with them. Everything else you can work around...at least in time.

That's my opinion anyway...I'm sure others will chime in with differing ones!
That's why we're all here!

 

[snakeyes]

my opinion

the diamond series are mass market they sell them at best buy etc.
the pacific evo's are really nice (and would be the line compared to axioms)i was looking at them originally but when i went to a shop in the city the amp that the wharf's were hooked up to werre blown and the sales guy did not seem to want to switch it around. so i never got to listen to them and they were the closest place for me to audition so i looked around some more and came accross the axioms. demoed them at a guys house in jersey. and just received my order last week. epic 60 with the vp150 as center. i love them so far and they are not even set-up in the room im going to be using them in. but if money is important and you can get a signifiant discount from your friend i think you would be very happy with the wharfs. either way its a win/win. imho
Sorry to be so long winded.
Jake