B&W DS6 or Axiom QS8 v2?

[NainoKami]

Hi,

Judging by my current system, what would you suggest I get? The Axiom's are cheaper, can handle a higher load and cover a broader frequency range, but I'd suspect there would be better matching with the rest of my speakers with the B&W's... That and I can get the B&W's in plain old white, which will suit my wall much better than the light maple, or for that matter the beech-wood of the Axioms, even though my other B&W's are beech.

What do you reckon?

Thanks in advance,
Simon

 

[emorphien]

As surrounds I don't know how much matching matters, and I've heard the Axioms are quite good. But I'd probably go for the B&W to have everything as uniform as possible anyway.

 

[NainoKami]

That's what I was thinking as well, but seeing as they do roll off at 10 kHz -3dB and 15 kHz at -6dB I'm slightly in doubt.
I'd love if someone who own either could spill the beans with regards to how much it matters.

As surrounds I don't know how much matching matters, and I've heard the Axioms are quite good. But I'd probably go for the B&W to have everything as uniform as possible anyway.

 

[emorphien]

Well I looked up the specs on both, it looks like the B&W rolls off upwards of 8Khz while the Axiom specs out to 22Khz, and given that the Axiom has two of their titanium tweeters I don't think the specs you had are right.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that's what I'm seeing. Given that drastic of a difference I'd definitely probably go with the Axiom. There's still components of surround music that would lose the surround effect with that low a cutoff and I'm sure effects in movies would suffer as you'd lose directionality from the rear.

 

[tomd51]

If aesthetics are of high importance, the Axioms can also be had with a custom eggshell white finish for just under $600 for the QS8s or even wood of your choice, obviously for a bit more. Here's a link to their custom QS8s page.

I have not heard the B&Ws you reference, however having owned a few pairs of bipole, dipole and quadrapole speakers for surrounds as well as direct radiating speakers, I can honestly say the QS8s are some impressive surrounds for the money. I'm currently using them paired w/a Boston Acoustics front sound stage (VR3s and VR12) and they blend quite well for multichannel audio as well as for movie soundtracks.

If your main focus is home theater usage for your surrounds, I would recommend the QS8s without hesitation. If you are will be predominantly using them for multichannel music (DVD-As or SACDs), it may be better to match your surrounds w/your front sound stage. For all else, timbre matching surrounds w/your front soundstage isn't critical... -TD

 

[NainoKami]

This is what is stated on B&W's website for the DS6:

Freq. Response 85Hz – 22kHz ±3dB on reference axis (monopole mode)
85Hz – 10kHz ±3dB power averaged over front hemisphere (dipole mode)

Freq. Range -6dB at 63Hz and 42kHz (monopole mode)
-6dB at 63Hz and 15kHz (dipole mode)

So I believe I stated the correct specs from the dipole mode.

Well I looked up the specs on both, it looks like the B&W rolls off upwards of 8Khz while the Axiom specs out to 22Khz, and given that the Axiom has two of their titanium tweeters I don't think the specs you had are right.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that's what I'm seeing. Given that drastic of a difference I'd definitely probably go with the Axiom. There's still components of surround music that would lose the surround effect with that low a cutoff and I'm sure effects in movies would suffer as you'd lose directionality from the rear.

 

[NainoKami]

Thanks for the reply and thanks for the tip with the custom shop... That might actually be the perfect sollution... And the Axioms are almost half the price.

If aesthetics are of high importance, the Axioms can also be had with a custom eggshell white finish for just under $600 for the QS8s or even wood of your choice, obviously for a bit more. Here's a link to their custom QS8s page.

I have not heard the B&Ws you reference, however having owned a few pairs of bipole, dipole and quadrapole speakers for surrounds as well as direct radiating speakers, I can honestly say the QS8s are some impressive surrounds for the money. I'm currently using them paired w/a Boston Acoustics front sound stage (VR3s and VR12) and they blend quite well for multichannel audio as well as for movie soundtracks.

If your main focus is home theater usage for your surrounds, I would recommend the QS8s without hesitation. If you are will be predominantly using them for multichannel music (DVD-As or SACDs), it may be better to match your surrounds w/your front sound stage. For all else, timbre matching surrounds w/your front soundstage isn't critical... -TD

 

[tomd51]

You're welcome NainoKami....

In regards to the decreased frequency for some speakers in bipole/dipole mode, many manufacturers do this. From my own experience, I don't find it greatly impacts the sound due to localization of higher frequencies being more difficult from the side or rear as opposed to in front of the listening area.

Because of the configuration of the drivers for the QS8s (larger drivers on top and bottom, tweeters on an angle on the left and right), I believe the diffusion is more natural which doesn't require them to run out-of-phase as many surrounds do, resulting in less roll-off at higher frequencies... -TD