HT with high WAF factor

[joabraun]

The house is a center hall colonial and for the most part we never used the living room in the 15+ years we lived in the house, this combined with a need for a high def TV gave rise to the idea that the living room might make a decent HT.

After lots of reading and gnashing of teeth I decided on the following:
1. TV Panasonic Plasma TH-50PZ800 - I really like this set especially coming from a 35" CRT. We sit 10 feet from the TV

2. Axiom Speakers 5.1 System

M22 Front speakers - sit on Sanus 24" Euro stands​

VP100 Center Channel - Above TV and angled down a bit​

QS4 Surrounds on side walls 1 foot below ceiling and 1 foot of back wall​

EP 400 Sub​

I love the sound of both music and movies. As was leaning towards Axiom but what pushed me over the edge was Clint's review of the MIDI 400 system which I upgraded by replacing the M2s with M22s.The first BD I rented was Master and Commander; the canon balls were whizzing through the room. Very happy with what I feel was the hardest choice.

3. Denon 2809 AVR - No complaints except that someone should write a Denon for dummies user manual the one that came with it leaves something to be desired. I used the Audyssey MultiEQ setup and things sound good to me. I might try a SPL and do a manual calibration just to see if it sounds any different.

4. Panasonic BD30 Bluray disk player. No complaints here either.

5. Blue Jeans cables

6. Entertainment unit - Ethan Allen. The nice thing about this is the WAF. Coming into the house you don't see the tv as the top enclosure hides the side and the back. The base houses the AV gear and the doors come with both glass and wood center panels. Once I get an RF universal remote I will likely switch to the wood doors.

7. Sofa - contains 2 recliners, very convenient as there are two of us.

Thanks again to Clint, FredK, the Guys at Axiom ( Jean-Claude and Brent) for the help.

Here are some pictures the room is bright during the day but that does not bother me as we normally only watch TV in the evenings.

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[croseiv]

Sweet! Very sweet indeed.

 

[Adam]

Nice! That's a real classy looking room that you all have there. Wanna trade?

I've considered getting an Ethan Allen TV stand, but I've been concerned about the amount of ventilation. If you don't mind, how happy have you been with yours in term of your components staying cool enough?

Thanks!

 

[haraldo]

Very Very Very nice indeed

I am also a bit positively surprised by how good the M22's look in that dark color.
Is there any way that you may try moving speakers somewhat, I wouldn't be surprised if the M22's would improve by getting more distance from the front wall, but this is "touchy" stuff....

Couldn't see location of subwoofer anywhere, where did you put the EP400?

And I really fancy the wall color

Enjoy

-Harald

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Classy indeed!

The walls are the same color I just painted my bar room. I love that color and am thinking of doing most of my house in it.

 

[haraldo]

Classy indeed!

The walls are the same color I just painted my bar room. I love that color and am thinking of doing most of my house in it.

Do you or joabraun have a "color code"

 

[joabraun]

Do you or joabraun have a "color code"

The walls are Benjamin Moore Decatur Buff HC-38.

 

[joabraun]

Very Very Very nice indeed

I am also a bit positively surprised by how good the M22's look in that dark color.
Is there any way that you may try moving speakers somewhat, I wouldn't be surprised if the M22's would improve by getting more distance from the front wall, but this is "touchy" stuff....

Couldn't see location of subwoofer anywhere, where did you put the EP400?

And I really fancy the wall color

Enjoy

-Harald

Thanks! The sub is behind the chair near the front speaker. The fronts are about 8 inches front the wall, when I get some time I will try moving them a bit. We need to get some art on the walls and also do something with the windows so that will require a re-calibration.

 

[joabraun]

Nice! That's a real classy looking room that you all have there. Wanna trade?

I've considered getting an Ethan Allen TV stand, but I've been concerned about the amount of ventilation. If you don't mind, how happy have you been with yours in term of your components staying cool enough?

Thanks!

The bottom of the unit has 3 large vertical slots in each compartment for routing cables. I put the receiver in the center compartment by itself and truth be told I keep the front door open a crack just in case. It doesn't seem to get too warm but I am a bit paranoid.

 

[haraldo]

Thanks! The sub is behind the chair near the front speaker. The fronts are about 8 inches front the wall, when I get some time I will try moving them a bit. We need to get some art on the walls and also do something with the windows so that will require a re-calibration.

I think the EP400 is a very interesting product, looks like Axiom has been able to put a lot!! into a quite compact cabinet... what do you think about the subwoofer?

-Harald

 

[MinusTheBear]

Very nice! High WAF indeed!

 

[joabraun]

I think the EP400 is a very interesting product, looks like Axiom has been able to put a lot!! into a quite compact cabinet... what do you think about the subwoofer?

-Harald

It is my first system with a sub and I am happy with the bass, perhaps I don't know any better . Clint's review of the Midi 400 system finally pushed me over the edge. I was going to go with a small Axiom sub.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/axiom-audio-epic-midi-400

 

[fredk]

I agree with the boys on the wall colour. It looks really good set against the wood floor and TV cabinet.

I was surprised at how much bass the EP400 put out when I listened to it at Axiom. It was out of my price range though.

Master and Commander is a great first movie to listen, er, watch. The canonball blasts scared the heck out of my son, and the sound of people running on the deck above you is really cool!

 

[rmk]

It is my first system with a sub and I am happy with the bass, perhaps I don't know any better . Clint's review of the Midi 400 system finally pushed me over the edge. I was going to go with a small Axiom sub.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/axiom-audio-epic-midi-400

Careful ... bass is addictive

I have always like the Axoim subs and I'm sure your system sounds as good as it looks. Good job keeping momma happy.

 

[Chitown2477]

Nice setup. But the pictures are outstanding! What kind of camera was used to take the pictures? I can't imagine it is an everyday Joe type of camera. Looks like the lense had a nice filter on it.

Just curious as I am looking to by a better camera in the next few months.

 

[joabraun]

Nice setup. But the pictures are outstanding! What kind of camera was used to take the pictures? I can't imagine it is an everyday Joe type of camera. Looks like the lense had a nice filter on it.

Just curious as I am looking to by a better camera in the next few months.

It's a panasonic FZ50 12x zoom, since it is already 3 or 4 years old it has probably been replaced by a newer model.

 

[adk highlander]

That is a Classy setup. Very nice.

 

[captiankirk28]

Very nice/clean looking system!!

 

[westcott]

I really like the job you did. It looks great and is pretty close to the same color we did our HT in. The equipment selection is also very good. It almost reads like an Audioholics prefered vendor list. Someone has been doing their homework. Nothing, IMO, looks better than a room that looks clean and well laid out and minimizes the exposure of the equipment. I am also impressed that you did not buy in wall speakers just for the sake of appearance.

My only suggestions is to get an SPL meter and see what type of frequency response you are getting at the listening position. I would also suggest trying to find a way to place the center channel closer to ear level. I would also change the orientation of the furniture, if possible. I would have suggested placing the display on the short wall. From an acoustical standpoint, this is usually a better starting point and could prevent the seating position from being placed against a wall.

Nice job!!! It is beautiful!!!