mike's axiom ep500

[mike c]

Im posting a new thread, I've hijacked that thread too much already.

reply #1 for RMK

hey, sorry I put your name in as one of the main factors I decided to choose axiom ep500. (which I will edit btw)

here's my story as I've told some people in pm's
I looked over the back of the amp, found the words 120v / 240v ... figuring it was autovolt, plugged it in. poof. I got a flashlight, saw the little black fusebox that can apparently be switched around (which this the manual did not teach on how to flip - I WAS looking for some sort of switch, im not exactly technical savvy, it did take me about an hour or two to figure out how to flip the fusebox)

I ordered the unit mid january ... got the package (actually my house did) on march 6. I spent march 5 to march 11 in the hospital. I waited til march 13 to open the box because I did not have the tools to cut through the steel belt cables the exterior box (we put the entire axiom package in a bigger box with tons of foam) and I did not have the strength to move the box anyway because both my arms were hurting with the number of needles stuck in them. so - in short, I was excited to hear the unit. I didn't think I was that stupid to fall for a 110v trick again.

again ... sorry.
but thanks for pinging axiom

 

[mike c]

reply #2 for amie
thanks amie, I was posting in the axiom forum too. yes, you were the one who gave me the definite date of arrival on the slow-blow fuses. thanks for that again.

I can forward all emails since january (maybe tomorrow) I lugged the amp to my engineer friend, he noticed that the screws weren't ordinary and had to be opened with a special tool. he said that he will look into it.

here's the short version of my story.

december 2005-january 2006
I had talked with Brent regarding the ep500, performance, price, color, etc.
like in the other thread, I asked if the unit was 220v. he said it was. I emailed my aunt Brent's contact details, the unit's details and had her (or my uncle) mention to Brent that I wanted:
1) the unit in black
2) the unit in 220v
3) the unit be checked thoroughly because of the sheer distance of the final destination
4) if I could have me and fiancee's names be printed on it

1)-3) reply was yes
4) reply was it was gonna take longer - so I scrapped that.

mid january
I had my aunt in ontario order the unit, it arrived at their house 1-2 days later. they waited for a definite departure date on the cargo ship to the Philippines before sending it to the courier (to minimize loss, damage, etc.)

march
the story in post #1 above.

 

[mike c]

reply #3 for Ajax

"Mike, didn't you read the manual BEFORE plugging your subwoofer into a 220 outlet?"

nope.

1) I was excited
2) I figured 120v / 230v meant autovolt. (after all I check each and every item in my house's voltage before plugging it in because when I was a kid, I fried a massage stick that was 110v also - so I have been paranoid since)
apparently, not enough.
3) I connected the wrong dots. I thought that I had specifically mentioned 220v to Brent, but he never connected ME with my aunt (although I told him my aunt was gonna call him) I did tell my aunt to tell him about the 220v thingy too.

 

[mike c]

reply #4 for ilkka

my ep500 had a fusebox that can be flipped for 110v or 220v
so I guess both units have that.

 

[Ajax]

AH! Now I understand. To your credit, I see you've taken responsibility for the situation. From what you had to say in the other thread, it sounded like you blamed Axiom, or the EP500.

Hard lessons learned. Rule #1 - READ DA MANUAL!

I can understand the excitement that led to your mistake. I'd wager there isn't one of us who hasn't made a similar gaffe. Come to think of it, I remember a summer job at a steel fabricating plant, where I plugged in my Norelco razor and was AMAZED at the fabulous shave I was getting. The doggone thing was REALLY zinging. Until it went POOF, accompanied by a lovely puff of gray smoke, that is. OOPS! 220 outlet.

There's no reason to write off the 500. I hope you don't think that because it was your boo-boo that caused the problem, you shouldn't ask Axiom for more help. As Craig says, keep talking with them. They won't abandon you. They'll do their absolute best to get you up and running. Hang in there.

 

[mike c]

AH! Now I understand. To your credit, I see you've taken responsibility for the situation. From what you had to say in the other thread, it sounded like you blamed Axiom, or the EP500. .

hi ajax, if you do a search of my posts in other threads, I have already noted that it was MY boo boo.

There's no reason to write off the 500. I hope you don't think that because it was your boo-boo that caused the problem, you shouldn't ask Axiom for more help. As Craig says, keep talking with them. They won't abandon you. They'll do their absolute best to get you up and running. Hang in there.

that is great to hear. but I was psyching myself up to really write it off though. (yes, because of my boo boo) I just couldn't see axiom doing anything else within their power to help me.

 

[Ajax]

I just couldn't see axiom doing anything else within their power to help me.

Well, I don't pretend to speak for Axiom, but it has been my observation that if you talk to them, deal with them courteously, they, like many internet direct manufacturers, will do everything possible, within reason, to satisfy a customer. Work with them. At this point, you have nothing to lose.

Edit: Where are you in the Phillipines? I spent a week, one time, in Baguio. Really beautiful!

 

[Ilkka]

reply #4 for ilkka

my ep500 had a fusebox that can be flipped for 110v or 220v
so I guess both units have that.

Yes, both units has it, but you must turn the fuseholder yourself. Finland too has 230 V and I too told Axiom people this. So I was a bit surprised that the amp was configured to 110 V when I got it. Luckily I checked it before plugging it in.

I already suggested this to Axiom people then, but it never hurts to repeat.

I suggest that you will set the fuseholder into a right position if customer especially tells you that he lives in a 230 V country. It's not a big trouble for you, but can save many fuses and "angry" customers.

 

[RMK!]

Yes, both units has it, but you must turn the fuseholder yourself. Finland too has 230 V and I too told Axiom people this. So I was a bit surprised that the amp was configured to 110 V when I got it. Luckily I checked it before plugging it in.

I already suggested this to Axiom people then, but it never hurts to repeat.

I suggest that you will set the fuseholder into a right position if customer especially tells you that he lives in a 230 V country. It's not a big trouble for you, but can save many fuses and "angry" customers.

How about people just RTFM... then no issues.

 

[Sheep]

How about people just RTFM... then no issues.

Was that really necessary?

Mike, can you post pictures of this fusebox deely. It sounds interesting.

SheepStar

 

[RMK!]

Was that really necessary?

Mike, can you post pictures of this fusebox deely. It sounds interesting.

SheepStar

Unlike you sheepstar, none of the stuff I post is necessary.


BTW here is a link to the FMhttp://www.axiomaudio.com/manual_ep500600.html

 

[mike c]

Edit: Where are you in the Phillipines? I spent a week, one time, in Baguio. Really beautiful!

I live in Metro Manila
Baguio is up in the mountains, great view, great weather

 

[mike c]

sheep, look at the area below the plug.

I noticed the 120 / 240 thingy but did not notice the little black box just the size of the plug port with tiny embossed words that was supposed to be pulled out and then flipped over.
check out the picture in RMK's link

its much much clearer in the manual, though as you can see in the "real" picture, there were much more words written on it than "to change pull out and flip over"

when I get the amp back, I will take a picture of the fusebox writing and the fusebox out of the amp

 

[mike c]

Yes, both units has it, but you must turn the fuseholder yourself. Finland too has 230 V and I too told Axiom people this. So I was a bit surprised that the amp was configured to 110 V when I got it. Luckily I checked it before plugging it in.

I already suggested this to Axiom people then, but it never hurts to repeat.

I suggest that you will set the fuseholder into a right position if customer especially tells you that he lives in a 230 V country. It's not a big trouble for you, but can save many fuses and "angry" customers.

most of the appliances nowadays have autovolt. I don't know about electrical and power stuff, but why not just autovolt everything.

also, what idiot decided that other parts of the world should have 110v electricity and others 220v?

just like the english and metric system (I am familiar with both but it sucks converting between measurements in your head)

 

[mike c]

I actually RTFM over and over when I was contemplating ordering the unit and when I was waiting for the unit to arrive (online). I must have ignored that part with the power thing. I saw what I wanted to see.

 

[mike c]

got BASS?

I think I'm online with the ep500

 

[mike c]

I encountered a hum with the 500 ...
I unscrewed the ground chassis screw thingy but nothing changed.

I plugged the 500 directly to a player and the hum was not there (so the unit is fine)

I changed cables and discovered that using cheap cables eliminated the hum ... (using the exact same cable with the Velo did not result in a hum; both cheap and the "better" one)
I think it was related to the power cable of the receiver OR the speaker connections very near the sub pre-out. anyway, I installed some Y connectors so I can use both and after forgetting which cable was what ended up with the exact same cable I used the first time, but this time the hum was gone. hmmm.

so I returned the ground chassis screw - still no hum.
keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

during very loud passages in the movie U-571 I also encountered tiny squeaky sounds near the XLR connectors, in fact a lot of air come out those connectors when it is loud. maybe I had set the volume too high or was using the wrong setting, half/full? (it is my first night, will figure it out in a few days)

 

[Ajax]

Mike, have you used the test tones in either your receiver or from a disc (DVE or AVIA) to calibrate (balance the volume of the respective speakers in your) system? It is next to impossible to get a subwoofer dialed in properly by ear. You run the risk of setting the subwoofer volume too loud thereby causing any number of problems.

AN INTRODUCTION TO TEST & CALIBRATION DVDS aka "Why the hell do I need one of these things?" (To learn about DVE and AVIA, scroll down far enough to read "THE DIFFERENT DISCS AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES")

If you've not done so, get yourself an Analog display SPL Meter or a Digital display SPL Meter, read a few tutorials:

Essential Accessories: The Radio Shack Sound Pressure Level Meter

A Quick Overview of Home Theater Calibration

Calibrating Your Home Theater System

How To Set Up a Subwoofer (or Subwoofers) for Home Theater

Subwoofer Setup Guide by Bossobass

Common Subwoofer Set-Up Errors by Edward J M

and calibrate things. You'll be glad you did. (If you've already done all this, then nevermind. )

 

[mike c]

wow, thanks for all the links! I already have the avia disk, but dont have an spl meter YET. I ordered it from radioshack the other day, will arrive at its US destination in 3-8 days, I will get it in about 2 weeks.

 

[Sheep]

wow, thanks for all the links! I already have the avia disk, but dont have an spl meter YET. I ordered it from radioshack the other day, will arrive at its US destination in 3-8 days, I will get it in about 2 weeks.

Poor you mike, shipping for you BEElows!

SheepStar