I feel the need to clarify something on this string. While I did ask for input and expressed a desire to purchase a different ‘sounding’ speaker than my Axiom M80TI’s, I in no way, whatsoever am dissatisfied with their performance or build quality. I am simply looking for something different. I also want a speaker that has a real wood finish, and as I initially indicated, Axiom is still on my shopping list (they now offer a real wood veneer). I in no way feel that the vinyl finish is anything but superb, considering that it is in fact vinyl. I have several Axiom products, many of which I bought through Axiom’s Factory Outlet store which is their “B” stock items that they sell at a 10% discount. In fact, when I received my “B” stock items, I looked them over very thoroughly and could not detect any blemish of any kind on all but two out of eight speakers and subwoofers. I had to look very hard to find these “B” stock blemishes, and on both occurrences, they were a slight discoloration on the bottom of the speaker that will never be seen.
Axiom customer service is bar none, the best I’ve ever dealt with regardless of product. They go to simply amazing distances to support their product. I’ve had numerous email, forum and phone conversations with their tech, sales, service departments and even Amie and Alan themselves (the owners).
If all I ever listened to were top notch recorded CD’s in which a highly detailed speaker can make beautiful sound out of, I’d not consider buying anything but Axiom. Unfortunately, many of my CD’s are not recorded very well. This is a fault of the producers, not the speaker. I’m not about to quit listening to some genre’s as that is my preferred taste. Therefore, I need to find a more forgiving speaker. I do not intend on ditching the Axiom products I currently have either, they are just going to live in my little home theater room. This room will be dark and I don’t give a hoot what finish the speaker has. The area where my two channel system resides is another story. The speakers are out in the open in a log home with nothing but wood under them and all around them where they get a lot of attention. Vinyl just doesn’t look right.
So for those of you, who may stumble onto this string, please don’t leave thinking Axiom is a sub-par speaker. They are anything but. If you take the time to look their specs over a little closer, you will soon see that they are in fact ‘high end’. In fact, through all this searching, asking questions and research, I’m finding it difficult to find similar performance from any speaker close to Axiom’s price point. The price point just leaves one thinking that they are low end. Don’t let that fool you.
