Official Axiom Owner's Thread - Page 36

Hi Everyone. My first post here. I have read this forum a lot before deciding on getting Axioms for my fronts and surround. I have a 3 M22s in the front and 2 QS4s with an SVS PC12-NSD being the sub. They are powered by a Pioneer VSX-1120k.

I love the way Axiom sounds so far both for movies and music. No complaints about the sub. Overall, I feel it was worth the time spent in researching and the money too.

Friends,

I was hoping to pick your brains about the QS8 surrounds.

I am looking to pick a set of these up, and I see on their website that they are listed as "V3." However, I found a set on craigslist, and the seller says the following;

"I don't know exactly how old they are. I bought them from an editor at audioholics.com about 5 yrs. ago...maybe 6 or so. They were the review sample that he bought for his personal use. I have their serial #'s if you care for them. Perhaps the factory could tell you when they were manufactured."

And;

"They are not v3....however, there are very few people, if any, who could discern any difference in sound between v3 and earlier editions of this speaker. If this is important to you, I might be able to dig up a link from audioholics.com where they did a double blind test to determine just this. Their results are what my opinion is based on. I believe the actual test was on M60 or M80's, not the QS8's."

So I was hoping the experts here could tell me if what he says holds true, and that these would be a fine purchase for me? I could basically save about 200 bucks over new.

Thanks for your time!

Justin

Axiom makes progressive changes to their speakers. At some point they decide that enough has changed to change the version. So newer V2 speakers are closer to V3 than ones initially released. V2 has been around for a few years so I'm betting the ones you are looking at are V1. I would bet you could tell the difference between V1 and V3.

Having said that, the original QS8 is a great speaker and, if the price was right, I would not hesitate to buy them. However, I'm not sure that saving only $200 would be enough. Plus, Axiom speakers come with a 5 year warranty when you buy new.

Thank you very much for the info, that was helpful. I was along the same thinking, that 200 more for new and I get their latest plus a 5 year warranty. I think that is the route I am going to go.

Justin

OK made it official, brand new set of QS8's on the way! Can't wait!

Justin

Enjoy it! It's a great surround speaker!

Update: Well I have been listening to my new Axiom "On-Wall" setup for about 3 weeks now (M22's, VP150 and QS8's). They are matched with a SVS PC13 Ultra DSP and being powered by a HK AVR 347, soon to be HK AVR 3600.

I am completely satisfied with my purchase. They fit my needs perfectly and put out fantastic sound. They are crisp, clear, accurate and sound much better than my old JBL Venue setup. My sub did have to pick up some of the slack in the bass department though because these on walls aren't as capable as my old towers when it comes to producing lows. I just bumped up my crossover from 80hz to 100hz. Movies and music has been a whole new experience for me (got a new TV as well).

Before this I have never heard a axiom speaker and felt I was taking a gamble making a blind purchase. I was in need of a on or in wall speaker and the Axioms fit the bill perfectly. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The fit and finish was superb as well. Install was a breeze (love the mounting post). I think my favorites are the QS8's, simply sound amazing. I have never had a Dipole before these. Glad I didn't skimp out. I was originally going to use some M2's as the rears, but the kind folks over on the Axiom forums talked me into the QS8's. Glad they did. I did come to fine that the center channel runs at 6 ohms while the others run at 8 ohms. The center is set 2db lower and blends in nicely. I do wish they offers he VP180 in "on-wall', I probably would have gone with that. But the VP150 does well.

Here are a couple crappy pics:

Nice setup!!!

I especially like the SVS sub peeking over the back of your couch.

Thanks! You surely get to "feel" it behind the couch as well.

Fantastic looking system Tony. I am hopefully following in your footsteps with the onwalls, just a quick question, how wide is that wall the Mains and TV are hanging on?

The entire wall is 13.5 ft (including the doorway). The door way measures 32".

TV is 63" Samsung PNC7000 for reference.

Couple of questions...

I'm looking at the Axiom M3 v3 to pair with my existing Paradigm CC290 center... Has anyone heard both the Axioms and the Paradigm Monitor series and compared them?

Also, do you think the M22 worth the extra $140 over the M3? The response graphs look nearly identical except for the 100-200Hz hump the M3's, and the M3's are more sensitive...

Thanks!

I have M60's for fronts, a VP150 center and QS8 surrounds. I was curious if a M50 would make a much better center channel for home theater. I have a DA-LITE Model C manual screen and can raise it enough to accomodate the M50. Would appreciate any thoughts. The only negative I see initially is that the top of the projector image is at the very top of the screen just under the bottom of the screen casing.

It may work better (M60 would be even better), but IMO, not enough of a difference if you have to sacrifice the picture at all. From your description, it seems like you may be looking up at the picture.

Are you having issues with the VP150?

Thank you for your reply Dave- Not really having issues with the VP150 but it seems like everything I read talks about how much better a vertical speaker works/sounds for center channel duty. Yes, raising the screen up to the height necessary to accommodate the M50 would have us looking up at the image....probably not the best situation- it's a 4:3 screen.

I highly recommend an acoustically transparent screen. I have my 3 M22's behind the screen and they sound great. The center channel provides extremely clear voices without any deprecation of quality at off center listening positions. The sides demonstrate a rich sound stage at the right height and width.

Been deciding between a pair of Paradigm ADP-190's and Axiom QS8's for surround speakers in my 5.1 HT room.
Just ordered the QS8's to give them a try....if they sound as good as the reviews say they do, I will definitely keep them

You'll keep em. They're great surround speakers.

Just wanted to give a little update:
After 5 days of using the QS8's I am totally blown away!! I always thought my surround field was good with my previous Atom Monitors (direct firing).....but what was once good is now unbelievable with the QS8's!

Ambient sounds in movies or games completely envelop me without calling attention to either speaker location. Walking around the wastelands in Fallout New Vegas really makes me feel like I am there. And scenes with rain/background music/other type of ambient noises in movies are exactly the same type of envelopment.

Where I am absolutely impressed, however, is the QS8's ability to produce localized sound when need be. An example being The Island (which I watched last night)...when a bullet is fired and it hits an object behind Scar Jo, the speaker places the sound exactly where it needs to be. If it hits rear left on the screen, my left surround QS8 does as perfect of a job as my old Atom Monitor's creating the direct sound in the rear left of my room. Same for direct sounds in the rear right portion.
Another example is the scene in Iron Man where the tank fires at him and he steps to the side.....the tank round can clearly be followed from my front speaker to the corresponding QS8 speaker seamlessly and clearly.

They reproduce diffuse and direct sounds perfectly, exactly when either type is called for!

Hi All

I purchased and received a VP150 and 2 M22s (all ONWALL) for our new 7.1 media room install. I'm still awaiting the arrival of my new Pioneer SC57 receiver so I haven't heard anything through the speakers yet.

Being the tech head that I am, I did all my homework and bought these speakers, as well as all the other gear for the room, with all my specs in line. (Sources, amps, power, wiring, impedance, etc)

All three of these speakers were documented online, in written form, as well as printed on the speakers themselves as being 8 OHM SPEAKERS.

My VP150 is measuring 4 OHMS and the M22s are measuring 6 OHMS.

Anybody else finding this?

I can't really complain about results yet, as I haven't yet experienced results with my own ears but I am curious if others have encountered the same thing.

My receiver should be arriving very soon and I'll chime back in with what I find but did anyone else find this or does anyone else feel these speakers should be performing differently than they originally expected where impedance could be a factor?

-Riz

VP150 is 6 ohm (documented online and on my VP150). I never tested my own speakers (I don't see the need to) but I can tell you my Onkyo works just fine with them (and the Onkyo does NOT like 4 ohm speakers).

Rizman,
I have a Pio Elite VSX-84TXSi powering M80's, VP150, QS8's with an Epic sub. I have the Pio set at 8 ohms (no 6 ohm setting) and have encountered no problems, just sweeeeet sound with both music and movies.

How are you measuring the impedance? You do know that it varies with frequency and cannot be measured with a dc ohmmeter, right?

Has anyone mounted QS-8's to the ceiling? I would like to do this for the back 2 speakers of a 7.1 system-there is not a wall to mount them.

Thanks,

TW

I forgot to mention, I am trying to keep them as close to the ceiling as possible for WAF.

I haven't tried it but it doesn't seem like a good idea. There is a driver that fires up and needs some room to breath. My rear' are about 18 inches from the ceiling.

BTW - I find that the sides are good enough. Unless the movie is 7.1, I don't even use the rears.

My setup only allows for one of my QS8 to be wall mounted. I used Axiom's full metal ceiling mount for the other. It has about 4 inches of breathing space from the ceiling, and works great.

New to the thread - M60s on the way for 2 channel music in our living room. Once here they will be auditioned against a set of PSB Image T6s and Monitor Audio BX6s.