Axiom Speakers?

Maurice
Maurice Posts: 517
edited April 2005 in Speakers
Anyone have any opinions/experience with Axiom's Epic 80 speakers? How do they compare to the RTi's? Thanks for any and all input.;)
Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

Polk 70's,40,30's
Velo DLS 3500 Sub
JVC 61" HD-ILA
Sony DA4ES AVR
Oppo 981 DVD
Sony CDP-CX235 CD
Signal Bi-wires
AR ProII IC's
Post edited by Maurice on
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Comments

  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited April 2005
    Becareful about their tweeters...very harsh...I listened to M60s for about an hour at normal volume and my ears began to hurt pretty bad....I would take RTis anyday....
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited April 2005
    And...do you feel the RT series is NOT bright? lol

    They have an in-home trial. Use it
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2005
    Axiom is a highly respected brand. I think they're on the same level as RTi.

    I don't find the RTi that bright. However, I do miss the tri laminate tweeters. They have the right amount of 'crunch' and 'bite' to them. I loved the sound.

    Maurice
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  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited April 2005
    Def Sid
    Never said RTis were not bright....

    IMO, the new RTis are a bit bright, but older ones I dont find bright....however, RTis are not harsh like the axiom aluminum dome tweeters....

    great tehy have a 30 day program but if you dont like it, be prepared to fork out some money to ship back as IIRC Epic is a HT set with what, 6 pieces? jeessh...
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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  • Maurice
    Maurice Posts: 517
    edited April 2005
    This is good info. I'm not looking to buy right now, just scouting out some new gear. I plan to buy a new house next year, and I will do a dedicated HT, so I'm looking at amps, pre/pros, speaks, projectors, you know the drilll. I must say that so far the Axioms are the best "looking" speakers i've seen. Here's another question, is there a big difference between the RTi12's and LSi15's.
    Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

    Polk 70's,40,30's
    Velo DLS 3500 Sub
    JVC 61" HD-ILA
    Sony DA4ES AVR
    Oppo 981 DVD
    Sony CDP-CX235 CD
    Signal Bi-wires
    AR ProII IC's
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  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited April 2005
    Axioms dont look that great up close.

    As to 12s vs. 15s, IMO they are very close and boht sound great. IMO, for music use, 15 would win but for HT, I dont think there would be much difference...and you can save a lot of money if you factor in the surrounds.

    Take a listen to Paradigms...also a great value, sound real good...
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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  • Maurice
    Maurice Posts: 517
    edited April 2005
    Cool. So the axioms look good online, interesting. I rarely play any music so I'm probably 98% HT. I'm looking forward to the new RTi's. I think there due on 07.
    Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

    Polk 70's,40,30's
    Velo DLS 3500 Sub
    JVC 61" HD-ILA
    Sony DA4ES AVR
    Oppo 981 DVD
    Sony CDP-CX235 CD
    Signal Bi-wires
    AR ProII IC's
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited April 2005
    thats 2 years away man lol
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  • Maurice
    Maurice Posts: 517
    edited April 2005
    I cant help it man, I keep looking. I've got 2 more pieces to complete the system I have now(JVC 61" H-Dila & SVS 20-39) and I'm already spying out gear for the new house. Somebody help me!:(
    Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

    Polk 70's,40,30's
    Velo DLS 3500 Sub
    JVC 61" HD-ILA
    Sony DA4ES AVR
    Oppo 981 DVD
    Sony CDP-CX235 CD
    Signal Bi-wires
    AR ProII IC's
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited April 2005
    It's an addiction. Anyone know if its physical or psychological yet? I think I have both lol
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited April 2005
    I considered looking into Axioms once, but read too many reviews about how bright and harsh they were w/ music. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I'm so over any speaker w/ metal dome tweeters (titanium, aluminum, etc). They are all too bright for music, period. It's so wonderful to experience Vienna Acoustics, Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, and other like brands, where one can turn up the voume w/o the highs starting to become piercing. I got a lot of good use out of my Rti's and they really are great for movies, but it's very hard to be happy w/ them for music. Of course, I can't afford to upgrade any time soon, so I will have to find some marginal satisfaction until I can.

    On that note, I stopped by a high-end dealer in town and experienced a great demo of the new B&W 803's run by a McIntosh preamp w/ the MC402 (400 wpc) amp. The sales guy played the "Underture" track from the Who's Tommy, and it was spectacular. Those new diamond tweeters were out of this world, and bass response was amazing. Definitely didn't need a sub w/ those with that much amp behind them. At least not for rock. It was amazing at such loud volumes, how tangible and and hard-hitting the drums seemed. I was really expecting the drivers to explode with the amazing force coming from them, but the attack was clean and precise. Very impressive. Of course, we're talking around $25,000 worth of equipment, so it better damn-well sound good.

    Bias against metal domes aside, I really think the Rti are probably a safer bet than the Axioms. All in all, they really are good speakers, unless you've gotten to the point that you feel the highs are too "in your face."
    Current System:

    Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
    Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
    CSi5-Center (for sale**)
    FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
    Martin Logan Depth-Sub
    B&K AVR 507
    Pimare CD21-CD Player
    Denon 1815-DVD Player
    Panamax M5500-EX-Line Conditioner
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited April 2005
    I love metal domes... they roxor! :cool:

    I like edge, what can I say? I couldnt STAND the silk tweeter from Polk. The Polymer however is awesome (RT5)...

    A few brands I recomend!

    Def Tech
    Mirage

    :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited April 2005
    One thing that scares me about Axiom...

    They are rediculously LIGHT...

    For instance...

    The TOTL towers are...

    Dimens. (in.)(HxWxD) 39.5x9.25x17
    Weight 57 lbs per

    They weigh 3 pounds under my speakers... that are...

    42 (H) x 8 (w) x 12.25 (D) - 60 Lbs

    Or their TOTL bookshelf that only weighs 15 POUNDS??? Seriously, what are they made of? .5" cardboard?

    Or the center, with 5 drivers....it only weighs 17 pounds...

    They either sport LIGHT WEIGHT drivers or almost hollow cabinets...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • maggiefan
    maggiefan Posts: 223
    edited April 2005
    Hey Sid, don't you be bad mouthing my silk domes, I'm very sensitive about them.....:mad: . I love my RTI70's.....:p
    Larry
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  • maggiefan
    maggiefan Posts: 223
    edited April 2005
    Just joking guy, if we all like the same speakers here, what would we talk about? Oh, yeah, cables....:D
    Larry
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,583
    edited April 2005
    I had the Axiom M22 before moving up to the Polk LSi.

    My quick description of the Axioms (22 atleast):
    - Very CHEAP BUILD. I dont know what they are smoking when they say they're vinyl veneer looks authentic or high quality!! Mine was peeling on several corners. I called them to send me replacement (which they did, cant complain about their service.... they are prompt, quick, and awesome). The replacement pairs had a tear in one corner! GEEZ! I called them back, returned the replacements, and received a $40 credit (not bad.... but it still doesnt change the fact that the build quality blows).

    - Transparent? Um.... maybe. But the Paradigm Studio Reference (which was based on the same NRC Canadian Audio research) is vastly superior to the Axioms in terms of transparency.

    - Soundstage on my speakers were good, but not as good as even the Polk RTi6 speakers. Dont even bother comparing to the Studio 20s.

    - Very light.

    - Bass impact was borderline anemic on the M22s... dont know about the M80s.

    - Would I buy them? No.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited April 2005
    Joey, your comments agree with my impressions of the Axioms.

    I know I promised a reivew of the LSis with Rotel a while back and I will write it....I am just waiting to get my system sorted and more listening time so that I wont be writing a simply glowing review that is not helpful to people considering LSis.
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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