I just purchased some Outlaw gear-950 Pre/Pro, 770 Amp (7 X 200 W) and the LFM-1 subwoofer. All great value for the money that have made my home theatre come alive with the best sound I have ever owned! I don't suppose I will ever go back to a receiver after hearing this setup-night and day difference between Outlaw gear and my Marantz receiver. I currently have entry level Paradigm speakers (Phantom Towers, Titan Surrounds, CC 270 Centre) and of course want to upgrade these as well.
My room is 25' X 20' X 8' and I enjoy both movies and music equally as well with a slight edge to more movie watching.
I have religiously read the Axiom forum and am confident in purchasing their product (7.1 system-2 M80's, VP 150C, 4 QS8 surrounds) as they seem to be the Outlaw's of the speaker world. However, my local stero store carries the Monitor Audio line (Silver 8's etc, Gold series are incredible but too $$) and these too are beautiful speakers to listen to but also are pricier than the Axioms. As well, I have read great things on the Rockets( 750 Sigs,etc-perhaps pricier than the Axioms) so I am as confused as ever just when I thought it was Axiom for sure.
Can anyone steer me in the right direction for this important "next" upgrade. Anyone own these systems or compared these same lines?
Thanks in advance

Try kit speakers from these sources. Per price, they are just about the top performers.

http://www.partsexpress.com/
http://www.acoustic-visions.com/
http://www.madisound.com/

I believe that Axiom offers a in-home trial period sort of like Outlaw's. If you really have your mind set on them, then you might want to take a listen. If you don't want to pay full shipping costs, just try out the front main pair first. If you don't like those, it won't matter how good the surrounds sound.

Are you happy with the Paradigm sound? If you are, their higher level speaker series always get great reviews and there are a bunch of Outlaws around here using some sort of Paradigm set-up.

You're really only limited by your budget. I would find as many systems as fit into that range and try them all out, if possible. As far as reviews, name a speaker brand and I'll find you a good review for it online.

Another option might be Aperion speakers. Like Axiom, they are online, offer 30 day in home trial, and pay for shipping both ways.

I own Onix Reference 1's from AV123.com (same company as the Rockets) and not only do I love the sound it is by far the best community I have ever been involved with. Great people all around.

[This message has been edited by Jed M (edited September 21, 2004).]

What do you not like about the Phantoms? Those are fairly nice fronts. I have a similar setup, Phantom Fronts, Focus rears, and the CC-270 Center, and I think the sound quality is quite nice. I have a friend who has some fairly expensive Phase Technology Speakers, who thinks my Paradigms blow his away.

Thoughts?

-Rob

Another net-direct company is Ascend Acoustics. I own CBM-170's for my main L/R. They have garnered great reviews consistently and have been compared to much more expensive speakers. They have been preffered over Paradigm Studio series, only giving up the deep bass in those cases. The CMT-340's are the big brother to the 170, producing a "bigger" sound. They also offer a 30-day in home trial, as well as allowing customers to piece together a complete package in stages: you get 45 days from the initial purchase to add, say, a center speaker at the reduced package pricing. Then 45 days from that purchase to add the surrounds at the package price, and so on.

Dannic,

This weekend Incognito (a poster here) is having a "Axiom vs Rocket Faceoff" Party at his house. The "Test" will be between his recently purchased Axioms, and his recently purchased Rockets (we are going to pick them up tonight)- The speakers that he likes most he will obviously keep, while the others will most likely be boxed up and shipped back to the manufacturer (Both Axioms and Rockets are within their 30 day return).

Incog has the Outlaw 950 pre-amp with the 7100.

I am sure that he will post his final conclusions by Monday of next week.

[This message has been edited by Inertia4u (edited October 07, 2004).]

Inertia4U

Thanks for the heads up. I will be waiting with anticipation to hear the results. I understand the Rockets are setting up a distribution centre in Canada (wish Outlaw would follow suit) so it will make it alot easier for us Canucks to testdrive and sendback what we don't want.

Have a good weekend

Inertia4U

Thanks for the heads up. I will be waiting with anticipation to hear the results. I understand the Rockets are setting up a distribution centre in Canada (wish Outlaw would follow suit) so it will make it alot easier for us Canucks to testdrive and sendback what we don't want.

Have a good weekend