Saturday, July 31, 2010

M3ti Bookshelf Speaker - Boston Cherry Top Quality


In my pursuit of audiophile quality nirvana, after going through many name brand speakers over the years, the Axioms have hit the mark ! Here are the reasons, and not just technical ones.

First,let me say that Axiom is an audiophile speaker manufacturing company based in Canada that has been in the business for a little over 20 years(they are definitely not a generic no-name brand to Canadians and those of us in America who are able to obtain these wonderful speakers).Their well designed and thought out website is rich in product visuals, technical and ordering information. While you will NOT see or be able to hear any Axiom speakers at your local home electronic big box retailers here in the U.S. the only thing you can do is look for reviews on the internet;reviews from top audio critics and purchasers praising the high end quality of these babies! Axiom's customer service offers a wonderful 30 day try-it-and -return-it-if-you-don't-like-it policy (of course sans shipping cost). Their customer service is excellent and extremely knowledgeable in any questions or concerns you may have from purchasing to technical inquiries(you're not communicating with sales reps just out to make a fast buck or commission---you are treated like a person)! Their sales and service dept. staff keep you immediately informed of when your order has shipped out as well as online tracking information. If you have any problems or concerns they can also be reached via toll free number.You also receive a friendly e-mail acknowledgement that receipt of your order shipment/arrival is completed.

The next remarkable aspect of the Axiom family of speakers are the audiophile budget minded prices. The old cliche "bang for the buck" is tried and true with Axiom.There are no hidden additional handling costs or inflated prices to give that "air" of elite snootiness ("Hey, if I spend thousands of dollars on these speakers, I must be getting what I paid for and that makes me special...").Their prices all across the board, from their entry level speakers to their tower speaker line, are very reasonable if not surprisingly inexpensive!

Now, how do the M3ti Axioms perform? Without getting too technical, they are musical sounding when they should be and can also reproduce dvd surround sound effects with astounding accuracy, realism and ease.I have used both analog and digital sources and have found the clarity and detail to be very satisfactory and even surprising at times. What's amazing is the size of the cabinet enclosures.As Yoda would probably say,"Size matters not !"---and he's right.However, laws of physics and sound dictate that in order to really get the most out of the listening experience is to mate these with a subwoofer. On their own, they still reveal remarkable highs and mids and an acceptable level of bass.With or without a sub, the real test is to just close your eyes and LISTEN ! The stereo imaging is impeccable.The mids and highs are smooth, but not too neutral or warm, or dull sounding.The titanium tweeters offer a silky rich characteristic but nothing to give you ear fatigue. The midrange is a bit punchy(but by no means artificial or overemphasized) and well pronounced (at times I felt like I was listening to a 3-way speaker system)! When placed on a pair of speaker stands, the music floats in the air and never is there any hint that the sound is coming from a pair of small boxes; due to the special wedge-shaped design this practically eliminates that "boxy" cabinet resonating sound found in cheaper made speakers.The sub I am currently using is a Velodyne CHT8. All three speaker units integrate seamlessly. I often forget I'm listening to a couple of shelf speakers and a sub. The sound quality is more like a couple of mid sized floor units!There is no sonic strain that I could detect when playing them loud. One must also keep in mind that loud is not necessarily a trait of audiophile quality; they must also be able to reproduce the most subtle and minute nuances as well with great clarity and detail. The M3ti's accomplish this very well indeed.I can leave the room and walk into the kitchen or another adjacent room and the clarity can be heard versus a muffled sound from other lesser speakers. There is no colored or saturated sound as many other speaker companies try to introduce into their bookshelves to make them sing like tower speakers---those often end up having a very "phony" sonic quality. With the Axiom M3ti's,classical guitar strings have that natural and crisp "plucking" and airy characteristic along with the proper acoustical characteristics that emanate from such an instrument (same for a harp). Bongos and congas present themselves with such vividness (you can almost see the peformer tapping or pounding on them and hear their finger tips and palms striking the skins). Female vocals are very natural and soothing(I could hear words pronounced so crytal clear , even ending consonants on words that with my old speakers used to roll off or just cut off and disappear). I'm hearing details I never heard before.Period. Male vocals may have a little thinness to them but not enough to make a major difference or to detract from the overall grand musical presentaion.

The looks (from four wood veneer colors to choose from to special color customization), the sound quality all speak in volumes (no pun intended) of the technological thought, design, detail, and craftsmanship that has gone into the Axioms.I personally chose the Mansfield Beech with black grills; I love the black and light wood contrast;it blends in very well with my surrounding rustic furniture.I really deliberated for awhile between the Beech veneer and the Boston Cherry (the BC has a very elegant and expensive look, but nothing I have furniture or decor-wise would match).There is a much lighter wood color, I believe maple, but it reminded me of a piece of furniture that still needs to be stained and worked on---it just looked "unfinished" to me.Anybody who appreciates high end sound but says they don't care what the speakers look like is lying; Once you look at the complete Axiom line, they have a very classy and appealing look that should suit and satisfy anyone's home furnishings and decor. There's an overall contemporary elegance to their cabinet designs.Again, The prices are affordable. This is an awesome message that conveys to people desiring a step up into the world of audiophile quality speakers that you don't have to break the piggy bank or dip into the kids' college fund. Shipping is via Fed Ex to most states and is very fast---my speakers arrived from Canada to Arizona in 2-3 days tops ! These have definitely more than just wet my appetite; In time, I will also look forward to purchasing their tower speakers as well. I went out on a limb and solely ordered these based on glowing reviews from both sound critics and customer reviews praising the Axioms and am not at all disappointed.Buying the Axiom M3ti speakers is a win-win situation !
Get more detail about M3ti Bookshelf Speaker - Boston Cherry.

Infinity Total Solutions TSS-450 - 5.1-channel home theater speaker system - charcoal This instant


After careful review(s) of Consumer Reports, CNET and several other sites; I elected to buy the Infinity's. Dollar for dollar it's a great choice if your on a budget. Great for a smaller room, big sound, discrete
speakers that blend in.Get more detail about Infinity Total Solutions TSS-450 - 5.1-channel home theater speaker system - charcoal.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Mirage OS3-SAT Single satellite speaker High-gloss white Immediately


If you're looking for compact, attractive speakers that sound great, it's hard to do better than the Mirage OS3. (The OS3 series are the third generation of Mirage's well known Omnisat speaker.) They are very clear and open, without any of the boxiness or dull sound that conventional compact speakers often have.

The OS3s are an especially good choice if you're looking for speakers for a room that isn't a dedicated home theater with the recommended layout. That is, if you have an irregular room, multiple seating areas, or a room you use for more than just watching movies and listening to music, the OS3s do an amazing job of filling the room with nice sound. Many conventional speakers are directional, so they only sound best at one "sweet spot" in the room. Omnidirectional speakers such as these, on the other hand, spread sound into a large area (or in technical terms, they have very wide dispersion). That's part of how these little speakers fill the room with sound.

You can use these in any speaker position (front, left, center, surrounds), or combine them with the matching Mirage OS3-FS floor-standing speakers and Mirage OS3-CC Center channel speaker in any combination.

With 8 ohms impedance, they are compatible with any receiver/amplifier. The 89db sensitivity means they will be easy to drive - they don't need an excessive amount of power to produce sound. But with power handling of up to 150 watts, they can produce a lot of sound.

The changes from the V2 version are mostly cosmetic - Mirage knew they could sell a lot more of these if they offered a gloss black or white finish. There are a few small technical changes as well - ribbed surrounds, and some other small changes in the drivers. (The floorstanding versions have a few more changes.)

A couple things to note in thinking about whether they are right for you:

- The OS3s are very small for the sound they produce, but they aren't tiny speakers at 5-1/4"W x 8-1/4"H x 6-1/8"D. Look at the dimensions, and find something about that size at home to give you an idea of how they'll fit in. (Mirage does make the smaller Mirage Nanosat Prestige satellite speakers (in black, white, or rosewood) and Mirage MX satellite speakers (black only). While they're nice, they don't quite have the performance the OS3s have. But they are very popular due to their size.)

- Alternatively, if you have space, use these just as satellites and get the FS (floorstanding) and center speaker that perfectly match these.

- If you have a room with lots of very hard surfaces (all glass and walls, not much drapery and carpets) there may be a lot of sound reflections in the high end from these omnidirectional speakers, so they may sound "bright" or a bit harsh in your room. Getting them placed right (away from walls and windows) might help reduce that, but they still might not be the best choice in such a room.

- Despite their amazing ability to fill a room, as with all speakers placement relative to where you're listening from is essential to getting the best sound. You need to be able to look into the speaker from where you're sitting for it to sound best.

There are quite a few audio magazine reviews of Mirage speakers if you Google on Mirage Omnisat review. Also, there is more info and high resolution photos at the Mirage speakers website.Get more detail about Mirage OS3-SAT Single satellite speaker High-gloss white.

JL AUDIO 12W6v2 - Car subwoofer driver - 12" Best Quality


I've got 1 in the back of my SUV. Sealed enclosure powered by a Phoenix Gold 600x1 amp and a 1 farad Phoenix Gold capacitor. Sounds AWESOME!!! Very tight and controlled from 100hz to waaaay waaaay low. JL Audio makes the best subs. 1 of these is all you need!Get more detail about JL AUDIO 12W6v2 - Car subwoofer driver - 12".

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bose AM10III-WH Home Theater Speaker System Get it now!


Unbelievable and incredible are just two of the words that can only begin to describe the superb clarity, depth and range of sound the Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III Home Theater Speaker System delivers to your home theater! For years now, I've been using Bose 401's, 301's and the VCS-30 Series II Home Theater Surround set to bring that theater feeling into my home and have been proud and satisfied with the performance of these speakers but, after installing the Bose Acoustimass I had absolutely no idea what I was missing.

As part of the VCS-30 Series II Home Theater Surround set, the VCS10 Center Channel speaker provides a great addition to the home theater in so much as bringing voices out to the listener but it doesn't even come close to the clarity delivered by the center channel portion of the Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III. With this system, for the first time, I was able to hear everything that was being said on the screen without having to either roll back the DVD a bit or turn on the text function, making this purchase all that much more worth the price.

What's more incredible about this system is that despite the speakers being mounted on the wall several feet above the television set, the voices coming from the center channel sound as if they're coming directly from the television set.

The bass module, where everything connects to prior to connecting to your receiver, is a true wonder, in and of itself, delivering true bass and "feeling" to watching a movie! What's more incredible about this bass module is that you can place it just about anywhere and the bass that is delivered doesn't even sound as if it's coming from the module but from the many speakers.

Another important aspect to this system is the ease of installation. I found it quite simple to install this system in conjunction with the Bose UB-20W Wall/Ceiling Speaker Brackets to get those beautiful speakers up on the wall where they could do their job best; delivering exceptional sound.

If you do not wish to install wall/ceiling mounts, fear not, Bose has already considered this. All of the speakers are magnetically shielded so you can just about place them anywhere you wish. Bose also manufactures floor speaker stands for a modest price and they even have the UTS-20 Universal Table Stands that are quite reasonably priced as well.

In short, this system is truly wonderful and I would highly recommend it to anybody that is looking for a superior home theater speaker system without wishing to spend in excess of a thousand dollars! Once you've made the decision to purchase and install this system, be prepared to be blown away by the superior quality of the beautiful sound. This system is a true investment that will easily defray the initial costs. {ssintrepid}Get more detail about Bose AM10III-WH Home Theater Speaker System.

MTX Lolita - Subwoofer - 100 Watt Buy Now


My wife sent me on a mission, a mission to purchase a subwoofer to replace the monlith subwoofer that was in our 20x15 Living room/Dining room. Went by the local CC and picked up the Lolita. I have it placed on top of a 6 foot entertainment center and my wife has covered it with appropriate decor. You really have to look for it. I have people try to find it when I they come over. As for the performace of the speaker, the bass is more than enough for easy to medium level music and works perfectly enough for movies. Yea, it's not a 12", but for what it is designed for, it is a 5 star product. If you want a subwoofer that is easy to hide and will fill out the lower spectrum of whatever you are listening to, this is the product.Get more detail about MTX Lolita - Subwoofer - 100 Watt.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Definitive Technology VDCB Mythos 8 Speaker(Single, Black) Order Now


I am very pleased with imaging and depth of sound. I combined Mythos 1 and 6 for front, Mythos 5s and Mission omnipolars for rear. Adcom amp for front, Hafler for the rear. Previous speakers were Infinity Kappas. The Mythos are asethetic and sound musical. Also great for cinema. No complaints. Worth the price.Get more detail about Definitive Technology VDCB Mythos 8 Speaker(Single, Black).

Pyle Home PDWR68W 500-Watt 3-Way Indoor/Outdoor Waterproof Center-Channel Speaker (White) Decide Now


I just bought these Pyle speakers, but they come with no brackets. ¿How can I do to fix them to the wall? I found no information about how to find these brackets. To me this is a major problem!!Get more detail about Pyle Home PDWR68W 500-Watt 3-Way Indoor/Outdoor Waterproof Center-Channel Speaker (White).

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Bose 201 Series IV - Speaker - 60 Watt - 2-way Right now


You read a lot of technical jargon in these things. Listen, if you want a good stereo sound at a decent price - these SOUND good. They are full and responsive to almost every type of music you play through them. If you are looking for super Bass response you need a subwoofer but these suffice fine without one. Cheap but sound awesome. 301s are even better and 501s are better yet but these are great. Get more detail about Bose 201 Series IV - Speaker - 60 Watt - 2-way.

Lowest Price Phoenix Gold IHS5W 5.25-Inch Optimized 2-Way Indoor Outdoor Speakers (White)


These speakers have a great crisp sound with significant bass. Although you won't be rattling any books off the shelf with the bass on these, the speakers do have a very "full" sound. Crisp and clean. The speakers are a bit on the bulky side, but the mounts give you plenty of mounting options (should you wish to mount them in a corner, or against a wall, or between the wall and ceiling...). I actually had another pair of samsung outdoor speakers and ended up returning them. I wanted good sound (that's why we listen right), so I decided to go with these and I am happy wit these, especially for the price. One other component that I loved about these, is the speaker has a quick connect wire terminal that is high quality. This makes the installation (in a tight spot) easy. Nice little touch.Get more detail about Phoenix Gold IHS5W 5.25-Inch Optimized 2-Way Indoor Outdoor Speakers (White).

Monday, July 26, 2010

Low Price Mirage MM-6 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt - high-gloss black


I was really impressed with the output from this subwoofer. The base is clean and tight; no muddy or distorted sound -- even at high volume. If you are looking for a compact sub, this is the one to try... you won't be sorry. It really packs an amazing wallop in a small package.Get more detail about Mirage MM-6 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt - high-gloss black.

Save Proficient Audio Systems IW525 5.25-Inch Graphite LCR In-Wall Speaker


These speakers were recommended to me by my home theater installer and they have lived up to the hype! I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for great sound at a reasonable price.Get more detail about Proficient Audio Systems IW525 5.25-Inch Graphite LCR In-Wall Speaker.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Discount Mirage OMNI S10 Powered subwoofer


First off, let me comment on the incredible service of Amazon, and Crutchfield, the company I bought this sub from. The subwoofer arrived defective, and Crutchfield took it back and credited my account within 1 day of receiving the item back. Absolutely first rate service.
Now about the subwoofer. I originally wanted the Mirage S-12 subwoofer, but that has been discontinued (I have since found one). The reviews I read of the S10 stated that it was big enough for most rooms. This may be true, but Mirage itself states that its a great sub for "small to medium sized rooms". Please go with this. I have a large room (maybe 20x20), and although the S10 sounded excellent, it just couldn't handle the large open-ended room that I have sufficiently. That said - the S10 is one of the best subs I've ever heard. Its clean, undistorted, and gets deep. Again, for a small to medium-sized room, this will be all the sub you need. The controls are conveniently located on the front of the unit so you don't have to keep getting behind it to tweak it, but you have to remove the grill cover to access them. This is a very small factor (just leave it off until you are done tweaking). The unit itself is classy looking. Instead of the usual black gloss look, it comes with a nice black ash wood grain. Mirage stands for class so don't worry here.
As of now, this is the biggest sub that Mirage makes - and its a shame because as I said, the S12 is absolutely amazing as is the S10.
The sub performs incredibly well on both music and movies, but after repeated testing, I'd say that it excels in the home theater aspect (there is more bass in movies than in music). Do not fear as it makes your musical system come alive as well. I have heard things now that I've never heard before, and I am actually replacing a Mirage sub (BPS-150) with this one. Incredible clarity, classy looks, and the Mirage name make this sub a winner in every way. Get more detail about Mirage OMNI S10 Powered subwoofer.

Cheapest Definitive Technology Mythos STS 120v Supertower Speaker (Single, Silver)


I got a good deal I couldnt pass up on 4 Mythos STS's a center channel Mythos ten 2 Mythos gem xl's a supercube reference subwoofer along with a denon 4308ci. It was time for a overhaul on my last HT/Music system. These speakers are unbelivable. The bass the STS's put out is powerfull so good I really have no need to turn on my sub, Voice quality is very well also. All around these are very strong speakers I have no complaints.Get more detail about Definitive Technology Mythos STS 120v Supertower Speaker (Single, Silver).