Axiom Epic 80-600 VP150 and M80ti

The VP-150 center channel speaker is a very interesting design. The speaker configuration with the tweeters placed at the ends of the enclosure is one that I have not seen produced in the many years I have been installing speaker systems. The reasoning behind this design is to improve dispersion and off axis response on the left and right side. It also provides a broader soundstage and wider array for more seated listening positions. It is a sealed design for easy placement and integration into custom A/V cabinetry.

The VP-150 has a pretty flat frequency response. There is a slight hump between 12kHz -17kHz. Also note the effective low frequency cutoff of about 80Hz.

Around the back of the VP-150 you will find very high quality five-way gold plated binding posts and the mount hole for the optional wall bracket as shown below. A look inside the VP-150 revealed very good speaker components and build quality. The enclosure is constructed from 3/4" MDF and is lined with polyfill. 18 AWG high strand count copper wire is used from the crossover to the speaker spade connections. The speaker's woofer component is of high quality aluminum and the midrange speakers have steel baskets, large motor structures, and shielded bucking magnets.

The tweeters used in the VP-150 are composed of a high power handling titanium dome. As shown below all drivers are recessed in the front baffle to improve imaging and reduce diffraction. This is a nice touch for a speaker in this price class. Many speakers costing much more take the easy and more cost effective route and flush mount driver components.

The VP-150 has excellent fit and finish at this price point. The vinyl Boston Cherry looks like real wood and no visible seams were detected. The grill that covers the front baffle looks OK but I think this is one area that could be improved upon. Although the grill did its job just fine, its construction was a bit on the flimsy side.

The M80ti floorstanding speaker has another interesting design. As far as I know, the design is not replicated in any current loudspeaker currently on the market. The Axiom M80ti has dual tweeters mounted in tandem on the top of the front baffle, below that there are dual midrange drivers and dual woofers.

The drivers used in the M80ti are the same type used in the VP-150 with the exception of displacement. This insures very similar sonic signatures for seamless transitions between the center speaker and front main speakers.

All drivers used in the Axiom M80ti are active and they are all recessed into the front baffle. Many loudspeaker manufacturers use multiple drivers in their designs in an active/passive-radiator configuration. All of the drivers in the M80ti 舗 s are active. The first of three ports is mounted on the very bottom of the front baffle.

As you can see from the above 1 meter frequency response, the M80ti measured very well and has a relatively flat anechoic response. The M80ti has an effective low frequency response of about 40-45Hz which is somewhat masked in the measurement since anechoic chambers bass response below 85Hz begin to taper off.

A peek around the back of the Axiom M80ti revealed that these speakers can be bi-amped, due to the incorporation of dual 5-way binding posts. These speakers are also bi-wireable, however, in my opinion this method of termination will yield no appreciable gain in performance. Unless you have a very long run of speaker wire and you want to double up the gauge of wire to compensate for the long distance, there is no audible benefit. The remaining two ports are located on the top and bottom of the enclosure as shown in the photo.

On the bottom of the enclosure you will find threaded inserts for the installation of either spiked or rubber feet. High quality parts are supplied with the speaker along with a wrench to install them.

A look inside the Axiom M80ti revealed that this speaker is built to a very high standard not usually found in speakers at this price. The photo below shows the Axiom M80ti lying on its side with the woofer, midrange, and tweeter removed. The enclosure is constructed using 3/4" MDF.

The first thing I noted inside the M80ti's enclosure was the very robust shelf bracing, one located just below the mid subwoofer and one located just below the bottom tweeter. These are used to control cabinet resonance. The speaker enclosures were also packed with polyfill.

The Axiom M80ti speakers are built with separate chambers to house the dual midranges. This construction technique is most often found on very expensive loudspeakers.

The Vortex vent ports used on the Axiom M80ti are designed to reduce port noise. Look closely at the photo and you can see the attached vent sock, this helps reduce noise even more and prevents the polyfill from blocking the port.

The fit and finish on the M80ti was superb. The speaker is elegant and takes up very little space due to its relatively small footprint of 9.25 x 17 inches (and 40" tall). The grills attach to the front baffle solidly, but again I would have liked to have seen a sturdier grill. That gripe aside, I must say that I was blown away by the attention to detail and the excellent build quality and overall engineering of the Axiom M80ti. The construction techniques used in this speaker are usually found in speakers at much higher price points.