After reading this review, also check out a close-up photo look and explanation of the the EP400's connections and controls.
Axiom EP400 Product Overview
Here are the specifications and features of the EP400:1. The subwoofer is sealed in a sealed enclosure (Acoustic Suspension) which houses an 8-inch diameter front-firing main Driver.
2.Frequency response 25Hz-150Hz +/- 3dB. This means that extreme low frequencies are reproduced accurately.
3. Power handling - 500 Watts. This means that the EP400 has a consistent high-power output
4. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) serves to optimize subwoofer performance across all volume levels and differing room characteristics.
5. User Adjustable Controls:
Phase: This control matches the in/out subwoofer driver motion to the satellite speakers. This control has two positions.
Crossover: The crossover control sets the point at which you want the subwoofer to produce low frequency sounds, against the ability of the satellite speakers to reproduce low frequency sounds. This control is defeatable if using the subwoofer crossover control on a Receiver.
Trim: This control sets optimum performance for different size rooms.
7. Input and Output Connections - 2 line level/RCA phono jacks (1in/1out), 2 line level XLR jacks (1in/1out), 1 set of speaker input terminals.
8. Controls: Gain, Phase, Crossover (Defeatable), and Trim Controls.
9. A USB port is included for for connection to a PC for downloading software/firmware updates or accessing future functions.
10. Dimensions - 13.75 inches High x 10.5 inches Wide x 16.8 inches deep. Weight - 48.55 lbs.
Set-up and Installation
However, other options include using left/right speaker connections from receivers or amplifiers that do not have a dedicated subwoofer line output. In this type of setup, the subwoofer accepts the entire signal that goes to the main left and right channel speakers, but but only utilizes the low frequencies for itself.
A third connection option is via XLR connections, which is a type of connection used in professional audio setups.
For this review, I opted for the common subwoofer pre-out connection from several Home Theater Receivers (see Hardware section of this review). This type of connection is most commonly used in the vast majority of home theater setups.
In addition to connecting a receiver to the subwoofer, I placed the subwoofer in the front of the room, just to the right of the right channel speaker of the home theater systems used.
The EP400 was tested in two rooms with the following dimensions: 20ft x 15ft, and 12ft x 12ft.
The next step was to hear how the subwoofer sounded in its "straight-out-of-box" default settings. Although I was getting strong bass, further adjustment was needed. Setup procedures are outlined in the EP400 user manual.
Hardware Used
Home Theater Receivers used included, the Yamaha HTR-5490 (6.1 Channels) , Yamaha RX-V861 (on loan from Yamaha), Harman Kardon AVR147 (on loan from Harman Kardon), and an Onkyo TX-SR304 (5.1 Channels),DVD players included: OPPO Digital DV-981HD DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player, and Helios H4000, as well as a Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player and a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player and LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo player.
Loudspeakers used in different setups included: Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2, Optimus LX-5IIs, Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system, a pair of JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel and two JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers as rear surrounds.
Powered Subwoofers used for comparison: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 and Yamaha YST-SW205.
Video displays used: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, and Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV
Audio/Video connections between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.
16 Gauge Speaker Wire was used in all setups.
System levels for both main speakers and subwoofers were calibrated using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter
Software Used
HD-DVD Discs included: Serenity, Sleepy Hollow, Heart - Live In Seattle, King Kong, Batman Begins, and Phantom of the Opera
Pre-recorded standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: Serenity, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, V For Vendetta, U571, Lord of Rings Trilogy, and Master and Commander.
For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture.
DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.
SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.
In addition, music content on CD-R/RWs was also used.
