I'd like opinions from those who have experience with the M2 and M22, especially those who have had the opportunity to compare both. Speakers are very subjective, I know, but since these speakers are so closely related, I'm hoping someone out there can give me some insite to their sonic character.

I've made an initial selection to go with the M2i up front, and recently placed an order, so I will be listening to those soon. I've read everytning I can find about the Axiom bookshelves to help me with my selection, but haven't found a direct comparison between the M2 and M22.

I'm setting up a 5.1 home theater, and will listen to cable TV (digital) and movies most of the time, but I'd also like a speaker that can do justice to jazz/vocal/classical, and even a little punchy classical rock-- a lot to ask from any speaker, I know!

Currently, I have a Marantz SR 19 5.1 unit. This is the one that Marantz built a few years back to re-claim their former Hi-Fi fame... "mid-fi," really. At the time, it was said to be about as good as you can get, this side of separates, and compared favorably with the equivalent B&K model. With descrete circuits at 110wpc, it should have no trouble with even a difficult load. The Marantz unit has a warm signature with good detail, and a lot more volume than I will ever use... I've yet to turn it up into the positive db range. My listening room is small (16 x 18 x 8)with ceramic tile floors and windows... lots of tile and glass, so it's going to be a very reflective lisenting area, but I'll be adding rugs and wall treatments to help with this.

All that said, I chose to audition the M2, reading that it's mid range is slightly more clear than the M3 which offers a little more lift in the mid bass, with better bass extension. I have a front-firing, sealed, M&K subwoofer (fabulous!)to handle the low end, so I'm not too interested in low-end extension, especially if I have to sacrifice mid-range clarity. I read many reviews stating that the M2 slightly out-performed the M3 in the mids, sacrificing low end extension to do it. In fact, I've read that the M2, simply doesn't attempt the low end below about 70hz, so it seemed like a good match to run with a sub... any experience anyone has with this would be most helpful.

Excluding the M3, I'm wondering what the difference in sound is between the M2, and it's big brother the M22? Clearly , the M22 will reach the low end better, but that should be covered with my system. Is the M22 going to give me better clarity, detail/resolution than the M2? Beyond playing louder with (I assume) better power handling capabilities, can anyone describe the sonic difference between the two speakers?

Lastly, and I really didn't mean to write a novel here, any thoughts on using 5 of the same speaker all around vs, say the quad-poles in the rear (I hear the QS8 is very good). I'm considering using the M2 as a center also, or the M22 if I decide to upgrade. Frankly, I've never met a center channel that I liked, especially those with the woofer/tweeter/woofer arrangement, and this has made choosing main speakers difficult. Any opinions on, say, the VP150 vs a single M2 or M22 for the center? How is the off-axis response with the VP150.

Thanks for reading, and look forward to your opinions. One way or another, I'll be running my Cambridge Soundworks Towers over with my tractor soon-- yippeee!