Your conclusion on the sensitivity is correct. Our ratings are in room ratings and therefore are approximately 3 db higher than the anechoic ratings. As a side note we are going to start publishing both numbers in the near future. The rating of sensitivity even in the anechoic environment is a bit of an average estimate across the amplitude response. For speakers like the Axiom this can be done quite consistently within a few db due to the linear amplitude response of all of our models. It can become a very difficult task when trying to rate the sensitivity on non-linear speakers. All kinds of different methods have been used to get this number; using the sensitivity at 1KHz, using a mathematical average of a selection of frequencies, pink noise, etc. Probably the best method is a mathematical average of a large number of frequency samplings, though in reality if you were to compare a linear speaker and a non linear speaker with the same sensitivity rating using any of these methods, the non linear speaker would sound louder because your ear will focus in on those frequencies with the higher output. Hopefully all this has not just made it more confusing for you. Suffice it to say that the sensitivity of the speaker is not an exact science and really is only needed as a guideline to deciding how much power is required for your desired volume level in your listening environment.

As for the M3 and M22 comparison, there are a number of areas where the M22 will out perform the M3, the bass not being one of them. Bass response from these two models is very similar and I would rate them the same from the point of view of a stand-alone monitor.


Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer

Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer