Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Advice on Speakers

Hi - I'm considering getting some axiom speakers in the near future, but I have a few questions. At school I will be in an apartment which will probably change every year. Most of them will be 15x15x8. I listen to mostly music (jazz, jam bands, rock and classical) and like to listen loud at times. I am considering the m2, m22 or m60 speakers.

1)In the Soundstage review of the m22's, the reviewer noted that when pushed hard on brass instruments these speakers get irritating and sharp. Has anyone experienced this, and if so, would the m60s sound the same in this regard?

2) How much harder can the m60s be pushed in comparison to the m22s? What about the M2s and the M60s?

3) How far back do I need to be for a decent soundstage with each speaker?

4)I am also considering the svs 25-31pci or 10" Titanic sub kit. Which speakers would match up better with which sub? I like for the bass to go rather deep but still perform extremely well with music.

Thanks for your help.

Gary

hi Gary,

I would suggest getting the M22's plus the SVS.

M60's might be a little overkill, but they wouldn't be wasted if you did get them. Just remember the price difference is almost the same as the price of a sub if you get the M22's.

Don't get the M2's, they'll be too small for your needs.

Harshness? I have the M22's and listen to lot's of jazz and blues. I don't think the M22's are any harsher than the recording. The Getz/Gilberto CD sounds as smooth as a baby's bottom

I too suggest the M22ti. Though for a sub, I would suggest the Hsu VTF-3 (or VTF-2). The SVS subs are great, but in the two side-by-side comparisons I've read, the Hsu is a bit tighter - better for music. The SVS's give better boom for HT.

As far as the M22ti being irrating - I also agree, bad recording in = bad playback out. The M22's are a fantastic speaker. Very detailed, and clean, clean sounding. They aren't going to "soften" up any bad recordings. That's one of the biggest things I've noticed since I got mine. Before my M22's most cd's sounded the same. Now with the M22's, well recorded cd's really shine. Poorly recorded ones, stand out as being just that - poorly recorded.

I, too, recommend the M22ti over your other choices. What initially may sound like harshness from them is just the brutal truth. They are extremely revealing speakers, but that is a GOOD THING. They make great recordings shine, but will show the flaws of lesser recordings.

Also, I would not discount SVS. I've got their "smaller" box sub (they now have two). Although I have not heard the HSU VTF-2 or 3 side-by-side with the SVS, they are in the same ballpark with quality and bang-for-buck.

I can't imagine carting M60s from dorm room to dorm room for 4-5 years. The high probability of your gear getting stolen by thieves or damaged by roommates would be another factor for me.

Brass on my M60s sounds excellent. Only loud, strident trumpets have come close to annoying, but to be fair - they eventually become annoying to me in person. Miles Davis' CD "Love Songs" is incredible on my Axioms.

The dorm rooms I lived in had tile floors and concrete walls. If yours are like that too, you may want to consider the more laid-back M3s.

I'm not suggesting he forget the SVS. Everyone agrees that Hsu and SVS make the best subs for your money. I'm just saying that in the reviews I've read, the Hsu is a bit tigher.

Thanks for all the great feedback. It's going to be an apartment with carpeted floors, though I have hardwood at home. Hopefully I'm done with dorms, which is great because they are very unfriendly for HT. After reading your comments, I'm leaning more towards the m22s. However, I would like to know if anyone has compared the Titanic 10" kit to the Hsu or the box svs? I think it'd be best if I got a smaller, tighter musical sub now and get the big svs added on for HT once I get my own place. Thanks again.

Gary

I've auditioned the M22ti and the M60ti. I kept the M60s, but I recommend the M22s for your situation. I agree with BigWill that given your room dimensions, there's no point in lugging around the M60s. The main difference between the speakers is more bass in the M60s and they can be driven to higher levels without dynamic compression. The latter should not be a concern in an apartment. There's also a doubling in price from the M22s to the M60s.

As for the Titanic sub, I can't offer a direct comparison with the Hsu VTF-2, but I do own the 10" Titanic and I'm very happy with it. I bought it new from Parts Express on E-bay for $262 + $42 shipping, which is less than the normal $350 with shipping included. I was impressed with the quality of the components and the solid construction. It was easily assembled as advertised. The bass is very tight (it has a sealed enclosure) and does a great job in music and home theater. The Hsu VTF-2 has received great reviews, although I've never heard one. It normally sells for $499 + $45 shipping, which is nearly $200 more than the Titanic. The amp is 150 watts vs. the 250 in the Titanic. I don't think you could go wrong either way: $750 for the M22ti and 10" Titanic sub or $944 for the M22s with the Hsu VTF-2. With either choice, you'll end up with a system that sounds much better than you would expect for the money spent.

So I took the plunge and ordered both a pair of the m22s and the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170s. I'm in a bit of a delimma here because I like the clarity of vocals and guitars on the m22s but they sound a tad thin(for lack of a better word) for my tastes. I like the smoothness and fullness of the Ascends, but they lack the openness and clarity of the m22s. I am on a 30 day trial for both and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how the other Axioms compare to the m22 given my tastes. Other brand recommendations are welcome also.