Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Computer room speakers

So, my next purchase is going to be to upgrade my computer room speakers (currently Logitech X530). I was originally toying with the idea of M60s or M80s, but that seems rather extravagant for a roughly 10x8x8 room with an adjoining wall to the neighbors. The pragmatist in me is now back to the bookshelves. I have optical out from my mother board and access to an older Sony 5.1 Rx (or buy a new cheap Yammy if necessary). I also have a Paradigm PDR10 sub made homeless by a new EP350. I'd use them in a 2.1 setup for 75% music (internet radio, flac/mp3) and 25% gaming/TV.

Budget (w/in reason- I am naturally a cheap bastich at heart), space, aesthetics (no WAF considerations) and room configuration (listening distance range up to 5 feet) are not really a problem as the music comes first! So, what I am now looking at is Audiobytes vs M2 vs M22, all paired with the PDR10 (and Rx as req'd).

I already have a set of M3s being used in my "gym" so I figured I should also have one of the more revealing speakers in the lineup. I've heard the M22s going up against the M80s and was wondering how the M2s compared (to the 22s, not the 80s). There seems to be much hoopla over the ABs but would you go for them over M2s if there were no outside physical constraints (size, portability, Rx req'd)? I'm leaning more to the M2/22 +sub for the greater versatility (moved to another room, seconded for 7.1 duties in primary HT, swapped with M3s, eventual 5.1 gaming system? - I like keeping my options to spend more money later open) and assumed superior sonics.

Any input from you guys?

I think you need to make another trip back here and we both can hear Mojo's new AudioBytes.

I haven't heard the M2s so I can't comment on those. However, if you want a more revealing speaker, go with the M22s. I consider the audiobytes to be a nice balance between the M3s and M22s. They are more revealing than the M3s and more warm than the M22s. The M22s will also give you a larger soundstage. The only way I can get a large soundstage with the audiobytes is by sitting "close" to the them. When I sit close to them, they also sonically disappear.

Also, I can't wait that they will release the great Audiobytes amp for more general use. It will increase options drammatically.

After a quick discussion with maniacal bookshelf buyer Robb, who has absolutely guaranteed that there is no viable way anyone on this planet could possibly hear even a remote difference between the M2 and M22 (to the point where he'd buy me a new Ferrari and paint my house if I could), I decided to go with a pair of M2s. They'll be coupled with the PDR10 fed by a cheap (open box) Yamaha HTR6030 (for when I convince myself to buy surrounds in a couple of weeks).

Now I'll have to wait and see whether I'll need to reconfigure the room (M2s are only marginally smaller than the M3) or get away with leaving them on the desk! New speakers are really the only impetus for getting me to clean out a room, so maybe I should have gone with the 22s after all.

I think the M22s would have better Bass extension than the M2s, but that is only going by size and the graphs, I couldn't say as I am still waiting to hear Hutzal's M2's and EP500.

I guess I should just order some and do some D/B testing.

Yeah, that is actually what he said, but I figured the sub blends in really nicely (with the M3s at any rate) and I had no intention of running either speaker alone anyway. Need the sub to have somewhere to put my feet up.

Crank the sub up and get a free foot massage! I think I just thought of a way to sell my wife on a new sub

Our cat loves to sit on my sub during movies/concert DVDs.

I'm kind of glad I can't ask him why.

Good thing I popped in here or I would probably be buying someone a ferrari! Depending on the size of the room, when the M22 and M2 are crossed over to the sub (in a small room such as 10x 8 x 8) you will not even notice a difference. In a bigger room you will obviously notice some strain on the M2s when the M22s could handle a larger volume of listening space.

I think the M2's are a great choice for computer speakers, they are a great little speaker that I highly recommend if using a sub. They will also be better than the Audiobytes concerning listening volume, clarity, and coloration. (I am assuming, I have done no A/B testing) Really, they are just a mini M22, with all the same attributes of the M22 but in a smaller package.