Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo advice for a n00b please

Gary - are you saying you upgraded from the M3s to the M2s? Or to the 22s from the M3s? (I'm guessing the latter, but just checking as your post makes it look like the other way around)

Jason

I interpreted Gary's post as follows. M2's are used as surrounds. Originally had M3's as his front main speakers and upgraded to the M22's.

Dr. House

Correct. I upgraded my M3's for the M22's and kept the M2's as back surrounds.

Schizm

I have M22s, M2s and M3s. For stand alone use, I prefer the M3s. I've had several HK receivers and have always thought of them as warm as opposed to flat and "analytical."

Although there are many on this board who insist there is no difference in sound quality among "well designed" solid state amps and receivers (DSPs aside), I respectfully disagree.

BTW, if you are thinking about a 2 channel system, why not try the Sonic Impact T-Amp (10 watts per channel). It will set you back about $25 (twenty five). It's a little plastic thing that has wonderful sound quality and will drive a pair of M3s (or M22s or M2s if you go that way) without any problem at reasonable volume levels. You have to supply your own AA batteries or throw another $30 for a good power supply (like a Pyramid 5 amp).

A nice CD player or a nice Oppo 970H which will also play SACD or DVD Audio for about $170 and you may find yourself with enough change left over for a nice used subwoofer, like a HSU or a Velodyne, which can be picked up pretty cheap.

Good luck.

ooh i appreciate all the advice, keep it coming!

I've actually owned the HK430 for a few years now, but thanks for the info on receivers. I've used the 430 along with various hand-me-down speakers over the past few years (including some no-name floor-standers from the 70s that got damages in shipping, a few others, and most recently Bose 901s from the 80s) while they have all been free up until now, I think I'm ready for my own pair.

As far as my music source, since I move a lot all my hard-copy discs are in storage in a different state... however, I have all my music stored digitally on my computer (either lossless or high-bitrate mps) which I connect w/ a toslink to the receiver.

I also watch a lot of Blue-rays on a PS3 (yay netflix)

I've been using high-end headphones for a while now (since the ROI as far as quality sound is much more reasonable when it comes to headphones, and I used to travel a lot)

I wanted to buy the M22 vs the M3 because I eventually want to build a full 5.1 HT system down the road with these as a foundation, and I feel like the M22 having the same woofers as the centers will help in that regard. (Is my thinking flawed, or does it make sense?)

Also, I plan to get a subwoofer fairly soon (relatively, like after a few months depending on a few things coming through - I'm thinking VTF since I watch a lot of movies, but considering I live in apartments - if the STF will work well for movies as well, I'd rather save the $)

And although I've heard a lot of great things about the m3, especially for non-sub use, I feel that by buying and then incrementally upgrading, I'll end up spending more money in the long run.

FYI, Parts Express sells a T-Amp with a Power supply for 69. Link

It sounds like you've got things pretty much figured out schwimz. Let us know your impressions of the M22 when you get them.