Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Classical music

Are there any classical music listeners that are using Axiom speakers? How do they sound? How do they compare with other speakers? I am thinking about getting the M22ti and wonder how these do with classical music? Would others in this price range be better? Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

UJ, I listen to classical only and use my M22s. I've never heard any bookshelf speaker at any price that can do a better job. It can even be used without a sub(my in-room response is adequate down to about 40Hz, as measured with a test-tone CD)if you don't require the deepest bass and hall ambience.

HERE! /waving/

I listen to some jazz and pop/rock, but when it comes to serious listening, my genre is exclusively classical.

I can tell you that the Axiom speakers are highly suitable for classical music. It's not that they are "designed" for classical music (I don't think you can or should do so). But it is true that serious classical music listeners tend to demand lots of sonic details -- I certainly do. The Axioms answer those demands very nicely. Also, it is true that many top-40 pop/rock recordings have intentionally souped up trebles, which the Axiom speakers honestly reproduce, resulting in sometimes excessively "bright" or even "m******" [word censored] sound. Fortunately, you rarely see these "hot" EQ'ed recordings in the classical CDs released after early '90s.

So... I am confident in recommending the Axioms for classical music fans. Their detailed, airy, crisp sound, with a pristine imaging and transparency, really shine in the orchestral, chamber and vocal pieces.

The 2 experts have spoken but I'll just chime in with...

The M22's are one of the most instrumusical (you wont find this word in the dictionary) speakers that I have listened to. The instruments just shine through. They stand out.

Just last night, I was listening to something not exactly classical but nonetheless worth mentionning - Dream a little Dream track from 'The Very Best of Louis Armstrong' album.

The voice - wow, smooth, detailed and crystal clear.
The piano, the guitar - every string, every note is so crystal clear.

Whether you put up the volume or keep it low, it sounds incredible. It's almost like you are sitting in the front row at the live performance.

I also listen to Indian classical music (tabla, sitar, etc) on the M22's and the M60's. Both have similar characteristics when it comes to detail and clarity. If you can afford it, go for the M60's because you get the extra bass.

Pricewise, there is nothing that is comparable to M22's. Enough with words. The best way to decide is for you to listen to a pair and be amazed...

Good luck !

I can vouch for the M22s making tablas sound amazing. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones were playing with Sandip Burman for a while. He's on their "Outbound" album and has toured extensively with them.

The M22's are terrific for any type of music. The only other speaker I know of that comes close to their clarity and detail (in the same price range) is the Ascend 170.

I personally preferred the sound of the M22, but the Ascend should not be disregarded. It's a true bargain.

Not to rain on anyones party... Listen to whatever you like but.....

I just have to say it....

Ugh classical is just so boring.

Have your listened to Holst's "Planets"? How on earth can you call that boring?

Brandon, you're young. You can still be saved. I'm not sure if they have this in Hawaii, but there are musical re-education camps to which a person can be committed by order of the probate court or voluntarily. There you'd undergo several hours of instruction each day in the principles of harmony, rhythm, symphonic structure, etc. To illustrate the principles, you'd be exposed to several additional hours each day of listening to Holst's Planets, almost anything by Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and the other musical geniuses. Don't despair, you can do it.

no thanks. I dont want to go to no bootcamp to tell me what music to listen to. i like some good ole foot tappin singin along heart pumpin emotion and energy.

Yes, IMHO, classical music is an acquired taste.

I agree. I'm starting to get a little bit of a taste for it, but I certainly can't listen to it all the time. I've got my Wagner selection down, and there's plenty of other good stuff on the heavier side for someone that comes from a hard rock background like me.

Thank you all for the info. I look forward to hearing them in my home! Thanks!

In reply to:

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Yes, IMHO, classical music is an acquired taste.

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Nah, it's love at first sight (err, rather first hearing.)

If you want heart pumping energy and emotion, classical is where you'll find it. Try movement 1 of Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony, the fourth movement of Mahler's first symphony, the finale of Rimsky-Kosakov's Scheherezade, or anything by Rachmaninov. The classical universe has the full gamut of emotions, if you just give it a chance.

Classical music challenging? Yes! Easy to grasp? No. Boring? Never!

Don't dis what you haven't experienced.

Mark

i downloaded some Holst (I love Kazaa) and it certainly is 'interesting' but I can't shake the feeling that it sounds like a movie soundtrack. Not bad though.

Sure. That is because today's orchestral movie soundtracks (e.g., John Williams, Dave Grusin...) in a sense represent a direct descendant from the thematic/programmatic/descriptive classical pieces of late 19-20 centuries, such as the works of Richard Strauss, Stravinski, Holst, and many others.

Im not knocking classical music. Its alot better than some of the stuff out there. And i have heard it before. I surely havent heard everything but i know what alot of its like. I even downoloaded some of your rachmninoff.

I just think its kinda boring. Theres no story to it or nothing that really affects me emotionally. Its not bad as barkround music but i certainly couldnt sit through a whole cd of it. Again, im not Dis'sin it. I just think its boring. It doesnt affect me the way some other music does.

You like your music to have words, don't you?

I get that all the time. I'd say a good 60% of the music I listen to has no words. It drives most of my friends nuts. I can't tell you how often I hear "...but it doesn't have any words!".

Not necesarily.

but something to lip sync to is always nice

Then what other kind of music do you like that doesn't have any words?

well i dont have cd's of music without words, but i have cd's with some tracks that are just acoustic. no words.

One of the best ones that comes to mind is Eric Clapton -Reptile

Clapton > *

um. yea

Clapton > *

means

Clapton is greater than all.

sorry. i didnt get the memo on new internet lingo.

lol

Classical music also keeps me intellectually stimulated...

Example: Fourth movement of Brahms Symphony No. 4.

The entire movement is assembled as a series of variations on the very first 8 bars as the original theme. In fact, more than 30 short variations each of which lasts exactly 8 bars will be presented successively without any other stuffing passages till the very end. It is truly amazing to see that Brahms could not only modulate the mood and content of the original theme so drastically in each succession, but also manage to construct the whole movement like a musical story entirely from these 8-bar elements, which include everything from a sobbing monologue by flute solo to a brass chorale to a thunderous outcry of full orchestra. I almost cry when I realize the quality and density of intellect that had been injected into this short 10-min movement.

[the Windows Media sample of 4th movement at the link above contains the theme and first 4 variations... Enjoy!]

Really? Have you read Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions?

That * certainly does not mean all.

Haoleb,

I've got an idea for you. If you like Radiohead, you should give this CD a try:

Chistopher O'Riley, True Love Waits: O'Riley Plays Radiohead

This guy is an amazing classical pianist and the whole CD is his interpretations of well-known Radiohead songs. I recommend this to all piano lovers, as well. This guy is technically and artistically amazing.

Which reminds me. Lang Lang will be in my neck of the woods next April and I definitely plan on going to see him. Should be a great show, as it's a rather intimate venue.

I second Peter's reco of the O'Riley Radiohead transcriptions (after all, it was my cd he borrowed that allowed him to make the recommendation in the first place! )

From a purely pianistic standpoint O'Riley's transcriptions are very impressive in their complexity and ability to really convey the moods and atmospheres of the originals. I've heard lots of transcriptions that just sound like show pieces designed to flaunt the performer's talent rather than convey the mood of the original music, but O'Riley stays very true to the source, and that's what I think most impresses me about this cd. Little atmospheric lines, contrapuntal lines, harmonies and counter-melodies are all there, and you really get the sense that O'Riley has a lot of admiration and respect for Radiohead's music, and that he really gets where they were coming from on each song. I'd love to get my hands on the sheet music for these, actually.

Anyway, enough raving. Buy it!

In reply to:

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Again, im not Dis'sin it. I just think its boring. It doesnt affect me the way some other music does.

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I can live with that. When you said that classical music was boring, by implication that meant that those of us who like it like boring music. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Sushi's post above illustrates, listening to classical music can be a sublime experience unapproached by most modern music.

Saying that classical doesn't float your boat is very different, and that difference in tastes between people is what makes the world a more interesting place to live in. Kudos to you for giving classical a whirl.

Mark

In reply to:

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a good 60% of the music I listen to has no words

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I am in spiffnme's corner on this one. I love instrumental music, or music where the lyrics are icing rather than being the cake. I enjoy classical, Pink Floyd (especially "Wish You Were Here, which is almost an instrumental album), Mike Oldfield, and Alan Parsons, who has recorded some awesome instrumentals.

I'm curious, spiffnme, who your favorite instrumental artists are?

Mark

My 17 year old son, a big Radiohead fan, has that CD. I guess I'll have to borrow it and give it a spin.

MArk

Hmm...some of my favorites included Dead Can Dance (Lisa's vocals are mostly sounds, not words) I love most of Moby's instrumental stuff, early Brian Eno, The Propellerheads, Bent, Groove Armada, Robert Rich...

What are your favs?

Dragging this thread back out again. I've been itching to hear The Planets again, but would like to hear a differenct recording than the one I have.

What do you suggest? I want the best performance/sound quality possible. If it costs $20 so be it. (DVD-A or a hybrid SACD would even be good)

Thanks guys!

I have Telarc's DTS 5.1 The Planets CD (not DVD-A or SACD). I haven't really listened to it much -- it really demands your full attention -- but I remember liking the performance and recording quality very much. Here's a link to it:

http://www.telarc.com/gscripts/title.asp?gsku=0466

Craig, I have several Planets(again, just the CDs)and have borrowed or listened to over a dozen others. I emphasize the performance and two older performances in good sound are first the Mehta, LA Philharmonic on Eloquence ELQ467 418(about $8 and in-stock at your Santa Monica and W. Hollywood Borders)and second the Steinberg, Boston Symphony on Deutsche Grammophon DGG 463 627(about $11, also in at S.M. and W.H. and includes Also Sprach Zarathustra). So, go there immediately and get both.

I've had the Levi CD Peter mentions here and it's a fine performance in excellent sound, also available in DTS 5.1 for about $25. Another excellent one is the Dutoit on London LON 460 606(about $12 at Santa Monica). Again though, my first suggestion would be Mehta, then Steinberg, even though both are older.