Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo M22ti, M2i, paired with VTF-2, EP125

Which, of the combinations above, would be the best in terms of value / quality? I realize the M22ti paired with the VTF-2 would probably sound the best, but I do not have the money and would prefer something cheap. Furthermore, this is going to be paired with a Sharp SD-NX10 1-Bit Digital(ish) Minisystem. Also, the speakers are going to be placed on my desktop or as a true bookshelf system (so the M22ti's are actually a bit too tall). Basically, I was thinking of the Black M2i's paired with the VTF-2. However, I can get a discount for the M22ti and the EP125 in Cherry at a local dealer, so that may be worthwhile as well (the system might be too big for a true bookshelf minisystem though). So, the cheapest would actually be M2i + EP125, next the M22ti + EP125, then M2i + VTF-2, and finally the M22ti + VTF-2.

What do you guys think?

Since the NX10 already has all the speakers it can handle, I don't know how you're going to "pair" them, but anyway you want cheap. So forget the M22s, VTF-2 and EP125 and get the M2s plus this for about $400 total.

Thanks for the reply! Hm, I was going to replace the default speakers since they frankly aren't very good. Regarding the Velodyne amp - is that honestly any good? I'd think I want a filter of some kind for the M2i's, wouldn't you agree? I want inexpensive, but not cheap - if you know what I mean.

Cheap can be good; it just means price, not quality. In audio "you get what you pay for" often doesn't apply. On this same Stereo board Josh784, who's 15 and this may be his first good system has just got the M2s and VX-10. Check out his thread. I don't know if he's all set up yet, but he may have an opinion. You might take a look at this review of the VX-10.

If by "filter" you mean a crossover to roll off the M2s at low frequencies, that would be nice, but how are you going to get it if the NX10 doesn't do that?

Hm, well I'm not totally 100% (still new to loudspeakers), but I thought that certain subs could do it? I believe the VTF-2 has a high pass filter? Not sure if I know what I'm talking about. Anyway, maybe I should just go for the M22ti w/o sub - this is going to be 90% music, 10% movies so the deepest bass is not a very big concern.

And I forgot to mention - the music definitely does not need to be very loud, and I have a small room anyway.

And I also forgot to mention - M2i + EP175 would be kind of ridiculous, right? Has anybody actually actively compared the M2i with the M22ti? The high / mid frequencies are pretty much identical, right?

I'm pretty dead set on the M2i, and the EP125 in Boston Cherry would really look nice - but how does that single rca input work? Does that mean I'll only get sound in Mono if I connect the speakers to the sub?

if you want to keep a lower budget, how about the M2i's w/ the new HSU STF?

http://www.hsuresearch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215

Even for 90% music. You're going to want a sub with your M22's. A good sub is not just for movies. Trust me.

I agree the M22's or M2i's with a new Hsu STF series sub will put you in music heaven.

Yeah. I've just got to disagree with all the people around here who just want the sub for movies and play their music without it. I'll tell you, a good sub properly calibrated adds so much to music. You can feel the bass, not to mention the bits you're missing without it. Listen to Sting-Brand New Day without it, and then with it. You'll see...

I like big bass and I cannot lie.
You other brothers can't deny....

LOL! [horned hand]

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I like big bass and I cannot lie.
You other brothers can't deny....

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Hahahaha

Baby got bass...

Has anybody heard the STF-1? Is it comparable to the EP125? I'm still not really sure what to get. This will be inside a dorm-sized room, but the M22ti's will be the perfect height on my desktop (the M2i's would be too short). Could someone please explain how this crossover works? I thought that subs could take care of the bass (say, from 90Hz down) and not send the information to the speakers - leaving the bookshelf's to reproduce the mids and highs.

The STF subs aren't due out until 11/21, but since Hsu has never put out a bad product, they are highly anticipated. At their prices, they should be THE bang for your buck sub to beat.

Okay, I'm pretty much dead set on a STF-1 or STF-2 now, depending on when there is a B-stock for whichever product. Anyway, what about the mains then? With such a small room, and the crossover set at 80 Hz for M22ti and 90 Hz for M2i, would there be a significance difference in sound?

How small is your room?

If budget is a big concern, I don't think the M2i's with that sub would be a bad choice. There's another thread going right now saying that the M2i is one of Axioms most underrated speakers. It's a really good speaker. In a small room with a good sub, I'll bet you'd be very, very pleased.

Budget is indeed a big concern, since this is my 'secondary' setup - my primary setup is actually with headphones and quite high-quality. Basically, I doubt these speakers would be able to exceed my headphones in terms of pure sound quality, but at least they would be able to provide good sound when I don't feel like putting something on my head. For this reason, I was thinking of actually just buying the M3ti's by themselves - however, the bug got the best of me and I started lusting for the M22ti's. Anyway, budget is indeed a concern, since I just blew another $400 USD on a headphone amplifier. I suppose M2i + STF-1 would be the way to go, since B-stock versions would cost just under $500 USD.

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I suppose M2i + STF-1 would be the way to go, since B-stock versions would cost just under $500 USD.

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Pairing up the M2i's with a good sub is a magnificent combination. Looking at both the M22ti and the M2i frequency response graphs, everything above 80 Hz looks aproximately the same (as opposed to the tipped up midbass and treble of the M3ti).

Okay, picking up again; yes some subs have a filter on their high-level speaker output terminals which do a high pass to the mains somewhere around 100Hz. Although some Velodynes have this, it isn't mentioned in the VX-10 brochure and the owners manual apparently isn't available online(ask Josh?). The Hsu sub doesn't have the high pass; the statement on the Hsu site that it does is incorrect.

You ask about the RCA input, but unless the NX10 has a sub output you can't use it; you'd have to use the speaker-level connection. The sub is of course mono, but when you use the left and right speaker level outputs to the mains that preserves the stereo information.

I also use headphones(AKG 501s). Don't expect to ever get a headphone type of clarity from any speaker playing in a reverberent room, regardless of design or price. It's the room.

Like Craig, Ken and Peter above, I am a big advocate of the 2.1 system for music listening. I would definitely go with the M2 + Hsu STF combo if you can afford it at all. Music will sound MUCH better than on the M3 or M22 without a sub.

Okay. Thanks for all the help, then, guys - M2i + STF-1 it is. Unfortunately, I don't really have the money right now so I suppose I'll be waiting until maybe Christmas before I'll have the necessary funds to buy them. Thanks again!

Just back from Hsu store.. Saw the STF, 10 inch version.. 300 watt plate amp, with no cooling fins, so it has a cleaner look to it.. Down firing, with a big old port firing out the back, just above the flush mounted amp.. Matte black finish..
Did not listen to it ! Sorrrrrry !! I was interested in asking some more q's about the TN model, and lunch time was running out..
My concern about the exposed speaker on the top of the TN's is not a big concern with them ? They are looking into turning it upside down, but no hard cut plans, just talk..

Mikey,

I had heard that some folks have put a grill on the driver. Did Hsu mention anything about that?

-curtis