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Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
twoears #258816 04/30/09 10:28 PM
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Wonderful choice! Enjoy! \:\)


Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men died to win them.
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
lhulls #258930 05/01/09 07:43 PM
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ihulls,

Reading through this thread, I came across a nasty comment of yours, to wit:

"i.e. – Alan Lofft’s opinion of the M50’s. (I never thought I’d experience an employee trivialize a product their trying to sell?)"

I have never trivialized the M50s; they are a very nicely balanced speaker, just slightly less detailed than the M60s, M80s and M22s. And that isn't "opinion". Those conclusions are a result of many days of double-blind listening tests using a wide variety of recordings of virtually every musical genre and instantaneous A/B switching. Axiom performs its listening tests exactly in the manner that the original National Research Council tests were conducted, as originally designed by Dr. Floyd Toole, whose paper "Turning Opinion Into Fact" you might benefit from reading.

Contrary to the popular belief that "we all hear differently", in fact, the majority of people with normal hearing--when auditioning speakers blind, with the price, brand and size concealed--agree on which speakers are the most natural and "musical" and which speakers are the most inaccurate and unpleasant. Given two very good speakers that are closely ranked in blind tests (no two sound absolutely identical), you may have a slight preference for one over the other, but often that choice may be largely dictated by a particular musical selection. The phrase "similarly good" applies in such cases, and, as I've stated here before, sound quality and neutral accurate musical reproduction do not correlate with loudspeaer price. I've tested very costly speakers under blind conditions that trailed by a large margin some Axiom, Paradigm and PSB models that cost a fraction of the price (including such brands as Kef, Thiel, and others).

I continue to do the listening tests to the entire product line at Axiom and suggest changes if I detect glitches or resonances. For the record, the tonal balance of the latest version of the M50s is very like that of the M3s, with deeper bass extension and output.


Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
alan #258935 05/01/09 08:04 PM
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Hey Alan, can I trade my old M50s for new ones? ;\)


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
Ken.C #258937 05/01/09 08:33 PM
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Hey Ken,

I don't see why not, although you did note that the differences in midrange/treble detail between your old M50s and the other many Axioms (M80s. .) at your place were "hairsplitting."

Of course, if we got your old M50s back, I could ask to have them put into a series of blind listening tests along with the "new" M50s and this could be settled once and for all.

Cheers,

Alan


Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
alan #258955 05/01/09 11:20 PM
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Ummm. Could I trade some 25 yr old Sansui speakers for....


Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
Adrian #258963 05/01/09 11:59 PM
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... a pb&j sandwich?


Fred

-------
Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
fredk #258969 05/02/09 12:49 AM
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Yeah, I could trade them...+a few hundred bucks!


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
twoears #258978 05/02/09 02:54 AM
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F
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 Originally Posted By: twoears
Oye, Oye, I finally cracked last week and bought new speakers!

I now have a pair of front Monitor Audio RS6 and an RS-LCR center. I added a Paradigm DSP-3100 subwoofer to the mix. And I am using my old Pierre-Etienne Leon M1 as surround until I perhaps decide to replace them with a pair of QS4/8.

I really can't say if they are any better than Axiom. I don't pretend they are, I just don't know, yet.

How did I make the decision? Shopping for speakers is fun but it can also become a torture. I toyed with many scenarios to try, order, wait, test, send back, etc to death. One night, before going to bed I asked myself, what is the point of buying speakers? Simple answer: pleasure, to make myself happy. So, what had I learned in my little exploration experience so far?
- for the pleasure of the ears: MA
- for the pleasure of the eyes: MA
- for the pleasure of having them sooner: MA
- to avoid any displeasure of shipping back and forth: MA

Had I had more patience, I would have tried a kit of M22 + VP100 + QS8, but by then I was tired and impatient. The following day, I was connecting the wires to the new babies.

So far, I like them. They are even supposed to get better after break-in (I know some people do not believe in break-in; I don't know, the salesman said that when they receive new speakers they do not sound the ones that have been broken-in. Perhaps.)

Again, my choice is not the outcome of comparing Axiom and MA. I just picked from what was my best experience so far to put an end to the quest.

So, Family Man, as promised, I could pack the RS6s for trip to meet your M80s. And Luc, you are welcome to join in. The more ears the better.

Thanks to all who helped prolong the agony ;-) and helped to learn a few things in the process.



it would be a pleasure. you are more that welcome to come over again Denis. I have told Luc that i would see his setup as well. I will call him and we could get together here or at Luc's place. i really want to here the MA's


M80-QS8-VP150-EP600-A1400-8
STR-DA5300ES BDPS5000ES.

Mark
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
fredk #258999 05/02/09 12:39 PM
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 Originally Posted By: fredk
... a pb&j sandwich?
Throw in fries and a coke, and give me a call Fred! \:\)


Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
Re: Listening to M50 or similar in Montreal
Adrian #259000 05/02/09 12:42 PM
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With a PB&J? You Canadians ARE weird! \:\)


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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