Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M22 In-Wall Speakers

A few months ago, I asked for some advice and received some very nice answers. Now I'm back with some final questions before I go ahead and order my speakers.

My home theater is roughly 10' x 15'. I will be using an SVS PB-13 Ultra subwoofer, which I already own. I will also be using Axiom Qs8 as my surrounds.

For my front speakers, however, I would like to use in-wall speakers due to space restrictions. I've heard great things about the M22 bookshelf speakers and how great they sound with a good subwoofer. I was wondering, however, how the M22 in-wall speakers compare. I am thinking of purchasing three and matching them for the L/C/R.

Somebody at Axiom told me that, in comparison with the W22, they are pretty much identical. However, someone at AVS Forum says I should be concerned about if they are identical sonically. He said the ports for the W22 are located on the bottom of the front baffles, so he's wondering where the ports are located for the M22 in-walls. Also, I would like to know if the M22 in-walls sound similar to the M22 bookshelves, or if there's a difference because of its enclosure.

I figured I'd ask here first, but if needed, I will ask Axiom directly. I know I can test them out for 30 days, but I'm certain I'll be happy with them after hearing how the M22 bookshelves sound. I just want to make sure I'm not making a huge sacrifice with the M22 in-walls.

Thank you all for your help.

-Armen

I’m not sure you’d be making a huge sacrifice but I have a hard time imagining any in wall speaker will match the performance of a similar bookshelf speaker no matter who the manufacture. The specs look mostly the same however, the in wall rolls off 10dB higher than the bookshelf. Proximity to the wall may make up for this. Also missing are any graphs of the frequency response for the in wall. I have a feeling your going to be a guinea pig unless you can wait for some reviews to come out.

Personally I would avoid an in wall speaker unless I had no other choice. Even if they can make it sonically identical to the bookshelf version once you mount it your done, unless you want to cut more holes to move them. Also no chance of using toe-in or moving them in any simple way to tweak the imaging. Just like using a horizontal center is IMO a compromise solution for fitting a speaker where you need it I believe the same about in wall speakers.

I’m not so sure the bookshelf speakers shoved right up against a wall would sound all that great either but at least with them you have the option of moving them around easily or even swapping them out to another location should you ever wish to change them out. I also imagine bookshelf speakers would have a better resale potential should you ever want to get rid of them.

If it’s in walls you must use I imagine Axiom’s will be as good relative to the competition as their other speaker but I wouldn’t expect the same performance from in wall as stand alone speakers.

Cheers,
Dean

Axiom claims the in-wall speakers are pretty close in performance to their out-wall brothers, however, the main difference would be that you can't adjust for placement and toe-in issues to find the best soundstage in YOUR room. Placement is key. For in-wall, I would test them out of the wall, maybe on step ladders or something to get an idea what they will sound like.

Thanks for the replies.

I don't think placement should be an issue because I was planning on testing them, just as sirquack mentioned.

Alright...I am that guinea pig. I installed the In-wall M22's as my fronts, M2's as my Surround and added to 150 Center. Overall impression..."eh". They are slightly hallow sounding with a true lacking in the mid range. My brother in law has the B&W's and there is a true difference in performance...don't believe that these are going to perform like some of the 1000.00 speakers (the guy that wrote that was wayyyy off). However, with the crossover on my sub turned up it balances the sound out. However on there own, the sound is not even as close as my entry level Polks. They definitely will fill your room, my room is 20x15 and 18ft ceilings and loudness not a factor.

My wife really wanted my towers gone.

Install was OK, however two of the M2's had defective clamps. Axiom took immediate care and are shipping out replacements. I give them a A+ for handling the transaction correctly.

Overall, they are great if you need a "hidden" speaker, if you want the WOW factor, look for something else. If Axiom want's to improve upon these they need to move up to a larger speaker and cabinet. Atlantic Tech did just that, but they're significantly more $$$

Sorry to here that. I must admit, hearing that an Axiom product is " lacking in the mid range". Are you sure you have all your settings are right?

20 x 15 x 18 (5400 cu ft) is pretty huge to try to fill with bookshelf speakers, in-wall or regular. Placement is key with speakers for proper soundstage in a room, one problem of in-wall speakers in my opinion, you can't experiment on various placement or toe-in.

They are most definately config'd corect. I second guessed myslef but then hooked both sets (new and old) up to a speaker switch and toggled between the two listening to various music and movies. Music was extremely noticable, movies not as pronounced.

Axiom stated that they would preform fine in this space. As for loudness not an issue. I actually built fake walls to insert the speakers into and played with placement, placement is not the issue either.

You can't just use a speaker switch and go back/forth without calibrating each speaker individually each time, not a fair test as no two speakers are designed the same.

Placement of a speaker, and rooom acoustics are the largest factor in your results, they are an issue whether you understand that science or not.

Thanks for the feedback KAPLANMT. W/o professional reviews and things like frequency graphs the only way anyone interested in these speakers can make a semi-informed decision is with this sort of info.

Just one clarification the reviewer comparing them to $1,000 speakers was referring to the M22 bookshelf not the in wall speaker which presently have no reviews linked here on the Axioms site. The way it’s written is IMO somewhat misleading.

I’ve used a pair of M22 bookshelf speakers in a room about the same volume as yours (counting the adjacent kitchen) and despite loving them still think they sound thin w/o a subwoofer, beautiful but thin.

I refer back to my previous statement. “…I have a hard time imagining any in wall speaker will match the performance of a similar bookshelf speaker no matter who the manufacture.” Now if they designed a new in-wall speaker from the ground up I have no doubt Axiom would make it most impressive but then it too would likely cost more.

Cheers,
Dean

(dons NOMEX PPE)

Just curious as to what you have your crossover settings at etc. If your sub is helping, then it isn't really the midrange but the upper bass that is lacking, which is a normal thing for some to say about the M22 in general. I would suspect a XO of about 90-120hz would be in the right range. The In wall M22 looks to have no ports so the lower range of the ported M22 is not in the realm of possibility.

Sir quack, you speak like someone that works for Axiom. I'm giving an unbiased opinion as I actually heard and listen to the speakers preform in various calibrations and listening positions. I do not consider my lab to be as good as the canadian goverments, but hey who's listening to these in that type of setting. Calibration with my test was not an issue either. I calibrated on my reciever based on source, speaker size, distance from listening area and then also ran a test with the Onkyo microphone set to auto calibration.

I didn't just switch back and forth.

After all; as stated in my original critique I kept the speakers as they performed in line with what they cost. I just advised that