Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo M22 Reprise and Apology

So, I have had 2 pairs of M22s and never liked them. I tried to drive the first with a high current low watt (5wpc) tube amp. Sounded thin and flat. My Michaura M55s (similar driver array - 2 Axiom 5.25" aluminum drivers and an Axiom 0.75" titanium tweeter) and Axiom M3s delivered stunningly beautiful music from this fire-bottle amp.

Same with my 5 (they say 8) wpc T-Amp and Muse T-Amp. M22s sounded flat, M3V2. n sounded terrific.

I always qualified my negative comments concerning the M22s with the surmise that maybe a higher power amp would help them open up.

On the other hand, I know from my amps with meters that I rarely demand more than 3 watts to play music at normal listening levels.

Well, I finally hooked a pair of M22V2s to the mighty Harman Kardon dual mono PM 665 2 chanel solid state amplifier.

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Holy Samolies. They sound great. So for all of you who scratched your heads after my previous posts damning the M22 with less than faint praise, here ya go.

Why the M22s sound wonderful with this powerful amp, I do not understand.

Maybe the M22s are not as efficient as the M3s?

glad your enjoying the m22's..

Finally!

I'm glad you found the right place, time, and equipment to bring out the same joy that my M22s have been bringing me for years. Sometimes you just have to be ready to hear the truth.

Nooo! That's not true! That's impossible!

If you think the M22s sound good with lots of power you should try their big brothers the M80s.

Did you try your M3s on this amp?

I heard a BIG difference between a cheap Sony Avr and a Pioneer Elite Avr.

fixed.

No, ClubNeon, M3V2.x system is gone. I wish I had tried them with the Harman Honker.

Nice to hear you are liking your 22s. Have you listen to the M80s? If not you owe to yourself to give them a listen. With a big a$$ amp of course.

I have listening my M3 with a integrated Naim Nait 5i with cd player the CD5i and now i listening them with a a/v reciever Marantz SR5003 and in a blind test i could probably cheat anybody telling them i have 2 set of speaker so ...

I have not had the pleasure of listening to some M80s. M60s, M50s, yes.

Philippe, Naim is wonderful. I am also partial to Marantz.

The M22's probably need a more robust amp due to their near 2ohm dip in the FR.

Audio equipment used to look like audio equipment.

Sony CA9ES CDP, Harman Kardon PM665 integrated amplifier.

Looks good.

I agree, nice stuff, wish I still had some of my old equipment from the 70's-80's.

Who would have known, but I really like the "all white" finish on those M22's.

They are the egg shell white. I have a matching VP150. They've grown on me. I picked up the M22s and VP150 used for $400. Now that the M22s are singing I consider it a very good deal.

Since audio is a hobby (obsession?) I look for vintage flagship electronics and try to never pay more than $100 for them. So, the Sony CA9ES (MSRP $700) set me back $50 or $100. It's been a while. the Harman Kardon PM665 MSRP $700 cost me $125. (I over paid by $50, but wanted it).

They do look fine.

I auditioned this system for a good friend of mine with Bail Dua by Jala Jala, a beatifully recorded tour de force of Balinese choral, percussion, wood chime and bell music.

He's buying a new home and wants an Axiom home theater room and an Axiom 2 channel room.

I feel like I've done him a favor.

So, again, these speakers are anything but thin, flat and lifeless. Rather the contary. They are vibrant, full, rich and terrific.

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Is that an M3 hiding in the corner being all cool and stuff...wating for the guest to arrive?

Yezzuh, that's a drop dead gorgeous M3V2.x in the background driven by a 8 wpc Muse T-Amp.



This little T-Amp makes the Axiom M3V2.x sing. It is not sufficiently powerful to get the M22s do more than whimper, flat, thin and lifeless.

The vintage flagship, dual mono Harman Kardon PM 665 is a great match for the M22V2s. They now sound pure, sweet and huge (of course helped by a Velodyine subwoofer.)

I'll be going to Axiom's 30th in one week, itching big time to test all their gear. I'll be quite interested in demo'ng the M22's with various amps. My current plan to drive my M3ti's is with my vintage Pioneer SX-850. Just need to dedicate some time for set up etc.

http://hifigoteborg.se/Photo%20arkiv%20receivers1/Pioneer_SX850_1024_detail.htm

Hello R DeVries
The Pioneer SX 850 is beautiful, but I think you may find it is unsatisfying as an audio component. Here is a picture of mine. I demoted it from garage service to closet place holder.

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And he can do one for you if he drops your name with his order...Axiom bucks for Audition, 5% of what he spends and keeps after 30 days.

The Pioneer looks in great shape. Good for another 30 years. Mine is in my sons room pushing a pair of Sansui SP-5500X (not part of HT yet). These Pioneers were really nice to look at, well built and rather stunning.

I've always enjoyed the look of some of those monster receivers from the 70s heyday... but I have an emotional connection to that period of my life.

I wonder if those damned young punks like the looks of those receivers, or do they just see them as "old"?

Yeah, they just look old to me. But I don't even like the look of beige computers.

Though I do have a connection to the mid-to-late '70s. That's when I was being born.

Well, I agree regarding the beige computers!

Is that your stash in the baggie on the table?

Ooops.

I used to smoke pipes (Dunill 965) and cigars. I gave them up.

Uh huh! Sure. Got it.

I keep my stash in a "Dunhill" pouch, too!

Fellas! Just say "No."