Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Torn Between Trying M60 & M80

This might not be advisable. One of the most important elements of speaker evaluation is imaging and you need both to be able to fully appreciate soundstage. The different in cost would NOT be significant enough for the risks of making a decision you might regret.

Yeah, I think having two of the same speakers is important.

I have mentioned this a couple of times on other threads but last spring I traded in a pair of M60s for M80s inasmuch as I had my heart set on a pair of M80s in the Piano Gloss color and I essentially got a trade-in value that was almost what I paid for the M60s a year and a half earlier so it was hard to pass up. Luckily, it wasn't a moment too soon since, as we all know, unfortunately, the trade-in/trade-up program is a now thing of the past.

In the end, even though I couldn't do a direct A/B comparison, to my ears anyway, I was surprised how similar the two models sounded to one another. If you can afford the M80s and you are interested in the little extra bass extension, you might as well buy them at the outset. As far as the single/ dual tweeter comparison, in an acoustically dead room, any differences in that area, to me, have been inconsequential.

Well, thank you all for your help...now I've gone and done it!

I just bought a pair of black M60v3's from the factory outlet/auction page for the minimum...$889.00. No other bidders and I wasn't spiked! (if that's even possible there)

They still have the full 5 year warranty and the 30 day return policy.

The M60's were what I was leaning towards from the start but got "off track" with all the glowing reports on the M80's.

These are essentially the same as my M2's with woofers and a larger cabinet so I am hoping they sound similar in the mids and highs.

My 3808 has Audyssey XT so I am hoping that will flatten out the 2dB broad mid dip and the broad bass peak that I see in the NRC graph.

--Mark--

Congratulations! I am sure you'll be very happy with them! Let us know your impressions once you set them up.

Thanks Bruno, I will.

I also have an older VP100 center on the way that should be here today.

I'll be seeing how it compares to my old Phase Technology PC Center that I'm not real happy with off to the sides.

Anything I should know about older model VP100's?

--M--

Is the VP100 to be used with the M60s? Personally I had the VP150 and I didn't like the way it blended with the M80s, that's why I switched to the VP180. Others with a VP100 may be of more help.

The VP100 has been used succssfully with M60s and M80s (Tom and me). It might not be as spectacular as the 150 or the 180, but it does the job.

Good for you, MarkyM!

+1 to what Ken said. I like the VP100 with my M60's.

So, to recap, I basically tried to talk somebody into M80's and it didn't work. This is a forum first on both counts, I think.

Hope you will enjoy your speakers - I still really enjoy mine every day.

Thanks Guys,

The VP100 showed up just before I had to leave for work so I'll try it in my current system tonight. If it sounds decent and has better horizontal dispersion than my current center it'll be a keeper.

No, it didn't work so far :-) I'll see how I like the M60's and go from there. At that price, I couldn't pass up the chance to try them first.

--M--