Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Beginnings of a home theater....

I'm planning to slowly build a home theater system over the next year or so and am trying to decide which mains to get. It may be six months to a year before I add a sub (and maybe more time after that for center and rears) so I'd like a pair of main speakers that, by themselves, will sound pretty good when listening to a variety of music and movies and will only sound better when I start to add more speakers to the system.

My budget has narrowed my choices down to the M3ti, M22ti or M40ti. Can anyone recommend one of these three that will be a good foundation for a home theater system but will still sound pretty good on their own in the meantime?

If it makea difference: the room they'll be in isn't that big, only about 300 sq feet (15x18x9)and the speakers will be hooked up to a Yamaha HTR 5640.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Hi swalto

I'd go with the M3s. I haven't heard the M40s but a reviewer noted that the M3s have more midrange energy than the M40s, while the M40s go lower. The M3s go low enough as stand alone speakers, but they really shine in the midrange. The M22s are more detailed than the M3s but I don't think they're as good a choice without a subwoofer. Although many here prefer the M22s (and most reviewers do as well) my personal preference between these two is the M3.

Good luck with your evolving HT system!

I have the M22's and found if I cranked up the bass on my receiver they sounded pretty good. You could also buy the M3's now and then when ready move them back as surrounds and purchase M22's and sub or some M60's as the M60's appear to be the choice without a sub.

Save a bit more and get the M60s because a) your room can handle them, b) with M60s you will be able to get by fine without a sub for music (some of us, myself included, even prefer it this way) and you will even be okay without a sub for HT until you can afford one, c) you won't suffer "what if" feelings that lead to repurchasing (and higher spending in the end), d) your upgrade options will be nice, with potential for M2is as rears and/or center if you don't want to get QS8s or VP-100/150s in future.

If you can't pull the plug on M60s, then I'd go with either

• M22s viewing them as your long-term solution, and a great one at that (this is a close second to M60s), OR


• M2is with the idea you'll move them to the rears after you save for M22s or M60s as mains -- virtue here is you will be closer to purchasing a nice sub, if that's what you want next, though personally I'd get fuller-range mains before going sub-sat.

The M3is would seem to make sense if you think you might one day want 5 M3is, as mains/center/rears -- not a bad option. But short of this, the other configs would seem to give you better upgrade options on a budget, since the M22s/M2s/M60s all blend together.

Birdman

Selecting from your list (since you have already narrowed down your choices to 3), and you will be adding a sub sometime in the future, i would go with the M22s.
The M60s are overkill for a room that size and the M22s are nearly identical in overall sound, kind of like the little version of the M60 (but they really are not as small as many think).
When coupled with a good subwoofer in the future, they will really shine.
If you are leaning towards towers, then the M40s is also a good choice. They are often described as a bit more laid back in the upper frequencies compared to the M22/M60/M80 models. But there is just something about having a tower speaker that adds to the largeness of the sound that i find appealing.