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Thoughtful advice needed
#397353 09/26/13 12:27 AM
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I'm strongly considering some Axiom speakers and would like to solicit some thoughtful opinions on which model to choose.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

My current listening room is 15 x 25 feet and is well damped with absorber panels
The speakers will be firing across the 15 foot distance
I do not listen at loud levels
I have amplifiers suitable for 4-ohm loads
I am more interested in soundstaging and delicacy than in high volume
I am interested in MUSIC, not in movie sound

I'm considering the M60 and M80 models. I have heard some V.3 M80s at a friend's house and liked them well. His room is smaller than mine, though, and because of that the individual locations of his drivers were discreet rather than blending together. It is probable that in the next few years, I'll be moving to a smaller house with rooms closer to the size of my friend's than my current room. I want a speaker that will work in both large and small rooms.

If anyone has had experience with BOTH the M60 and M80 models, I'd be extremely interested in which you might recommend to me and, perhaps more importantly, why. Before answering, please reread my "background information" section.

I've had good luck with bi-amplifying my current speakers (Definitive Technology SM65 monitors) and would also be interested in hearing from anyone who has bi-amplified their M60/80 speakers. What changes did you hear?

Finally, is Axiom responsive to "special orders?" I might prefer my speakers to have a real wood veneer but in a high gloss (rather than semi-gloss) finish. Can Axiom accommodate special orders?

This is my first post on the Axiom boards, so please forgive any stupid questions. Thanks - Boomzilla


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Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397355 09/26/13 12:47 AM
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Welcome.

Axiom is very responsive to special orders. I think it is one of the things that really sets them apart.

I have M60's and have heard M80's on several occasions.

To my ear, the M80's are "better" and the only reasons not to get them would be price and form factor. They are a couple inches deeper, and while that may not sound like much, some board members over the years have had trouble positioning them.

OTOH, you could also seriously consider getting M22's and a good subwoofer. This solution would provide you with the placement flexibility and imaging you're looking for without all the cabinetry.

Good luck and have fun.


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Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397356 09/26/13 12:50 AM
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I can speak to your last question best: Yes, Axiom is accommodating to special orders. Just call them up; don't try to do it through the website. It will probably cost more to get a high gloss finish; from what I know, that takes a TON of extra coats and they do all of that by hand.

I own M80s and have heard M60s, but not anywhere near the same time. I think you would be happy with either one. The M80s are admittedly more aimed towards high volume. The rooms my M80s have been in are all fairly large; 18x19 or thereabouts. I think my current room is bigger, but I haven't measured recently.


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Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397357 09/26/13 01:28 AM
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I haven't measured my room recently either. Maybe it's not square anymore? grin

Welcome Boom! I haven't heard M60s and M80s side by side, but for what you're describing, I kind of like Tom's M22 and Sub idea.


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397358 09/26/13 02:06 AM
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Boom, welcome. Since you'll be listening across the 15' room dimension, depending on where the seating will be(which you didn't describe), your distance from the drivers would be about 10'. Several of our members have described listening to their M80s at 9-10' distances, and no "blending" issue was apparent. At what distance were you and your friend listening when a problem of that sort was experienced?

Unless that distance is perhaps on the order of 6-7' I wouldn't anticipate a problem. Nevertheless, for high quality music listening in your situation I'd suggest that you consider the M22s plus a good sub(I use the EP500). My own listening is about 99% classical music and isn't at levels which endanger hearing. The M22s have more than sufficient volume capability for the distances you seem to be considering, together with superb music reproduction, and in my view a multi-driver tower speaker with still higher loudness capacity is unnecessary.


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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397360 09/26/13 02:10 AM
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Hi Axiomites!

My friend's listening distance is closer to 7 feet; mine closer to 10 or 11.

So the M22s are that good? I'd like to avoid a sub and stands, but if I can't then I can't. I'd save a LOT of $$ by going M22s...


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Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397362 09/26/13 10:35 AM
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Well, there's certainly no reason why M60s or M80s wouldn't work just as well if you prefer a tower form. We usually recommend the minimum to save you some money!

As to myself, I "heard" that you'll be sitting relatively close, not cranking them up, and not interested in HT/Surround modes. If I didn't have a preference for a tower or a bookshelf form factor, I think I'd be looking at the M22s/sub.

But if you like towers....there's nothing wrong with that! smile


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397363 09/26/13 01:42 PM
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I have recent experience. I brought my 80's to a friend's house who owns 60's for a comparison.

"I am interested in MUSIC, not in movie sound"

Get the 80's. Why fiddle around integrating sub when the 80's go deep so well. The 80's are better than the 60's. The 60's are still excellent speakers and are not disappointing at all.

I sit pretty close to my 80's. About 7 feet. They are perfectly relaxed at low and medium volumes.

The 80's look majestic in a room. The M22's look strange. If you do go for a bookshelf / sub combination then I would say to get the M2s.

I think the M80 is a steal for the money. They are awesome. They just do everything. Ian is a genius.


Last edited by Lampshade; 09/26/13 01:46 PM.

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Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Lampshade #397365 09/26/13 02:09 PM
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I agree with Chris, although I have the M80s and the LFR1100s but the M80s really do sound fantastic on direct stereo.

Re: Thoughtful advice needed
Boomzilla #397367 09/26/13 03:10 PM
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I also have M80s and LFR1100's. My LFR's are very custom with a high gloss wood veneer in an exotic wood. Axiom was indeed very accommodating although the cost of the custom finish added significantly to the total price for the speakers. On the other hand, I don't imagine that the sound quality is any different than the stock finishes.

For music listening, do you mean stereo or multi-channel? And what kind of music do you prefer?

Have you considered the LFR's or M100s? My LFR's are amazing for music, even jazz at relatively low levels.

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