I have had a pair of ax1.5s for a few years and 90% of the time play classical, jazz and easy listening through them. I've loved the sound despite the limitations of bass response without a sub.
I stumbled across a problem though. It could be either a fault in the speakers, or a limitation of playing a certain type of music through a speaker not designed for it. I did mention the type of music I normally play, but I'm a bit of an enigma and every once in a while like to put on a little driving rock. Here's where I noticed the problem. When playing the Red Hot Chili Peppers' CD, Californication, the speaker released a horrible vibration on many of the songs. A predominant characteristic of RHCP music is a rumbling bass line (their bass player is quite a renowned bass player). The vibration is loud and sounds like the speaker is blown, though I put on just about any other CD and it sounds great - even CDs with a strong bass demand. If you by some chance have access to this CD, it is most evident on track 4, "Otherside."
I don't really ever raise the volume high enough to blow the speakers and I've never once clipped them, so I can't see how I could have damaged the speaker. In fact you don't really have to have the volume that high to hear this problem.
Would this indicate that I have done some damage to my speakers, or is it just showing the limitation of a speaker that does lack bass response? As I mentioned, this is about the only CD I have noticed this problem with. Are there certain frequencies that certain speakers just do not have the ability to handle?
I'd be curious to hear how this CD plays on anyone else's Axioms, particularly if you have a bookshelf speaker like the AX1.5.
I'm a bit concerned needless to say, but suspect that given this is the only CD that causes this problem, then it's maybe just the speakers natural limitations. I hope so - please tell me this is possible.
JosephS
