Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Axiom and Rotel. How well do they mix?

All my audio gear is Rotel (RSP1066 preamp, RMB1095 & RB1050 amps). The Rotel gear is what I consider warm. Most people consider Rotel and B&W a good match. Now I've demoed my 1066 pre amp and 1095 amp with B&W 604S3 speakers and the sound was in my opinion muffled/warm and not very detailed. I also demoed my gear with Paradigm Studio 100 speakers and things sounded really nice and detailed(just a bit forward but that's what I like).

How do the Axiom m80s sound in comparison to the B&W 604S3 and Paradigm 100? Are they brighter or warmer? Can anyone say how m80s sound compared to these two speakers above?

Thanks
Legairre

I have heard that same gear with the M60's.....sounded great to me.

Well I have never had the Rotel amp you have but I did have the RB-1090 for a bit. At the time it was running a set of Studio 100's V2. I have also had the M80's and I don't think they sound anything at all alike. Actually not even close. If you like more of an in your face sound, you will love the M80's. If your a bass fan you will lose a little with the 80's vs the 100's. The 100's are a little warmer and rumble a bit lower then the 80's. Both great speakers but from what you say you like to hear, you will be all over the 80's.

Can't really help you on the B&W's. I have had a set of 602's and I didn't like them at all. Way to middy and just flat.

I have a set of M80's running off a Rotel RB1080 and RC1070.The 80's are a great match for the Rotel gear in my OPINION.I like the more foward sound of the 80's it's like a front row seat.I have never heard the B&W speakers you ask about so as far as a comparison I really can't make one.All I know is what I have matched up with the M80's sound really good to me.

Leggaire,

the M80's sound much like like the paradigm reference studio 100's.

to get similar sound with B&W you have to pony up about $5000 and buy the 703's.

The least expensive amongst the three is definitely Axiom, and their customer service is the best, and they sound very closely to one another. I can't really tell you how they differ because I never heard them side by side, but they do have, if it were possible to quantify, the same quality level of sound.

I have the M60's with the Rotel 1066 and 1075 amp. LOVE it. B&W 600 series speakers sound exactly like you described...muffled and flat. The 700 series towers sound VERY much like the M60s - but cost 3x as much. If you like that detailed sound, Axiom and Rotel are a superb match. Visit your local B&W dealer and listen to the 700 series tower (I can't remember exactly what the model number is). That's as close to the M60 sound as I've heard.

Man you guys over here at the Axiom forum are the best. I've been in HT about 6 yrs and I belong to forums all over the net and none of them have ever been as cool as you guys.

When I went to listen to the speakers it was last summer. I didn't buy anything, because at the time I was still in the process of building the theater and two other rooms in the basement, so it was a good time to shop, but not a good time to buy. Now I'm glad I waited. I didn't listen to any speakers like the B&W 703 (I think the CDM line was still out then or they were closing them out) it, because I have a rule when shopping for equipment "never listen to anything out of my price range or I'll spend more than I plan". I usually set a budget and buy the best equipment I can find in that price range. Well I guess I'm off to my B&W dealer to hear the 703, so I can compare it to the m80. From the post here the 703 is a pretty different sounding speaker than the 600 series. In my opinion the 604S3 just wasn't worth $1400. I might be demoing the m80 at a forum members house tomorrow, so I'm off to listen to the 703 today and the m80 for comparison tomorrow.

Glad we could help. I too find this forum to be filled with a bunch of really great guys. Even if I didn't have Axioms, I'd stick around. There are a few here that indeed don't have any Axiom products.

Ya the 600 series is not impressive. Their bookshelf models give a lot of bass, but it's boomy.

I'm glad I don't own any.

One of my friends' dad told me bought some B&W speakers many years ago and they sounded better back then (compared to the competition at the same price range) than they do now. He no longer buys B&W, he has Tannoy (which are very good, IMHO)

703's are nice, but $5000!

That must be in $CAN...

They can be had for about $2500-3000 a pair USD. That's still 3x what the M60's cost though.