I am considering identical wall mounted fronts for a 16'X 22' room with 12' vaulted ceilings. This will be paired with a Hsu STF-2 crossed at 80. Not really looking to hit reference levels, just after good sound that will fill the room. I was thinking the Q8's would be good to cover the back half, but was uncertain about the front. I was thinking either 3 M3ti's across the front or the M2i's. I think that the M2i's would sound more clean and clear than the 3's, but the 3's may do better with filling that large room. What, if any, would be the perceived difference between these two front set-ups wuth the Hsu crossed at 80?

what is your budget? There is always the M22's or even the Architectural on-wall series?

Budget is closer to the M3ti/M2i range.

M3s across the front will give you a good bass with 50hz for the center when not using the sub. A lot of tv may sound better with a center with the depth of the 6.5 driver.

Keep in mind the Factory Outlet would save you 10%, plus if you guy 5 or more speakers, you get another 5%. This may move you into another bracket..

Dermott, welcome. The M2s should work very well when crossed over at 80Hz with a STF-2. If the sub wasn't used, then certainly the M3s across the front would be a better choice, but there's no good reason not to use the sub in all circumstances. Keep in mind that the room doesn't necessarily have to be "filled"; the requirement is simply to have an adequate sound level at your listening position.

Since I have not heard either of these speakers, I was going by what people say in general about the 5.25" based driver set vs the 6.5" driver models. Another speaker of interest for a matched trio across the front is the Ascend 170's. I have always liked the sound of soft domes compared to metal tweeters, but it sounds like the M3ti's may have a more laid back sound, like how the Ascends are described. Ascends are a little fugly, which is why I wanted to learn more about the Axioms. Would the M3ti's be more "forgiving"? I am just a little hesitant about the uber clarity of the M2i's in comparison to the 6.5" driver line.

Axiom speakers are neutral. Good source material sounds good, the bad is not improved. If you don't like the sound of your material, then you can use your receiver to adjust the tonal qualities to your liking.

This is worth a read about sound and accuracy.

The Axioms are $300 a pair, freight included. $270 from the factory outlet with little wait time. Four finishes are standard. Custom finishes, $95 a pair.

Check here to see if anyone near you has speakers that you can audition.

Good luck!

As bugbitten stated; Axioms are neutral sounding.(with the M3s as the neutralist-is that a word?)

The M3s are often describes as "laid-back" True. But only in relation to the rest of the Axiom line-up!

From going over nearly two dozen "professional" reviews where numerous other speaker brands are refered to in comparrison, it comes out that the M3s are just slightly to the foreward side of dead neutral.

The M3s don't have the clarity and accuracy of the M2s or M22s that most Axiom fans are looking for, and while the M3s only account for about one tenth the sales of the other Axiom bookshelves, they do have a "comfortable" place in the audio universe.

As far as forgiving? Oh Yeah! Never heard a rude sound in all these years!

I am currently using an M3 as center channel with M50s as mains, but prior to moving into this house, we were using three M3s across the front in a 13x28 room and they were fabulous!! The pans and scans were flawless, and although the imaging isn't exactly holographic, in a good room it's quite detailed with instruments well to the outside of the speakers.

I had looked very closely at the Ascends back a few years ago and found their lack of attractiveness the major pitfall, although I did like the specs and reviews. But, and like yourself, I felt the Axioms were worth a look.

I suspect they don't sound exactly like the Ascends, and really don't know if they're more foreward or laid back or cooler or warmer since I've not heard the Ascends, but I've never regretted my Axiom purchases either.

Would I recommend a person buy the M3s?

Nope!

Would I suggest they take a listen?

You Bet!!

I guess what I am asking is which will produce more of a noticeable difference, the clarity of the M2i's or the fullness of the M3ti's using a corssover of 80?

I was wondering this as well. I enjoy clear detailed sound, but I plan to run either three M2i's or M3ti's across the front. How much clarity do the M3's sacrafice to provide their 'fuller sound'?

There is not a huge difference between M2 and M3 sound, although for a room that size I would definitely lean towards M3s unless your listening position is quite close to the speakers.

I was able to borrow a pair of M3s for direct comparison with M2s and M60s in a 13x18 room. Here are my notes :

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ST&Number=86248&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1

Sounds like the gist of that thread is that the M3ti is the way to go for a stand alone speaker. Here are some of your words from the past though

Note -- if matched with a good sub I would still prefer M2s to M3s. Just had to say that.

Edited by bridgman (03/22/05 11:07 AM)

Average listening distance will be about 13'-15', so not really near field. Does the STF-2 qualify as a good sub in your book?

STF-2 is definitely a good sub.

In terms of pure frequency response I would still take M2 over M3, although the difference is pretty small. On the other hand, although I haven't actually tried it I'm pretty sure that M3s would do a better job of filling what is a relatively large room when paired with the same sub, so...

Cool! My gut was leaning toward the M3ti's initially. I think it would be better to sacrifice a little bit of clarity if it would make up for it in "fullness". I just don't like hearing the front soundstage on smaller satellite setups that sound weak or thin. The front soundstage should be a robust wall of sound that blends with the sub and meets it half way. Cheap systems always have annoying "trebly" center and fronts and a big bloaty sub throwing out fat bass on the bottom. Two serarate pieces, not a cohesive single presentation. It sounds like the M3ti's would come to a nice meeting point with the STF-2 and sound a little more seemsless than the M2i's might.