M60 exchanged for M80 - Axiom Message Boards

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Hello,

I have a NAD 372, 150 watts per channel, and a NAD C542 CD
player. Listening preferences mostly acoustic jazz, and the
mellower side of adult pop, Bob Dillan, Amos Lee, Madelyn
Peyroux, Nora Jones, etc. Ten days ago I received the M60s
and was not as wowed as anticipated. The great folks at
Axiom lived up to their deserved custumer service rep. and
sent out a set of M80s with a return ship label. I was
only charged the difference. Doesn't get much better than
that. Well, as of a couple nights ago I have been getting
wowed by the 60s. Takes a little while to adapt to even a
better sound. Just checked Fed Ex tracking and the 80s
arrive today. My expectations are lower lows and improved
dynamic pressence at lower volumes. I'll report back.

photonblur , Welcome, I also went from the M60's to the M80's, The 80's will play much louder and Imo have a touch of something more that I can't really explain, looking forward to your comparison and thoughts.

When I first received my M60's, I also wasn't initially wowed. Before that, I owed a pair of consumer line Infinity's which were quite bright. When I listened to the M60's (who some say are bright) for the first time, I actually thought I was losing detail. But it didn't take long to realize that I was actually experiencing *more* detail with the M60's, but with much less harshness. Even with my untrained ear, I appreciated the M60's more and more because I started listening and enjoying music like never before. Let's see...three years later and I'm *still* pleased with their performance. However, I must admit that I'm curious about the M80's! Please give us your comparison when your M80's arrive!

Don't mean to hijack but earlier in the week I dragged the 60's into our TV room and set 'em up as dual center channels on either side of the TV (didn't work due to cancelling and off axis dialog) and didn't even think about giving them a good workout and see just how they do compare up against the 80s ... I have the next two weeks off of work so there *should* be time to play around with them. I'll share my thoughts in a couple days *after* the garage gets a thorough cleaning (just one of many items on the honey-do list).

Where'd you put your EP600? with all those speakers up there taking up room?

Man that looks like a killer setup!

I think he has it mid left wall, just out of the pic with a trace of it visible.

Robb, Dave is correct ... the 600 is left mid-sidewall and barely visible in the picture. Both the 60s and the 80s are great speakers sonically, although I tend to believe the 80s have a little more something (depth?) that the 60s are lacking even at reduced volumes. Probably biased induced belief though, who knows.

The 80s will certainly be the mainstay of our system though, that's for certain.

Bob Dylan would be said that you don't know to spell his name, are you sure your a fan?

Anyway, I've never heard m80's, but I would never describe the m60's as lacking, they are great speakers. Properly setup and the bass is killer, mids/highs are crisp and clear. Some of the auditions I've performed have been by people that ask me to turn off the sub. They keep asking me if I've turned off the sub over and over again, that is how good they are. Just my opinion.

Randy what is the crossover on your M60 set at again?

My Denon only allows for ONE setting for all speakers, so currently I have all speakers set to small, with a crossover of 80hz. Keep in mind that even with a crossover of 80hz, the bass does not just STOP at 80hz, there is actualy a slope or blend/transfer to the sub. Even bass down to 80hz is powerful and the 80's or 60's handle it great. The sub does a better job handling those lower freq's because the larger driver can move more air in the room.

Randy, Bob Dylan also wrote and sang a song (for a while) about a man whom he believed was wronged by the judicial system of our country ... Bob Dylan writes to sell, that's where his livelihood comes from.

I never said the 60s were not great speakers, I did say I thought the 80s had a *something* the 60s were lacking.

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I would never describe the m60's as lacking

That's because you never heard the M80s

Rick, you may have misunderstood me. I actualy didn't even realized you used the word "lacking" in your previous post. I wasn't addressing you, but everyone in general, as it seemed everyone was hinting that the m60's were the little brother of the m80's, which they are, I just wanted to let the poster know that the m60's are very good speakers that most would be totally satisfied to own.

In regards, to Bob Dylan, I'm a huge fan and have been to 3 of his concerts, and own most of his CD's. Again, I was commenting to the poster as he said he liked Bob Dillan, and I just made a joke about he must not be a big fan based on the spelling.

Sorry for the confusion, I look up to you for all the advice you've given me in the past. Ok, the other Rick is pretty good also.

Maybe someday I'll get an audition.

Maybe someday I'll get an audition

And I would certainly hope that you know our house has the welcome mat in place for you anytime you care to visit Randy.

Thanks Rick, I appreciate that, some day I hope to bring the kids down to Florida for a vacation.

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I hope to bring the kids down to Florida for a vacation.

Make sure they bring their swim trunks because Jan won't let them leave without taking a dip in the pool. Then there's that beautiful beach just down the road.....

.....I'm feeling mighty jealous right now. Damn you Rick.

Last night I carefully repacked the 60s and set up the 80s,
and played my favorite Bob Dilllionn cds, amongst others.
I'm dealing with "the wife factor". Placement options in my
living room are limited to one; speakers on each side of a
fire place on spanish tiles that extend 18 to 20 inches from
back wall to carpet. The 80s bass was way distorted
probably due to the sonic bounce from the 3 inch away back
brick wall. The 80s are not as placement friendly as the
60s. This info is of course pertinent only to my situation.
Given the right environment the 80s would be great. Tonight
I unpack the 60s, hook them up to my amps B speakers, and
do a side by side comparison. You know, I always loved the
60s, and I'm old enough to not remember.

I had the same problem when I first hooked up my 80's, they needed more distance from the rear wall than my 60's did. Once I got them at the correct distance, about 9 inches from the rear wall in my case, they sounded great.

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Tonight
I unpack the 60s, hook them up to my amps B speakers, and
do a side by side comparison. You know, I always loved the
60s, and I'm old enough to not remember.

Actually, I'm sure Ian and Alan told me that our sonic memory is incredibly short, so age has nothing to do with whether or not you remember the M60s.

I remember the M60s fine. It's the 1960s that are at best
a bit purple hazy.

LOL!

For me, it's the 1970s which are just one big smoky haze.

Reminds me of an interview Joe Walsh was doing with a DJ a while back regarding doing a whole tour way back when with some other group (Black Sabbath maybe?) and the drugs in use ... anyway he goes on to say that although he didn't remember much of anything that year he was quite positive he did the tour because of the posters and t-shirts.

LOL! Joe and I went to Kent State around the same time (though our paths never crossed). Think that has anything to do with our other similar experiences?

The 9 inch solution. After extensive negotiations received
wife permission to place front of M80s on carpet, back
still on tiles. Per HomeDad's advice the extra back wall
clearance solved the bass distortion.

Final verdict: Tomorow the 60s will be returned. The 80s
are fantastic. High end exquisitely detailed. Bass
desires satisfied. Some of the best aural of my life.

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The 80s are fantastic.

Same way I felt when I traded up.

Quote:

High end exquisitely detailed. Bass
desires satisfied.

Excellent description. Glad everything worked out.