Howdy folks,

I am hoping to get as many replies as possible to this post in order to help me make my decision. So, if all you are able or willing to contribute is a model number, then I'd greatly appreciate that at the very least.

I am a musician myself, and while I spend alot of cash on performance gear, I won't spend a lot of money on stereo equipment. No recorded guitar will ever compare to live Marshall stacks!

Anyway, I need to buy a new pair of speakers and think I'd like a pair of Axiom bookshelves. However, all my system will consist of is the bookshelves. I'm not interested in home theatres or sub woofers, etc.

So, which of the above models best stands on its own as as a set of music-oriented speakers. ie, bass response, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

Stuart, in my opinion the M22 would be the better overall choice, primarily because of a more accurate mid-range. You can look at the NRC measurements of frequency response and other parameters in the SoundStage reviews of these speakers which can be found at ecoustics.com.

Neither of them has outstanding bass if used without a sub, and the M3 might even sound more "full" because of its elevated upper bass. Nevertheless, bass should be adequate for nearly all music(my in-room bass response with the M22s, measured with a test-tone CD, is usable down to 40hz).

This article does a good job at comparing the two.
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/axiom_millenniam22tise.htm

Hi Stuart,

There are laws of physics in speaker design that cannot be contradicted: the smaller the enclosure and the smaller the diameter of the woofer(s), the less bass output and bass extension will be.

If you accept those compromises, then you can use bookshelf compact speakers without a subwoofer. But you'll be giving up the "foundation" of most music.

Regards,