Hello,

I'm trying to piece together my 60%HT/40%Music system. I'm trying to decide between M22s or FO-M50s as my fronts. Either way I will be using a sub, Hsu or SVS, to cover the bass. I was convinced that the M22 would be the way to go, when I realized that I could get the FO-M50s for about the same price when you factor in stands. Also, will the placement of the m50s be more critical that the m22 if both are crossed over at 80hz?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,



Chris

Hello Chris,
In a very general way, floorstanding speakers are somewhat more critical in terms of placement than compact models on stands because of the greater bass output and larger front-panel area of a floorstander and its extension to the nearest boundary (the floor). But so long as you don't put one or the other in a corner (possibly the worst location for a floorstanding speaker--or any speaker, for that matter), the M50s should be reasonably accommodating to placement.

The fact that an M50 would be crossed over at 80 Hz doesn't really change the equation all that much, because upper bass, above the range of the subwoofer, can still interact with room boundaries and change the timbral balance of a speaker. I can't comment yet on the M50s vs. the M22ti's-perhaps someone who owns the M50s will post a reply--but the M22ti's are exceptionally open and articulate in the midrange and highs, with especially smooth string sound.
Regards,

I have a pair of M3s for my music system. (modest - Technics SADX 940, Cambridge Audio D500SE CD, Maple Audio Ambience interconnects, M3 speakers, Velodyne CT80 sub.)

The M3s are incredible speakers. The M3s have 6 1/2" woofers (+ 1" tweeter). M22s have a pair of 5 1/4" woofers (+1" tweeter.) The M50s have a pair of 6 1/2" woofers and again a 1" tweeter. Because the M3s just knocked my socks off, I'm going with a pair of M50s for my home theater/music system because they both use the 6 1/2" woofers. I'm hoping the M50s play like super M3s.

(HT system - Onkyo 797 receiver, Panasonic RP56 DVD, waiting for M50s up front, Merak MC6H center, Merak MT66 sides, Mission 77ds rears, Velodyne CT100 sub.)

BTW, I've heard great things about the HSU subwoofer.

As long as I'm blathering, I'm thinking of upgrading the Merak horn tweeter center (which I love) to the VP150, and the side Merak MT66s with the QS8s.

I'm thinking of getting the M50's for HT too. But I haven't read a thing about them. I'm hoping some audio mag will do a review of them soon(hint hint.) The M50's seem to be the "lost" speaker in the Axiom line up that you never hear about. This needs to change. Do any users here own the M50? If so, me and many others would certainly like to here from you. I too hope they sound like super M3's. Considering how popular the M3 is one would think the M50's to be very popular as well because they share the same drivers but have deeper bass and better power handling.

Your post brings up an interesting question regarding compatability of Merak and Axiom speakers. While they are in different markets, they are made by the same company.

Ian can you comment on these differing models? Are they in anyway related in design, materials and components?

I'd be glad to give you my preliminary appraisal. I have a Merak horn and twin 6.5" center and the MT66's. The center channel speaker is excellent. It has the narrower in the rear and wider in the front (top to bottom) design, and really impressed me. Dialogue is excellent, music quality is excellent. The MT66s are towers have a single 3/4" Titanium dome tweeters, and twin 6.5" woofers. The towers are as wide in the rear as the front and have a single front lower port. They look well made are rated at 92db sensitivity and with a range of 60Hz-22KHz. The MT66s are decent sounding speakers. Mine are not broken in yet, but clearly, they do not have the accuracy or punch of the M3s. I'd say the Merak Horn center speaker is a more accurate and impressive speaker than the MT66. I'm hoping that the MT66's make a decent side speaker for the M50 fronts which I expect to arrive tomorrow. I'm going to move the Mission 77ds monopoles to the rear. Will report.

Received my Maple M50s today and set them up. They are beautiful. They are big. I only had 5 minutes to listen before I had to go back to work, but first impressions - Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Onkyo 797, Velodyne sub, in stereo mode - Wow! Big, full sound. Nothing's coming out of the sub, but my initial impression is that these M50s blow away the M22s I had in there.

Now I have to tweak the Onkyo, set up the back channels with the Mission 77ds, and watch/listen to a bit of the Matrix.

BTW, the Merak MT66s I have as side speakers are featherweights compared to the M50s. This is a beefy speaker.

M50s are very impressive.

Another day with the M50s. Set the channel levels on the Onkyo, even music from my cable provider sounds wonderful! Got the side Merak MT66, center Merak MC6H and sub going. Watched the opening scenes from Armageddon and Gladiator. Wow!!

In stereo/direct the M50s by themselves fill the room with a wall of beautiful, lush sound. These are great speakers.

Thanks Ian and Amie!!

2x6spds

you mention that the m50 blow away the m22 you previously had. can you explain in what way it is superior to the m22.

I have the m22 right now and am strongly considering upgrading to the m40 since both are about same price after you factor in speaker stans.

I liked the M22s, but I was surprised to find that the sound quality was, to my ear, neither as accurate or pleasing as the M3s I have. Now, it is possible that there was something not quite right about my M22s, or they did not work for my room, or suffered from some bad synergy with the rest of my system, because the reviewers certainly report that the M22s are superior to the M3s. I decided on the M50s because they, like the M3s, use the 6.5" woofer rather than the smaller woofers used by the M22s. The sound from the M50s is wonderful - I can only describe it as very full, rich, accurate yet sweet. The highs are clean, the bass is full, with good snap, the mids are accurate and very musical sounding. I'm very pleased with the M50s, but they are large speakers.

I too just purchased M50s - they were delivered last Friday. Spent the weekend testing and comparing them to my old Sony APM speakers(don't laugh - these were not the normal Japenese style speakers) . The Sony's are 3 way systems and have the square, flat drivers - and were produced in the mid 80s. Bought them in Germany, so you can see I have had them a while. ANYWAY - in comparing the M50s to the Sonys, I am pretty surprised that my Sonys have held up so well. The M50s are a bit brighter with slightly less midrange - and very slightly less bottom. (But I will say the bottom end of the M50s is pretty darn good!) They are also slightly less efficient. But here is where they shine: IMAGING! by far superior! SO I am still testing - and until they are more completely broken in, I won;t judge the overall sound yet. But my first impression is that I MIGHT be happier with the M60s. I see a strong possibility for better (more natural) midrange (since it has a mid driver). Only time will tell.

As I have mentioned before, I tried both the m22s and the m50s. I really enjoyed the low end on the m50s. In my opinion that is their strength. As far the mids and highs, the m22s simply blew them away. Where the m22s mids are awe inspiring, almost too good, the mids of the m50s where too laid back, almost muddy sounding. The overall sound of the 22s won across the spectrum for me. My entire family agreed with this assessment, and urged me to return them, so this is not just the ravings of an aged lunatic, well maybe I am a lunatic, but that's another story. I must disagree with 2x6 when it comes to imaging. I thought the 50s shortcoming was their total lack of imaging or 3d soundstage, whatever you want to call it. I really wanted to prefer the m50s over the m22s, but they didn't have a chance. I had these speakers on the floor, maybe risers would have helped with the lack of soundstage But, if I would have bought risers I could also buy stands for the m22s. I hate to say anything negative about Axiom products, but in the case of the m50s, they were a disappointment. I may be completely wrong about this and my apologies go out Ian and Alan and anyone who loves these speakers. I actually thought the PSB 5Ts, which have a similar configuration, are a better sounding speaker. I really can't understand how anyone can listen to the M22s and not say WOW, even if they are not your cup of tea. They are astounding speakers. I think the M50s are just average. Somebody prove me wrong and I'll reorder them immediately. I promise. The only way to know which is for you is to order both and return the loser.

I guess I am flipping. How did I get propelled back into 2002. Man, I guess it was a really rough week.

That had me totally weirded out. I hadn't seen an Anon post in years! How did you get there?

Amie,

I believe I went to the who's online area, and clicked on the subject, and suddenly I was had lost 3 years of my life. I may have entered The Twilight Zone.

When you say in a corner how close to the side walls are you referring? I am moving all HT gear to a smaller room (12' X 16')and will be putting the M80's about 1' from each side wall. The speakers can be placed out from the back wall somewhat more. I don't want to lug all that stuff upstairs and then find out that it sounds like crap because of the room acoustics. The room is a little too narrow to put a Big Screen TV on the 16" foot wall. I am planning on buying 60"+, so I need to position it at the end of the room on the 12' wide wall to be far enough away that it looks good, about 14' away from sitting position.

What does everyon/anyone think?