Hi all, I'm looking at upgrading my fronts which are currently Energy C-200 bookshelf speakers. I was thinking of going for the M22's because of the price (I'm still in university so the money tree is starting to go bare) but I ve read mixed things on the forums. Some members say they are terrific while others say they are difficult to listen to for long stretches. Their lack of bass isn't an issue since I have an axiom EP350.

Also my room is technically 12x15x8 but I'm on the top floor so the walls start to slant towards the peak at about 4ft so my room is closer to 1000 cubic ft rather than 1500cubic ft.
I also realize sound is incredibly subjective so I'll take any suggestions you guys have. Thanks in Advance,
Darius

You won't find anyone here that says the M22 is difficult to listen to for long stretches. I listened to the M22 with ep350 combination and it sounded very good to me; very similar to the M60. I was up around 80-85db by the time I got to that combination so it was fairly loud.

I often wonder what kind of room people who found them hard to listen to were in. If you were in a room with a lot of bare/reflective surfaces that could have a strong negative impact on the sound.

The best thing is to order a set and compare them to your current Energy speakers. If you don't like the M22, I doubt the return shipping would be that much.

Thanks Fred, I found a couple threads were people were saying they got fatigued after 2.5hrs, I'm glad to hear tat they're as good as a M60 (minus the Low end)

To give some perspective, I spent a good 3 hours demoing various combinations of M22, M60 and M80 at volumes between 70 and 90db (things got louder as the session went on) without experiencing any fatigue. The old Axiom demo room, though not specifically treated, was not particularly lively.

I went with the M80s. My apartment is concrete construction and I have a lot of bare wall/cieling/floor to generate reflections. On a very few recordings, such as pipe organ, I find the high end and some bass notes a bit too much. You can feel the energy from reflections build on notes that sustain for any amount of time. It has everything to do with the boost from all those reflected sounds. I am quite confident that once I treat some of the reflecting surfaces to absorb and diffuse reflections, I will get back to the clean sound I heard at Axiom.

For the most part though, even in a highly reflective room I do not find the M80s (which have the same dual tweeters) to be fatiguing

I haven't heard the 22s, so I can't comment there. However, I've been combing these forums regularly for almost a year now and can't remember reading comments about people getting fatigued after listening to the 22s. (not saying it didn't happen, just that it definitely has not been the majority opinion). There are some who regard the 22s as the crown jewel of the Axiom line-up, so based on what I have read, I don't think you'd be disappointed (and as Fred noted, your downside risk is pretty minimal).

Jason

Thanks all, just ordered the M22's. And here's the post were someone said they were fatiguing (its the last post of the page):
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=12434&site_id=1#import

Anyways, another question. Is this going to night and day when I compare them to my Energy's or is it going to be more subtle. And do I need an amplifier or is my Onkyo 605 good enough to handle it?Thanks again.

Darius, congrats on your decision. I've been listening to my M22s for about 6 1/2 years now and still no "fatigue", regardless of the length of the listening session. Your 605 has plenty of power capacity for your room and there's no need to look for more.

Very few comparisons in audio actually would justify terminology such as "night-and-day", "huge", "blows away", etc., although we see it used fairly often. Your M22s will be excellent; enjoy.

And if you would also note the poster noted he has tinitus so I wouldn't put much stock into his situation, unless of course you have it to.

I have had my M22's for nearly 5 yrs now and I listen to them for hours on end with no ill effects, they just sound crisp and clear and with my older Sony prologic receiver appear to have ample bass output on my open floor plan of about 750 sqft. I can feel the floor vibrating on the other side of the room with them.

Congrats on your decision Darius, as a M22 owner myself, I sure you will never expierence listner fatigue.

I've had my w22s for just about a week. And I have to say that the last 2 nights I've listened to them I expereinced fatigue. I felt so fatigued i fell asleep on the couch after listening to the speakers for 3-4 hours. Ofcourse the scotch didn't help either.

Darius I run my M22's an Onkyo 605 and I haven't experienced fatigue at all. I'm glad you had the 350 because a good sub is a MUST with those speakers. Their clarity and detail is excellent, they just don't go down as low as larger speakers. For HT and music both you will not be disappointed

Darn guys, why do you have to make them sound so good? I got the factory outlet ones so it'll be another 5 weeks before I get these! Any recommendations for some of the first things I listen to on them (when they eventually get here)?

I don't have M22's, I have M3's, but from what I've read, they are very accurate speakers and will make poor recordings sound so. Without knowing your music tastes, it would be difficult to recommend music. Anything by Dire Staits would be good. Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Dave Matthews perhaps. I'm sure others will chime in. JohnK could certainly recommend some classical as he is an M22 owner. Be sure to give them a run through your collection and report back on your impressions. Hopefully they will arrive sooner.

Thanks for the advice. I tend to be eclectic, with everything from Iron Maiden to classical to blues and rap. What I would really like though is some recommendations for organ music.

Before the night is through, you will have some... it is almost a certainty. Cue JohnK.

I can't remember who here wrote the above, but I saved the suggestion for future reference.

I would bet it was JohnK.

Yeah Jason, that sounds like me. Darius, for an excellent hybrid SACD(also with regular CD track)containing the Saint-Saens 3rd Symphony("organ" symphony)and shorter organ works I suggest this disc from a concert where Philadelphia's new organ was inaugurated. Then, as mentioned above, for a collection of Bach's organ works I suggest this 2-CD set by Peter Hurford.

Thanks a lot John, I might pick those up.

recalled

If you like blues, I would recommend the self titled Keb' Mo' CD.