As we all know, internet message boards are just loaded with opinions. Most of these opinions are either positive or negative when it comes to speaker preferences. One reviewer likes one brand or model and simply hates another. Like or dislike of certain brands seems to be linked to internet vs brick and mortar prejudice more than what is a quality speaker. I believe that Axiom makes quality products, but so do a number of other manufactuers. The only speakers I brought home that were really disappointing to me were a pair of B&Ws. Considering that I have Axioms and I like them, it makes me wonder why someone would state for all the world to read that they hate them? It makes me wonder what the real reason is for some of the more negative comments are concerning Axioms??
As I have read many times, there are better choices. I don't recall ever hearing what those better choices are, just that they exist. Oh yeah, I've read that Ascends are a better choice in this price range, but I don't have anyway of knowing if this is true. I know my expertise in this area is greatly limited, but to me the differences are somewhat marginal. There seems to be a couple grades of audiophile speakers, detailed vs somewhat less so. The less detailed speakers seem to be a little more bass heavy. What do you guys think. Am I wrong about these assumptions?
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It makes me wonder what the real reason is for some of the more negative comments are concerning Axioms??
I'd say freedom of choice. My brother's not a big fan of how my Axioms sound. To him, they're harsh and too bright. What he likes in a speaker is what I would call a "muddy" sound... again, which he counters as "punchy", which is a much different sound altogether to me... so all the adjectives get thrown out the window.
My old neighbour and I had a similar disparity... I like a well-rounded speaker, he swore by the audio system in his truck, guy was happy with junk-jiggling bass levels and sizzling treble... anything between 150Hz and 4000Hz just didn't seem that important to him. Long as it covered the "uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss" of his dance music... everything else is just gravy.
Bren R.
Well, I guess that you could say that speaker efficiency is one parameter to consider. Perhaps the most important parameter is the frequency response curve that shows the speaker's characteristics. Not all speakers are built the same with different drivers and cross overs coupled with a different enclosure mass and volume.
I'll bet that Alan could go on and on and on about differences.
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Long as it covered the "uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss" of his dance music... everything else is just gravy.
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This is so funny.
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"uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss uhn-tiss"
Ok, raise your hand if you did a little beatboxing after you read that line.
/raises hand
They have beat boxes in Nebraska? *rimshot*
Bren R.
I tried, but ended up spitting on my screen.
Getting back to what you posted about, I think "haters" in general, are THE worst one's to look to for anything....let alone a product review.
Those type of people are usually the one's with the hysterical, negative remarks about almost EVERTHING.
A much more credible poster may say something like: "I tried this product, really like it, and thought you may as well".
Instead of the sour-grapes, flaming, "I HATE this" (BUT I haven't heard, or owned it).
Wow...what an open ended question!!!
Why do people trash one model while supporting another? There are volumes of material written on subjects that would need to be considered - marketing, psyhcology, physics, human nature......
But what makes speakers different? Well, again, there are numerous reasons (some of which I am sure will be left out in this reply), here are a few:
- Price Point
- Materials
- Design Theory
- Designer Approach , Experience, Beliefs
- Testing Methodologies
- Goal of Designs
Any one of these itself can spawn debates within the design community, and very seldom would an absolute be agreed upon. In my career in electronics/electrical engineering, I have had the pleasure (and sometimes the misfortune!!!) of speaking with the people responsible for some of the products - including audio - that we use on a daily basis....some applications are employed by companies that service our daily needs. I can state that certain things are commonly known, but the approaches vary wildly.
Anyway, as mentioned, personal preference and "subjectivity" is alive and well in the world, so enjoy, listen to as broad a selection of audio equipment as you can, and form your opinions.
I did it the goofy way, but it worked.
......just one persons opiniom.
I knew I didn't like dark and muddy, I knew I didn't like bright and piercing, So I started in the middle.
I tried the B&Ms that had a wide selection of poor quality stuff and a switch to go between them in groups.
Not very impressive and too limited. No selection I liked, at all, in the stores.
Bummer.
Hey look! Computers.
What does the great majority say? Uh, About WHAT?
Price? I had a limit, gotta stay within it.
Audio Review? Good starting point, who likes what in my range and in neutral sounding bookshelvs.
Here'e E-pinions, watta they say?
Here's some real "Audiophile" forums, ooooo! what do these "real" experts think?
Wade, wade, wade through dozens of review, hundreds of dozens of reviews.
Let the "hunter/gatherer" in us take over!!
It's the hunt, the hunt, the kill can come later!!
What brand had the greatest number of satisfied customers? And of those models within that brand, what model in particular held the highest number of folks who used "Love" in their statements. "Wow" is cool, "party on dude" is fun, and all the other ways of addressing excitement are wonderfull, but I'm in it for the long term relationship. I want a speaker that lots of people "Love"!!
Then there's the "professional" reviews. They may not be entirely trustworthy, but if you get a few dozen positive review from different publishing groups on various models from a particular manufacturer and the majority of those are aimed at one model, then there's a good chance that that one model may be a winner. And if it gets used as a reference monitor in testing other gear, then that's a plus, too!
Some of the biggie on-line names popped thru. Of those; who had a "Company" that seemed trustworthy and may be around through the next quarter? Was there a group of folks there in the front office whom you felt comfortable with? Where were they made? What about drivers and crossovers? And price. And looks and proportions and finish and all those things that either strike you as cool or a turn off. Always within that price point!
Then, since this is a total commitment, there must be more than just looks and sound!!
Anybody else think these speakers are luvable? Wanna talk about it??!
Good to see you back, Mike.
