Why M22 as reference speaker? - Axiom Message Boards

Axiom Home Page

Just read a review at Audioholics on the Rocket RS450 and was wondering why a reviewer would choose a much smaller M22 bookshelf to use as the reference speaker when it will be compared to a much larger floorstanding speaker? I am always amazed that the M22 gets compared to floorstanding speakers when it will always be lacking comparitively in the lower end due to the lack of chamber size.

My guess is that the M22 is true to the music or sound source and does not color the sound ie.if the highs are recorded too high or poorly recorded music, then that is what you will hear making it a good reference speaker.

Jake,

I just read that review, I think that the M22s are his primary speaker in his theatre/listening room. So he will then judge all speakers to his M22s respectively.

Once a reviewer finds a product that he/she loves more than any other, they usually make a reference to that product.

Quote:

Once a reviewer finds a product that he/she loves more than any other, they usually make a reference to that product.

That's how I read it. A reviewer may find one speaker he is really familiar with and can make comparisons based on that. Also, the M22 faithfully reproduce music within their given frequency range and thus don't add any coloration to the sound--a good basis from which to draw comparisons.

Yep, I compare everything to my m22s because that's what I own. If you read the review, you'd see that the RS450's were really bookshelves anyhow so the comparison is actually quite appropriate.

In the future, I'll be comparing everything to a different set of speakers... Amie's working on them right now...

Okay, cough it up, what's Amie working on.

The RS450 is a floorstander 37" tall. The reviewer also talked about floor spikes, not your usual bookshelf accessory.

Jake, although the RS450 stands 37" tall, I believe the drivers are sealed off in a smaller enclosure inside the cabinet, effectively making it have a bookshelf size internal volume. It would be different if the crosspiece inside wasn't solid, acting more as a brace with holes in it. That way the usable space inside the cabinet would be bigger. Think of it as a bookshelf speaker with its own built-in stand!

From looks alone it is a floorstander. From a technical viewpoint it is a bookshelf.

Very good looking but pricey stand...if you are correct on the internal structure. Better price than M50 at 1200.00 in Rosewood. I am willing to bet that the internal volume might be bigger than they we know, from the reviews, as it has substantial low end which is only possible from volume.

It was called a bookshelf in the review and I guess that kind of confused me as it would never make it onto any shelf space I know; made me think he called them a bookshelf due to the 2way system and not the internal volume.

From the review, it looks like the solid internal brace blocks off "slightly more than the bottom half of the speaker." Rather than referring to it as a bookshelf, maybe standmount speaker is more apt? Who knows. Seems to have a good amount of internal volume to help with the frequency response.

That would be a pretty good comparison with the M50. Hmm, maybe we could talk one of the M50 owners to purchase one of the RS450s and do a review. . .

Jake, in case you missed it, I'm the reviewer. From the review:

Quote:

The internal volume of the cabinet is limited through the presence of an internal sheet of MDF that completely blocks off slightly more than the bottom half of the speaker. While I am sure this ensures the proper box volume for the drivers to get the best extension half an octave above free air driver resonance and smooth roll off below it as per the engineers design goals, it also transforms the RS450 into a bookshelf speaker in a floorstanding cabinet.

I hope this helps.

Yep, we missed that; at least I did. Sorry

Just curious, a quick glance at the back of the RS450 seems to show two ports; one above the centerline and one below the centerline... is the divider at the bottom of the lower port or something ?

That picture is misleading. The white endcap was still on the speaker to keep the bottom from being damaged by my deck. If you want to see where the internal brace is, look at the pictures from the front. Where the grill connects in the middle is the approximate location of the brace. You can see it in the stock photo at the beginning of the review.

Yep I did read over that and it obviously never made it into the brain. Sorry. Reading it the second time and I now remember thinking to myself as I read it the first time, why would somebody spend that kind of money for a bookshelf that sits on the floor. I guess it fills in the void somewhat from their RS250 (true) bookshelf and the RS750, I believe is the next number, which is almost twice the price.

Now I guess it begs the question, what would they sound like with the full volume of the cabinet available for the drivers? Similar to the M50 I would bet.

Possibly so, Jason, but size and pricewise(adding shipping)it would be closest to the M60s.