Over at the sound and vision online forum, a gentleman has a review of the m22's, which he purchased. He calls them insanely bright, painful to listen to, saying that he must return them. He also questions whether this can be considered natural. I'm guessing that all axiom owners would not concur. Please address this issue before I order.

Could you reference the specific posting?

Quit reading magazine reviews and all will be fine.
Listen to them for yourself.

It is not a magazine review and it is posted here:
http://soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=23150

I would also find out what electronics the poster was using as well. Because of the nature of the M22's there is definitely some receivers/amps that IMHO would not use with them.

Eventhough many magazine reviews are biased for advertisers, if you read between the lines there is almost always some good information.

Curtis,
I would agree that reviews can still provide some information of use but i disagree that the amp/receiver used is going to affect the sound of the Axiom speakers to the point of making them laid back as opposed to bright. This poster even mentions he tried using different equipment. I personally have not noticed any significant difference in testing out my Axioms in-house with a Denon vs. my Onkyo vs. a Robertson amp. The speakers were still bright.
Chances are the listening material he used for the auditioning is the ultimate cause of an overdone high end. Short of using an equalizer of sorts, this will not change.

WARNING: short rant on the S&V poster is now to follow

The ensuing discussion on speaker break-in again leads me to raise my eyebrows with a sense of derision.The poster describes how a cymbal sounded with the Axiom speakers as being 'unnatural' and of course, the fall back evidence being he has some kind of musical background in which he 'knows' how a cymbal is supposed to sound. Well I also had a cousin who used to bang away on his drums and i never found a cymbal to sound anything but harsh and sharp to the ears so that IS what i would expect and certainly is what the Axioms reproduce.
I'm amazed at how some people hear a well designed speaker for the first time and actually complain b/c it is not a rolled off, over emphasized sound.
If a consumer does not like the bright, detailed Axiom sound, why keep questioning it? Return the speaker and keep shopping.
There are plenty of other speaker brands out there that one may find more appealing.
Axiom also has 3 other models that utilize a different tweeter. Many of the reviews i've come across where people have posted similar queries such as this S&V fellow have not heard the more laid back Axiom offerings. Judgement is often passed before enough information is really gathered to make an assessment.

END RANT

chess,

If you hook up your Axioms to an Harman Kardon or Rotel, I bet you will find them to be not as bright as with a Denon or Onkyo. And I would not even think about hooking them up to a Yamaha. Just my opinion.

curtis

curtis,
I have a H/K 380i stereo receiver that i use in my home office to drive some Tannoy Revolutions. I have not hooked it up to my Axioms but just out of curiousity, i might give that a try this weekend.
Maybe it is possible that H/K and Rotel use some kind of low level filter somewhere in the internal chain.
It's another thought.

chess,
I don't know if it is a filter or not, but there is a definitely a warmer sound to the system. But when we did the budget speaker comparison 4 or 5 months ago, I also noticed it from my system to Mad Dog's. I definitely think that electronics also add or detract from a speaker's characterisics....I know....a whole 'nother debate.

curtis

chess, i have my 60's hooked up to yammi rvx1300, and usually have trebel (sp) set to max, with bass extension in off position. just recently set 60's to small as suggested and messed around with ep350 settings. sounds great either softly playing or cranked.
dan

twodan,

You have the treble turned all the way up with your M60's?

curtis