well i finally got a chance to actually here some axioms. I listened to a guy at works m3s. I really liked the sound of them. Im trying to stay away from having a sub so instead of getting m3s i was thinking m50s. They will have the same sound right? Also my tv stand only has enough room for the vp100 is that good enough ill be sitting about 12 feet from the tv. Im planning to go up to best buy on tuesday to pick up the pioneer elite VSX-01TXH they have on sale for 600 dollars. Will that be good for this setup or should i get something else? Thanks

The M50s are fairly similar in sound to the M3s, but possibly more picky about positioning. The VP100 should do the trick for you.

You really should consider getting a sub in any case.

I probably will get a sub eventually but im moving into a new apartment so i dont wanna cause trouble right away. Do you think that receiver will work out ok. I can use the onkyo i have now but it doesnt have hdmi.

I don't know much about that receiver, but you should have any concern about it running the M50s.

Why are you trying to stay away from getting a sub? For movies, it is a must. For music, not as much, but still great depending on the music you listen to...

The VP100 should be fine.

I'm not familiar with the elite, so can't help there...

Use the Onkyo and buy a sub with the $600. It (the sub) will improve the system far, far more than a different receiver.

Its not that i dont want a sub its just that i dont wanna get kicked out right away. ha ha

The 50's are great, keep them out from the walls and you will love them. If you can, raise them about 50mm to get the tweeter and upper mid/bass driver closer to ear level, and then they really perform well. They have solid bottom end to about 45Hz, with usable extension to 35Hz. Of course, this will be largely determined by your listening room, your listening position and the position of the speakers, as will the upper end of the system.

Weird, I feel funny promoting the 50’s, thanks AL!

Why do you want a receiver that has HDMI?

Paul

Ditto the sub over new AVR suggestion. A $600 AVR won't change your enjoyment much, unless your current AVR is real crap. But a $600 sub can do wonders, even if you don't wake the neighbors.

+1 for the sub over new avr. $600 can get you some nice subs from Hsu and SVSound to name 2 companies with good subs in that range. Just don't use it turned up. A sub properly calibrated should not be heard over the mains it should blend in and smooth out the bass response and if the neighbors complain, only use it for movies and invite them over to watch

Well i do got a 12 inch polk sub i can use along with it if i have too. I mainly wanted a receiver with hdmi cause i ordered a new tv stand. Its the kind were the tv kinda hangs on the back. I have 2 onkyo receivers a TX DS696 and the ht - r540. both are kind of dated now.

OK, so you have a sub that works if needed for more boom for HT, then I would get a new avr as well. The Pioneer should work very well.

The VP100 is a great center channel too and should work very well with a set of M50s.

For what it's worth, a few years ago kcarlile, pmbuko and I did an informal shootout between M3's, M50s and M80s. M50s came in last, even after we realized they were wired out of phase. The M3s seemed to have better balance and a bit more bass impact (which was a little baffling considering the difference in cabinet sizes).

Adam,

Good to see you 'oot and aboot'.
Thanks again for the Audition of your M60's. I swear that white maple looked real!

"The M3s seemed to have better balance and a bit more bass impact (which was a little baffling considering the difference in cabinet sizes)."

Then, respectfully, your “shootout” could not have been setup properly as there is no way the M3’s have a more extended bottom end than any of the Axiom towers.
Further, when you setup the speakers, where they all in approximately the same position or in different positions all together? Where the tweeters all at ear level? (albeit, the latter has no bearing on bass response)
I find it amusing, and I write this with a grin, if I were to favourably compare the M60’s or M80’s to exotic European loudspeakers priced at $2500.00 +, most of the people on this forum would have no problem accepting a positive comparison . But if I compare the M50’s to the M60’s/M80’s which are built by the same manufacturer in the same building, using essentially the same drivers, technology and research, people grimace.
Sometimes you just have to laugh!!

A few years back we had a member (NeverHappy) that had both the M80s and the M50s and preferred the M50s over the M80s. Of course he was NeverHappy


Seriously he did.

They were pretty close together; the M3s were on top of the M50s. Now, I don't know that they were precisely level matched, but we all pretty much agreed. Of course, psychologically, the M50s were at a disadvantage because of the phase accident, which is kind of why I hesitated to mention it. I'd have to dig up the thread to know what I really thought, though.

Well, that and I still have warm fuzzies for the M50s.

Im kinda curious why i never see anyone recommend m2s on here. At one point i was really thinking of just getting 4 of them a VP100 and using my old sub for a cheap system.

If you are looking for a 5.0 setup on a strict budget I would lead towards 5 M2's or 5 M3's (if you have room for a vertical center). Either would make for an excellent system in a small to medium sized room.

How big of a room would a system like that fill. seems like everyone says i need a sub. If i run a sub id rather use bookshelves then towers to save floorspace.

deathjester,

You definitely need to use a subwoofer! What are your room dimensions?

ITS AROUND 14X16. the problem is i just bought a new tv stand and i dont plan on usesing any bookshelves thats why i wanted tower speakers. But now you got me thinking that i can attach shelves to the sides of the stands for speakers. Heres a pic of it

The M2's or M3's would work. How and where would you plan on placing/mounting the center channel and surrounds? How many feet will your seating positions be from the television?

i was thinking of putting shelves on the sides flush with the top. The center would go in the middle angled up. My tv is smaller then the one in the pic. There will actually be about 7.5 inches between the tv and the L/R channels. My seating is 12-14 feet away. Im thinking of wall brackets for surrounds.

Sounds like you have it all figured out ! This can definitely work! I am assuming you are placing the VP100 on the stand just out in front of the t.v at the same height as the L/R mains.

i cant really do a stand because i have a 2 year old in the house. Its just gonna have to go on the center shelf angled up.

I meant right on top of the t.v stand. There are dimensions of the VP100 on the products page. Will it fit in the middle shelf?

yeah the center shelf is 18 in wide and the vp is 17.

Cool! Just make sure you dont tuck the center all the way into the shelf.

DJ, that wouldn't appear to be a good idea; the mains wouldn't be separated widely enough. If you sit 12-14' away, the mains should be separated by a similar distance, or at least more than just a few inches from the side of the TV.

Really there is no way ill be able to keep my fronts that far from the tv unless i mount them on the side wall or corner.

Hi Deathjester,

Try for at least 6 feet of separation between the main left and right fronts, otherwise you won't get much stereo spaciousness or separation. It doesn't have to be 12 feet to get a good stereo effect.

I usually suggest starting by separating the fronts by half your seating distance and then, if you want, getting them farther apart.

Regards,

That's what I'm running and they work wonderful together. A great team that audibly match very closely.