It must be the AVR. I have a Denon 2310 and I have run my M22's in stereo, as well as my entire 5.1 system (with a 6 ohm center channel) at volumes in the -8 range for a long time... Like a couple hours, without a single issue.

EDIT: I've also had them at about +4 for ten minutes or so one time, but it's just too loud.

LOL...I hear ya!

With my current HT setup I was playing a SACD demo disk that had this piano part. I had it at around the +4 or 5 range which made it sound like I had my head inside the piano. During the test I ran out to my truck to get something...I was dumbstruck by the sound outside. It sounded like the piano was on my front lawn! Needless to say I went back in and turned it down to more reasonable levels. The neighbors never said anything but I'm sure they weren't impressed...or maybe they were!

Hi,

It's the first time I write on this forum.

I don't know If you've still have your problem, I had the exact same problem with my new M22 (2 weeks old V2 box with V3 speaker)running with a Pionner Elite 7.1 VSX-919AH-K , 120 watts per channel. I did all what you do to correct the problem and when I try my amp with my old Bose (23 years), my amps runs without problem until +.. DB.

I finally discover that the problem was one of the M22, both woofer was dead, I return it to Axiom and they send me a new one ( all V3) last week, for moment all is OK, i pushed my amp until -10 DB and it's OK for the moment and I'll go harder later.

So check if you've got sound on all your speaker by playing them one by one.

Bye