You can also tame the highs to some degree at the receiver as well.

I don't get people who say, "I don't like analytical speakers, I want something which sounds warm and fuzzy." But when told to use the tone or EQ controls in their receiver to get the sound they want, they complain, and say they want to keep the signal pure.

I think male vocals on the M22s are really a weak point. To me it sounds like the male vocals are being put through a megaphone. The CB20s male vocals by comparison are natural sounding. Female vocals sounded about the same to me on the M22 and CB20. I like the CB20s but for what I paid I can get second-hand Energy RC30s or RC10s so I'll probably go that route.

I'm curious about the QS8 rear surrounds. I wonder how their Quad-polar design would compare to something like the Energy RC-R Quadpole/dipole (Switchable). I've read a lot of people prefer the quad design for rear-surrounds. That would be an interesting comparison I think.

Edit: Clubneon I don't think the Energys I've heard are "Warm and fuzzy". I think they have a brilliant balance. The RC70s I listened to (Even in a bloody futureshop) sounded perfectly balanced to me. Not bright, not muddy, just really musical. The M22s by comparison sound so analytical and super accurate that they take the joy out of the music.

Pastuch,

I've been following this thread and I suspect the particular recording you are using of male vocals is at fault, or "horrid" as you termed it. The M22s, properly set up with great recordings has smooth natural uncolored male vocals, with none of the "fat", "ripe" coloration common to many speakers in the lower octaves and no sibilance unless it's present on the original CD. Even the Axiom M3 has a bit of a bass hump between 80 Hz and 150 Hz that makes it sound like it has more bass than it really has (without a subwoofer).

What is the recording of male vocals you've been using? It's very hard to find good recordings that are not EQ'd with a presence boost in the midrange. The one I've been using for years is a jazz trio recording with Harry Connick singing. (movie soundtrack for "When Harry Met Sally"). The vocal is completely natural, no sibilance, on any neutral speaker like the M22s, M60s, M80s, and very good on the M3s with a bit of the ripe quality that many listeners like and which many old beloved speakers from Advent, KLH, Acoustic Research, etc. delivered in spades, mostly because they used large woofer/midrange drivers that had rolled-off higher frequencies, sometimes by as much as 10 dB (AR). (I owned ARs for years in the 1960s).

I haven't heard recent Energy speakers except for the expensive Veritas line, which were very good and very similar to the M80, with a slightly more recessed midrange and a retail price three times that of the M80. The inexpensive Energy Take 5 series of small/sat subwoofer have a very zippy aggressive upper midrange that I found unpleasant.

Since Klipsch purchased Energy/Mirage/API, it's anyone's guess what they are doing with their product. I would hope they'd leave the better models untouched and not be tempted to add horn-loaded drivers to the line.

Regards,
Alan

I agree Alan.
This is one situation where not being horny is a good thing.

Axiom speakers like any other brand will always sounds different depending on what you are listening them to. There is so many possibility out there. Who's the best to judge witch combination is the best ... you my friend, and sometime your wallet !

This is a statement I've heard a fw times (not always re M22s). So flat and accurate that they kill the music... I don't get it. Once you acheive 100% accuracy and a completely flat response graph are you not hearing *exactly* what the artist played... and the producers and engineers tweaked?

I mean, I sorta get it... one of my favorite CDs sounds lifeless on my M22s but some others sound fan-freakin-tastic. Its not the flat, accurate speakers that render the recording lifeless its the people doing recording. The speakers are just the messenger... don't shoot them!

snazzed

I completely agree with a speaker not adding or subtracting anything from the recording...the speaker is just a vessel to convey what the artist/engineer produced(good or bad). Energy was one of the speakers I auditioned(RC's) and came away rather disappointed. Wanted to hear some Veritas but couldn't locate any in or near my area(odd considering the location of the factory).

When you refer to "trent" at the canuck forum are you referring to Trent Reznor from NIN?. I find The Downward Spiral and The Fragile to be well recorded albums. Are you using a sub when doing the testing or just full range without?

The QS8s still sound similar to the M22s, bright/analytical what ever, so I fear you would still prefer the Energy's, whether or not you could overcome the analytical sound to hear the difference in envelopment remains to be seen, uhh.....heard.



I have heard the M22's mentioned in this manner before, sounds to me like you just want to hear the music and not every little detail. This is where the M3 and I suspect the M50( I haven't heard this one) would be the speaker of choice for you from Axiom.