Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater M22 vs paradigm Studio 20 V3

Hello,

Anyone had a chance to do a comparison? I remeber a thread were it was said the M22 were very similar to the Studio20, but I went to audition the Studio20 V2 and V3 side by side, the new V3 sound much better, I don't know how to explain, but the sound felt more airy, with a bigger soundstage. I've discovered the Axiom brand last week and spent a lot of time reading through the forum. I like what I read on the M22, but wanted to know how they compare to the new PAradigm Studio20 V3. I've pretty much narrowed down my choice in beetween those 2, as the Monitor Audio Gold 10 are too expensive.

thanks for this great forum!

Pat

I've heard the Studio 60 v3. The Axiom M60ti's are quite a lot better. Not sure if the M22/Studio 20 will measure up the same way though.

Speaker preference is quite subjective... the only way to know which you'll prefer is to audition both speakers together. Take advantage of Axiom's return policy, order the M22 and borrow a pair of Studio 20s from your local dealer. Listen to both and keep the ones you like. If you decide on the Axiom's you've lost nothing, and if you decide on the Paradigm's you simply swallow the small cost of return shipping. The Studio 20 has always been my favorite little bookshelf at a resonable price, but the M22 (530CAD) is ~1/2 the price of the Paradigm (1,100CAD). I'd be interested in your side-by-side impressions.

I have heard the Studio 20v2's, and I can say that the M22's would compare very well to them. Liking one over the other will be a matter of preference, but then factor in the cost.....

Hi afonda,

I posted the original comparison of the M22ti vs. the Studio 20 because I've had the 20s for years, as well as the M22s.

I'm not aware of the V2/V3 designations, nor have I heard those, but the original is extremely close to the M22ti--"virtually indistinguishable" in a blind comparison, or, as I sometimes term it, "similarly good." I apply the latter label when two different speakers are so close that you may prefer one over the other on one musical selection, then switch your preference to the other speaker with a different piece of music.

Actually, I feel the Axiom M22ti is slightly superior to the Paradigm Reference Studio 20 because it doesn't have the slight hump in the 100 - 200 Hz region that gives male vocals a bit of a "fat" or "chesty" coloration on the 20s. I also find the M22ti's have a slightly more detailed 3-dimensional soundstage than the 20s.

Regards,

I agree that it's all a matter of taste but unfortunately for me and probably the vast majority of people, it's also a matter of cost. That's why I'm considering the M22 as an alternative to the Studio 20s.

Alan,

The Studio 20 V3 are actually a better sounding speaker than the V2 (to my ears at least) V2 which, according too many reviews, were already a major improvement to the original Studio. That's why comparing the V3 and the M22 is interesting to me. My room is pretty small (12x16x8), so I can't really go with the M60s that appear to be many people favorite choice in this forum. So I'm focusing on the M22 and a sub (HSU STF-2).

I used to have an M22 plus STF-2; it is a great combination. I'm sure Axiom's subs are good also; just mentioning I had the combo you mentioned. You'll be very satisfied with it.

I haven't heard the Studio 20, but auditioned the Monitor 3, although not back-to-back with M22s. I liked the Monitor 3 a lot -- good sound and bass for that size speaker. However my impression is the M22s have better detail, and with a sub vastly more bass.

I auditioned the studio 20 v3 at a local b&m before I ordered the m22's. They were being played at a very high volume, mind you. I prefer the m22's also. Probably because I found the highs of the paradigm's to be extremely harsh. At a normal volume, I might have found them to be more ear drum friendly.