Did I get your attention?

Hi Axiomdom,

I just wanted to introduce myself and give you my impressions of my new M60s.

First, I want to thank everyone for all of the information I’ve gleaned from the Forum, as well as the website. (I’ve been lurking for over a year.)

After ordering the new speakers, the anticipation just about killed me. I think it was worse than Christmas as a kid. When they finally arrived, I just stared at the boxes for a while, just to soak it in. Savoring the moment, I slowly opened the boxes and marveled at the beauty of them. Very carefully, I hooked them up to my receiver and took a moment. “OK, it’s time” and I powered up the receiver….”Uh oh, what did I do”. I have to say, I was NOT blown away like I was anticipating.

I have been listening to my home grown, two-ways for over a decade and my thought was the M60s were not a tremendous improvement. So much so that I switched back and forth four times between the M60s and my old speakers, relocating them to the same spot each time…what a workout. After the forth swap, I did, indeed, realize the 60s were better speakers, so I decided to keep them.

After a few days, I decided I now need to buy a receiver that’s worthy of the new arrivals. I have been using a Denon AVR-1000 for more than ten years and decided to upgrade. Off to Flea-Bay I went. Picked up a Denon AVR-5700 for $300. (Yes, I know it’s not current, but it’s still eight years newer than what I had and a major step up.) The M60s are sounding better, but still not what I was hoping for. My cheapo CD player was now sounding horrible, but being the tightwad I am, I decided to add an outboard DAC (for an ipod) instead of spending the bucks on a good CD player. After reading the Axiom-like reviews of the HRT iSteamer, I bought one and hooked it up. “Yeah, the new speakers are getting better.”

More reading of the Forum and more research encouraged me to play around with “speaker placement.” WOW, what a difference! Pushed them forward enough of the entertainment center to just clear the tweeters. Toed them in slightly. The M60s are now starting to sound more like the reviews I’ve read.

After listening to them for a couple of weeks, a few observations:
- There are A LOT of crappy recordings out there! I am amazed at how unforgiving (accurate) the M60s are. I now realize that my home-grown, two-ways were coloring everything.
- I can listen to the M60s for hours without getting fatigued. (Couldn’t do that with my old speakers.)
- I find myself watching less TV and listening to more music...Always a good thing.
- I am now ripping all CDs in lossless
- I’m enjoying classical music like I never have.
- The quest for better recordings has now factored into my music purchases.
- Like a good relationship, the more time I spend with the M60s, the more I love them. (Now, if only they had "better internal bracing.” Hee hee)


Getting back to reading the Forums, I started thinking…”Hmm, M80s….NO – NO – NO – Just say no.” And so it begins.

Finally, for the record; I have never been, nor do I ever plan on becoming, a Socialist. AND, I have never participated in a double blind speaker test. ;o)

Thanks again everyone,
Buddy S

very interesting reading, and you made me laugh a couple of times too, like:
- I am now ripping all CDs in lossless.
- There are A LOT of crappy recordings out there!

Why in the world would you want M80's when you could have this~! My vote is a pair of 600's... But, then again... That's just me....



You did not elaborate about your two-ways at all... if your two ways had 10's or 12's in them, they would likely have more emphasis on the lower frequencies than the 60's, that is what i would suspect anyhow.

It is, in fact, absolutely necessary to use 2 EP600s when watching CNN.

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Woodrow/Buddy S.

I, like you, was expecting more of a WOW factor when plugging in my new Axioms (in my case, M80s). Heck, I auditioned a gigantic pair of Martin Logan speakers a couple of years ago (blanking on the model) and was not WOWed either. Either my ears are really picky or unsophisticated.

Still, like you, with some tweaking on placement, I'm happy overall.

Thanks again for chiming in. Stick around and help us derail some threads from time to time.

Great first post. Stick around, I think you're going to fit in to this nuthouse forum nicely.

Thanks for the welcome, guys. Dakkon - All I can say is amp and woofer envy...but your "couch" leaves a little to be desired.:) And yes, the two ways had 10" woofers.

I know, his coffee table isn't something I would buy.

Buddy, welcome. Glad to hear how you're now enjoying the more accurate sounds coming through your M60s. Yes, when you've been used to something else for a long time, even an objectively better speaker might not seem great on first impression.

I'll comment that if you wanted to stay with Denon and for about $300, the 1912 factory refurb for about $320 from Accessories4less here would be much more up-to-date in its features. Although the 5700 has a higher maximum power rating, this shouldn't be significant in actual use.

Also, there are excellent quality CD or CD/DVD players available for about $100-$200, and this would seem to be more cost effective than simply buying a DAC.

Yes, classical music is something that can really be enjoyed on better quality equipment. You might take a look at some of the classical recommendations in the "Stunning" thread.

I would like to take this opportunity to volunteer Johns time; for him to make a condensed thread to include amazon links to the CD's he has recommended in the past... It took me like a week to go through the above recombined thread above....


p.s.


What, it's memory foam!.....



Talk about some spoiled freaking animals.....

NOW you tell me JohnK. I'm pretty happy with the 5700. It'll be used mostly for stereo listening, but I have bookmarked that site for future reference. Thanks for the "stunning" recommendation.

Alex, is this in retaliation for me suggesting using that 1000 page AVS Audyssey thread for info? Just kidding, but preparing all those links again would be a pretty monumental task. To get my full list with links in the "Stunning" thread, just search "Stunning" in subject for my name for the relevant years period. Some of the older links of course(e.g., for Tower Records)are no longer good. If you search subject "classical" for my name you also get those posts with links.

If you'd like me to prepare a starter collection of a dozen or so discs for you I'd be happy to do that.

quote=JohnK]If you'd like me to prepare a starter collection of a dozen or so discs for you I'd be happy to do that.[/quote]

I know I would sure appreciate a list like that, JohnK.

Buddy, here's a beginning collection of colorful music, some loud and dramatic, some quieter and beautiful, in excellent performances and fine sound. Generally this is available at ridiculously low prices for music of this quality. Third-party sellers of new and used on Amazon usually are the best buys, although items qualifying for the Amazon free shipping on a $25 order(e.g., the used Ravel disc below)can sometimes result in a lower net cost.

The Planets ; Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe ; Khachaturian Symphony No. 2 ; Rachmaninoff symphonies ; Brahms Hungarian Dances ; Prokofiev, Cinderella ; Ilya Murometz ; Dvorak Cello Concerto ; Smetana, Ma Vlast ; Latin American collection ; Respighi, Roman Poems ; Stravinsky collection . Enjoy.

Just got home from a work trip and have to leave again tomorrow for the day. Reading this thread made me realize I need to go down to the HT and listen to my Axioms for a while before going to bed. Thanks!

Thanks for the quick picks, JohnK. Just purchased the Ravel, Smetana, and Respighi selections.

I've particularly enjoyed Brahms Hungarian Dances. I like that one.

I used to like Smetana : The Moldeau

Chris, The Moldau is one of the six sections of Ma Vlast(My Country).

Thanks JohnK. I will definitely make use of your recommendations.

Well, if you like to drive on public roads or expect police and fire protection or perhaps pay into/accept Medicare and Social Security you already are a socialist.

Of course, you can always move to that bastion of libertarian-ism, Somalia. That's an unregulated "free" economy without any government interference...

Buying Axiom speakers from our pinko comrades of the north will only help fund the socialist threat and lead to a single payer healthcare system and other progressive policies here. It's a slippery slope that will sap you of your precious bodily fluids my friend...

You don't want us to end up like one of those Scandinavian hellholes where quality of life is better, do you?

yeah, i was in scandinavia for about 3 years; you would not believe the...

i'll let you people finish my sentence.

Terry - You're right.

Actually, a little more "left"!

Welcome aboard Woodrow! Glad to have another Axiom convert around these parts.

This is one of the more friendly and laid back audio forums to waste time on.

Its part of our plot to take over the world. We saw it on a episode of Pinky and the Brain.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?

But how will we balance the capers on our noses?