I've been thinking about upgrading to Axiom's for awhile now. I know they'll make a tremendous difference for my home theater, but I'm wondering if they'll help my music. Part of the problem is that I don't know the quality of the recordings that I listen to. I'd hate to spend 2K on speakers just to reveal that my favorite music is recorded poorly! About 85% of my music is Pearl Jam (I am helplessly stuck on these guys). I also listen to Alice N Chains, STP, Collective Soul, The doors, did I mention Pearl Jam?, Audio Slave, and a little Clapton and Norah Jones (I'm not nearly so worried about the last two). Anyone know if these groups are worth axioms? Please help! Thanks!

I have Axiom M22s. I listen to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Audio Slave, Clapton, and Norah Jones on them and they are all fantastic!

Even bad recordings still sound good on my speakers. What speakers do you have now?

I am ashamed to admit this on a public forum, but oh well. The fronts are Realitic Mach one's (15" boomy boxes, horn mid range and tweet). The surround setup is part of a sony HT in a box gig. I really want to step up to a dennon 3805 and then get some decent speakers to keep it company.

Don't be ashamed! Precious few people start out with great speakers. I had the modus cube from Wharfedale (with a passive sub) until I upgraded (thanks Ubid.com). They worked but were not all that great either.
No shame! Just joy and celebration at stepping up into the wonder that is an M22ti.

jr

It seems that the Mach Ones got pretty decent reviews.

I also have several of the music titles you mentioned and will pop some in tonight to see how they sound in my basement with my M60s. It has been awhile since i listened to Pearl Jam (say 7 years?).

I'm not a big Audioslave fan, but I just put it on and listened to parts of the first 8 tracks through my M60's. I cranked it up loud (how else to listen to Audioslave?), and listened. It sounded good through the Axiom's, but I'd say it's not one of the best recorded/mixed albums around. I was thinking it seemed a bit harsh, then decided to get out my sound meter and check loudness - about 100 db. It sounded better when I turned it down to the 85-90 range. Some tracks sounded better than others.

I sure wouldn't let less-than-optimum recordings prevent me from getting good speakers. I'm sure Audioslave sounded better on the Axiom's than coming out of lousy speakers, but it's not a great recording, IMO.

I have found that bad recordings still sound bad. With my old Cerwin Vegas, I didn't know what was a bad recording because everything got muddled up anyway. Good recordings, sound great!! The accuracy and clarity of the Axioms is super.

As Denver stated, don't let the recordings dictate what you buy. Since I got my M60s 4 months ago, in addition to playing music all the time, I am also buying new CDs/DVDs that are recommended in the forums to really show off the Axioms. So far every recommendation has been on target.

Good Luck

What really stinks are the "greatest hits" albums that jump back and forth in time. Old song, then newer song, then older song, etc.. The advances in recording (and I assume, mixing) technology over the years are very apparent.

The ones ordered older songs to newer songs aren't so bad, since the sound quality gradually gets better as it progresses through the years. It is much less noticeable.

I bought Cheap Trick at Budokan the other day. The mix on the first few songs is really lousy. Near the end, it's great. I do remember that it always sounded that way on my "stereos" as a youth (I think... my memory from back then is kind of fuzzy ).

I'll second what JSkip says.

Also, if you like the horn sound on your Mach 1s you maybe should go listen to some Klipsch RF7s. Their horn tweeters are VERY bright, but if you like the horn sound the rest of the speaker is very good. OTOH, the Axioms are quite a bit smoother and tighter (and cheaper!!! .

Hmmm, I don't think ANYTHING could make Pearl Jam sound good but I think Alice in Chains unpluged was recorded decently, along with Jar of Fly's, pretty good stuff there

I do like the midrange horn on the Mach Ones. They really make an overdriven guitar sound nice, but only when the volume gets up there. The horn tweeter seems to be a little harsh to me. Its not that its too loud, infact I think a lot of cymbals could be a little more upfront. It just that it seems too harsh. My brother in law has a full Klipcsh setup. He purchased towers when they still offered powered towers with a 12" side firing sub. They sound great but they fatigue me a little. Plus they cost a mint.

Even on my speakers I can tell that some of Pearl Jam's early music (the stuff that was popular, which I can take or leave) isn't recorded in stellar fashion. OTOH, there latest albums YEILD, Binural, and Riot Act sound really good to me. They were much more artistically done than the first few albums which were designed to satiate the Radio masses. Of course I don't know if I have the speakers to reveal hidden shortcomings. Does anyone listen to any of PJ's later work, the good stuff??

Wow...you mean someone out there actually likes the newer stuff PJ has done?

I'm not a PJ fan, but I have Temple of the Dog. That's a good recording. As is Queens of the Stone Age.

If you think the Klipsch highs are too crunching but like to hear all that detail, then you may have come to the right place. Try to line up an audition with somebody near you.

I listen to PJ all of the time (probably my favorite band) and I'll agree the production quality on the newer albums is phenomenal. IMO, there is nothing wrong with the earlier albums, just not quite up to the level of their newer stuff.

My favorite album is, and I'm sure will always be, Vitalogy (Corduroy sounds amazing). Their last couple of albums have been great though, if a bit too political for my tastes.

When I was going through some rough times, I'd listen to "Nothingman" on repeat. It helped me wallow.

I do like nothingman, but thought the rest of that album was just ok (was that vitalogy? I don't even know anymore). Anyway, that was the last one of theirs I bought.

That is kind of funny Zarak, I think between Vs. and Vitalogy is where Pearl Jam lost their mainstream appeal. I guess that's what happens when you stop pandering to MTV. Not making a video for 3 albums pulled them out of the spotlight, which they really wanted (though these albums weren't quite as focused as Ten/Vs./Binaurul/Riot Act IMO). The next video they did make has got to be one of the best ever - Do the Evolution - I think it was Todd McFarlane of Spawn comics who did the artwork, AMAZING!

I think my favoite studio album is Yeild. Given to Fly, Low Light, No Way, MFC, etc are all great songs. IMHO, PJ's best stuff never makes the radio. They usually only release one or two singles from an album, and the songs they choose are usually not radio friendly. By that I mean they don't have easy chourus that people can latch on to immediatly. PJ albums simply require an investment by the listener. You won't be able to sing along the first time you hear a track, they're simply not that predictable. I can't stand bands today who write a two line chourus and sing it for 4 minutes, but that's because I'm used to the Jam.

Thanks for the comments guys.

i been listening to Vitalogy in my truck for the last few days. it still sounds as good as it did ten years ago. i have TEN on record, and spun it on the AXIOMS last week, and it was great.

thats one of the things i really like about PJ. everyone of their albums sounds just as good, or better, than most of the stuff being put out right now. there is a large void for good rock n roll/heavy metal(if you can call it that) in the industry right now.

i will just keep spinning what i got til i find something else worth listening to.

bigjohn

Kaylin, you're spot on. Yellow Ledbetter, what I believe to be their second best song ever (next to Corduroy) was a B-Side to what I think was the most over-hyped, over-played PJ song ever, Jeremy.

I'll agree that Jeremy was extremely overplayed. I do like a lot of the Ten album. I don't remember a lot of vitalogy (guess I need to put it back in). I seem to remember one song(if you could call it that) about bugs and thinking what is this supposed to be. I do like some other bands like NIN that do some different stuff from the mainstream, but I just didn't get that song I guess. I'm sure there were others, because overall I don't remember liking the album that much, but like I said, I'd have to listen to it again at this point to know what I did and didn't like (if it would even be the same now).

There is very little out there better than NIN, in fact I can't think of anything ATM

Me either...NIN is certainly up near the top of my list. And rumor has it that a new album is finally coming out towards end of the summer.

Once you hear a set of Axioms all your questions will be answered. I have a Carver amp hooked up to my M 80's and i listen to all those bands mentiioned. STP's Core is especially awesome as well as all the other bands Audioslave's Cochise is phenomenal as well, i don't listen to Norah Jones but her and her piano must sound amazing, every type of music if its a pretty good recording is just glorious. Once you have heard a good rock cd or any cd for that matter you are blown away i was i am 18 and i just couldn't believe how clear and precise the sound coming from these beautifully finished speakers. Still blows me away and have had them for a year.

Cheers mate!

Don't feel bad at all, I have a 35 year old receiver, and four floor standing radio-shack speakers I got from my uncle for free (which are actually pretty sweet for what they are).

I ordered my M60's, VP150, and QS8's today

- D