I really wanted to get the m80s and save some money, but I just purchased a pair of Monitor Audio silver s10. I've been looking for new speakers for about the last 6-7 months and I've finally found my speaker. Last year Ron (RCVECC)was kind enough to have me over to demo his m80 and I really liked them. Around that time I had also had the chance to demo the Paradiom 100 v3, B&W 604 s3, B&W 703, Klipsch RF-7 and a few other speakers (you can read my review from last year if your bored http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=HT&Number=62759&page=&view=&sb=&o= ). After hearing all these speakers I decided that the m80 was for me, because it did so many things right for the price, so my plan was to get the m80 around Christmas last year. Then I started reading post from BigWill, Chesseroo, Saturn, Neverhappy, Etc... about how the MA sounded like th Axiom but with a bit more restrained treble and a really nice midrange. The other thing that made me start looking into other speakers was the fact that Axiom had raised their prices. At $1100 the m80 was a steal, but if I was going to spend $1240 and possibly shipping if I wasn't happy then I figured I might as well see what other speakers are in that range. Then I saw the prices on the MA s8 (msrp $1499) and S10 (msrp $1999). Now the s10 is a real lot more than the m80 even with the price increase, but I found a dealer that was willing to let me demo a pair against my friends Paradigm 100s. Now the 100 has always impressed me and I felt the m80 was similar to the 100s with less bass while the m80 exceled in the treble and midrange.

Well I demoed the s10 against the 100s and I instantly fell in love with the s10. Now this is the speaker I've been looking for. While I still feel the 100s are one of the best sounding speakers I've heard and I always felt that getting the m80 was like getting the B&W 703 or Paradigm 100s at a bargain price, I just could resist the sound of the s10 and the look of the wood veneer cabinets. The bass was just soooo tight and the midrange and and treable are just perfect for me. The s10 is a detailed speaker without being harsh or bright. The s10 isn't as detailed as the m80s and it's more detailed than the 100s and has tighter bass that's seemed punchier than the 100s. So for me I guess for me the perfect speaker lies somewhere between the 100s and the m80s and that's how I would describe the s10.

So I just wanted to say thank you to EVERYONE who introduced me to MA speakers over the last few months. While I haven't posted here in months I've been lurking and reading post like a mad man. While I love 100s and the m80s, I just couldn't resist the s10s.

The s10s cost me $1600 out the door tax included. That's about $360 more than the m80s and I could have gotten the 100s for about $1900+tax. All and all I spent more than I planned, but I feel that after all these months of searching I got what I wanted and I also got more than I planned.

I know this is the Axiom forum, but I've always been impressed how Axioms allows discussions about all different kinds of speakers noit just Axiom. So I've been gone for a while, but I guess I'll be hanging out around here again even though I have MA speakers.

Chesseroo,
I saw you asked for pic in another post so here you go.

http://pages.cthome.net/lradden/ht/images/P1010435.JPG
http://pages.cthome.net/lradden/ht/images/P1010441.JPG
http://pages.cthome.net/lradden/ht/images/P1010436.JPG

Now all I have to do is pick up my MA center on Monday and I'm all set. I also think I'll be getting the Axiom surrounds in a few weeks to replace my current JBL surrounds because I read how great they are.

Thanks
Legairre

Welcome to the Monitor Audio family!

Jeeeez, can I say that here?

Once your in with MA, there is no going back. Now that you have the bug you will want the GR20's.........and then before you know it, the almighty GR60's which to this day are one of the best set of speakers I have heard regardless of price!

Time to update your site and get rid of that JBL stuff!

One more thing for the record, I honestly don't think Axiom and MA sound a lot alike! The M50's are close but the M80's are not!

Congrats Legairre! Although I've only heard the S6s and S8s, I'm sure the S10 are awesome. I think the bass drivers are slightly bigger on the S10 than the other towers, so they must give you a little more oomph. Very clean and controlled. As others have said, I think, sound being similar between Axioms and MAs, the MAs get the edge in beautiful cabinets. I love the cherry finish on my GR 10s. Oh, and the sound--I llike that, too!

Congratultions on your new speakers, Legairre. Many of us here own speakers other than Axioms. You made your point very nicely without offending anyone, or implying there is anything wrong with Axioms. It all comes down to personal taste, and the important thing is that you are happy with your purchase. Besides, if you're going to be using Axiom surrounds, that keeps you in the family. ENJOY!

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Many of us here own speakers other than Axioms

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Exactly right! It's all good unless you come here saying you have Streems.........then it's on! (Sorry.......flashback!)

I'm using a modified Axiom made Merak MC6H center, Axiom QS8s with the Thiel CS 3.6 big towers I picked up used (mint) for the same price as a pair of M80s. The Thiels are great ... and time corrected.

beeep

G'luck with your new MA's!

Very beautiful speakers. Glad you found what you were looking for.

I told Neverhappy he needs to change his name. Hear that Fairlyhappy?

Glad to hear you're happy with your new speakers, and hey, if they sound even close to the M50s, you must be!!

If you're pleased with your decision, so are we. Good job!

How is that old JBL sub holding up. I had one EXACTLY like it.
Long story, but if mine hadnt gone out I wouldnt own Axioms or any of my nicer HT stuff.

Legairre, I am happy for you.

But you MA guys still do not merit Posse status.

Bray, I use two 12" 250 watt JBL PSW-D112 subs in my room(one in each front corner) and I've been running since 1998. It seems that the amps blew on everyone who bought them except me. I like my movies really loud so they get on heck of a work out, but for some reason they just keep going. I can't explain it. Sometimes I hope they will blow so I have a reason to upgrade, but they just keep going.

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But you MA guys still do not merit Posse status.

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Can I join the posse when I get th Axiom surrounds?

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Once your in with MA, there is no going back. Now that you have the bug you will want the GR20's.........and then before you know it, the almighty GR60's which to this day are one of the best set of speakers I have heard regardless of price!

Time to update your site and get rid of that JBL stuff!

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Thanks Never, I'm betting I get upgraitus again a year from now and the s10 show up on ebay and the GR60s show up on my site. As for the site I have a lot of work to do. The Rotel pre amp has been replaced with a Sherwood Newcastle P-965 and the JBL front are history so now I hve to get my butt in gear and update it.

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I love the cherry finish on my GR 10s. Oh, and the sound--I llike that, too!

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I really wanted the cherry ones, but then the wife would have been upset since all the other speakers are black. She wanted the cherry too, but I told her to make things match we'd have to upgrade all the speakers and that would include the following:

2 fronts
2 subs(front LFE)
2 subs(inline with the side surrounds)
2 side surrounds
2 center back surrounds
1 center

When she realized how much it would cost to upgrade 11 speakers she said "your getting black"

Ajax,
Thanks for understanding. On a lot of other forums my post would have been taken as a "I hate speaker xyz". I really did want the m80, but the s10 just won me over.

Guys thanks for being so cool about me posting about a speaker other than axiom. On a lot of other forums my post would have been taken as a "I hate speaker xyz" post. I really did want the m80, but the s10 just won me over. I guess it's really to the m80s credit though because I started wanting the Paradigm 100s and after hearng the m80 I gave up on the 100s and wanted the m80 since they gave a similar sound at half the cost.

Congrats bud. The QS8s do work well with the MA S8s that I recently picked up.
I would also like to reiterate: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AXIOM SPEAKERS. Now that I've had my S8s for about a month, I have an even greater appreciation for the M60s. No speaker is perfect for all material.
The MAs sure are snazzy looking, though.

Man you must work really hard - Thiel is fantastic, Ive always had a thing for the 1.6s

Congratulations on the new speakers. It sure takes a lot of listening until you find "the right ones for you", doesn't it ? Glad you found them.

M2, M3, M40, M50, MA, whatever...

It wasn't me.
I swear.


Lovely speakers Legairre. I could never part with my M60s, but at some point in the future i will also likely own some MA. Maybe for the office....

Replacing all those speakers would have been a pricey headache. Easy fix--just close your eyes when listening to music and imagine whatever finish you like. During movies you'll have the lights off anyway.

Okay, dumb suggestion. I tried.

I think the most important thing is that your wife is happy AND you got the speakers you want. Win/win.

It sure does take a long time to find the right speakers. I started in October and I'm just getting the speakers now. I did take a break and replaced the Rotel 1066 pre amp with a Sherwood Newcastle P-965 though so that kind of made me forget my frustration about not being able to find the right speaker for a while(all of a month).

Well if the wife not happy no one in the house is aloud to be happy so the WAF played into the finish. The black just doesn't show how nic ethe finish is like the cherry would have, but it will do(for now)

Ahhhh Chesseroo, nice try. Your "Slew of 7 speakers" http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=ST&Number=29419&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=monitor%20audio%20s8&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=29315 review was one of the first MA post I came across in December that started me on this trip. My ears thank you while my wallet wants to run you out of town. All joking aside thanks for taking the time to write the review.

Guys there's a little metal grill that covers the tweeter on MA speakers. It's only held on by a magnet and the gold dome tweeter sits behind it. It can be removed with a piece of tape and once removed the tweter seems a bit more airy. My dealer told me it was designed to be removed if you don't have small kids and fear they will tough the tweeter because it looks like a gold button and they might try to push it in. Have any of you removed this grill?

Thanks
Legairre

I've had the grills removed for a couple months now. Really can't tell a difference with or without. I have more luck affecting the sound by moving the speakers out into the room and toeing in different degrees. My room is not the best, but it does respond to slight movements of the speaker--good or bad.

I took similar advice and toured every shop in town. The MA's were the cleanest and most enjoyable to listen to other then the $5000 set of B&W's. Out of my range! I then listened to the Axium M60's and was very pleased. The MA's and M60's sounded (to me) to be the most comparable. They could be twins. I did like the wood veneer of the MA's but the Axiums were in my price range. They should arrive in a couple of weeks.

Enjoy the MA's,
Troy

I've been playing around with placement and mine are 9' apart with the first row of seating at 10' which puts your ears at 12'6" while sitting back and watching a movie or listening to music. I also found that toeing them in makes the biggest difference just like you said. Mine are toed in 2" which puts the speakers facing directly at the person sitting to my right and left.

Be careful removing and replacing the large grill now that the tweeter protector is gone. On my S8s the grills have a tendency to want to snap forward whenever I'm putting them back on.
That is enough reason for me to leave the little tweeter cover on.

My grill covers are on and so are the tweeter covers. I have had them on and off a dozen times and have yet to hear a change either good or bad.

As I have kids, they stay on now 24/7.