Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Gallery M5HP in Edmonton (try #2)

Took delivery of the ebony M5HP last week to replace a pair of Kanto Yumi powered loudspeakers. I bought an Onkyo TX-SR393 AVR as well, and repurposed the unpowered Yumi as a center channel. The Yumi's on the inverted IKEA waste paper baskets are the before picture. I relocated the vintage Mirage PS12/90 sub to the corner where it actually sounds better and deeper at the listening positions. That's a cable modem router on top of the sub.

The Onkyo's AccuEQ mode configures the crossovers for the M5HP at 40 Hz and the Yumi at 80 Hz, but I switched the M5HP to full range and double bass mode for better blending. The AccuEQ recommended a subwoofer level that's at least 7dB too high, so I manually turned it down at the sub. It's still not quite right, so I'll keep fiddling with the bass management.

The M5HP's do sound better than the Yumi's, but it's not a night and day difference; the Yumi's also nail the midrange, but they're like most loudspeakers nowadays with a goosed treble. The instruction manual said not to put them on the floor, but I put them on the floor. Sorry Ian. I'm reusing the 15º silicone bookshelf stands for now until I find something proper sized, and then I'll tuck these under the center channel to avoid the floor bounce. I'm looking at adding surrounds and a proper center channel a later time in the future.

Too low and too close to each other. You will never experience their ability to throw a holographic image.

Nice upgrade for sure!

These are great speakers. To get their best might be tough in your room. Saying that, I have a couple pals that have them set up in tricky spaces too. They still love em!

Wife acceptance value is very low if I place them in the equilateral triangle arrangement and blocks entry into the kitchen. When she's not home, I can relocate them appropriately. The TV and sub used to be in the corner, but I made some furniture rearrangements and settled on this.

The low floor placement isn't a problem, it's angled to alleviate the image smearing that comes from the floor bounce. I have yet to let it run loose, my wife's been home during the entire lockdown period and I haven't been able to turn it up so I can tweak the bass management settings.

First thing I noticed about the M5HP was that they didn't try to exaggerate the mid-bass and treble.

I think you need M60s.

The space is tricky as Trevor noted but for fun, try moving them up and out and just see how things change. Ultimately you may have to move them back into their present spot for the WAF, but at least you will know if such changes can improve the sound or not. Given your room, it's possible that moving them outward with no backwall behind them could actually make them sound worse.
The room and placement in the room makes all the difference in sound quality.

All walls must go
In free space we must be
Our 'nads will rock to and fro
As wives shriek like a banshee.