I own both Axiom(M22s) and Magnepan planar(MG12s) speakers and I love both of them. I have a pair of M22s (in a bedroom setup) and I covet them for their natural, accurate tonal character and, across the frequency spectrum, they are one of the most balanced speakers I have ever heard at any price. And for a box speaker, they throw a pretty good sound stage too. At least as good as any box speaker in their catagory including many that I've heard at multiples of the cost of Axioms. I believe that the M22s are giant killers in their respective catagory especially considering the price. Considering the quality of the sound, I believe they are even worth twice the price.
However, I must say that if the Axioms are giant killers then the Maggies are "super" giant killers. The maggies are also accurate and well balanced and what you feed them is exactly what you get. But what sets the Maggies apart from conventional dynamic driver box speakers is that phenomenal "you are there" presentation and the ability to simply melt away into the sound stage. They present the most holographic sound stage I've ever heard in reproduced music (something many box speaker try to achieve with little success and the ones that come close are very expensive). The planar design really uncorks the music and lets it flow. Perhaps it is the dipole nature of the planar. I don't know. They just sound right to me. I have many "goose bumps all over" experiences with the Maggies. If I had to sum up the Maggies in one word it would be "realism".
2X6spds, I also found the sound of the Maggies a bit strange at first but after living with them for the last 6 months everything else now sounds a bit weird and frankly "corked up" and I can't imagine "audio life" without planars now. I'm hooked.
I'll give up my Axiom's and Maggies when they pry my cold dead ears away from the listening position.LOL!
As far as the Aperions go, I actually ordered a pair(522D if I remember correctly)because I was curious about the Diaural circut design. They were beautifully packaged with the velvet "Crown Royal" like bag and they had a really nice "newish" smell to them - sorta' like a new car. They were quite plain in apperance although they seemed very solidly built. BUT! to my ears and my son's they absolutely screeched. It was like fingernails on a chalk board to me. The highs were extremely shouty and in your face and seemed to be highly accentuated. Voices sounded "honky" and grainy. I grew very tired of these speakers within about 30 minutes so I took some asperin and packed them up and sent them back the next day. I've never looked back. Perhaps they would have benifited from some "break in" or perhaps not. I was just curious about them anyway. BTW, when I bought my M22s to audition, I was just curious about them as well. I fully intended to send them back to Axiom because after all, how good can a $360.00(scratch and dent dept.) pair of speakers sound anyway.
With Axiom's and Maggies in my systems, I've stopped lusting about speakers.
Speaking of "weird", I bet those ASL amps took some getting used to, eh' 2X6spds?
