Although I don't post as much as I used to, I've been an Axiom owner and participant on this site for many years. I've never had a bad word to say about Axiom speakers, and have posted both here and on other audio sites about how well some Axioms (especially M3s) play with some tube amps.
Over the years, Alan has described tube gear as "distortion generators" and now tells us that hiss is part and parcel of tube gear as well. I personally consider his comments to be not only incorrect, but ignorant and insulting. Alan is not just another participant on these forums. Alan Lofft speaks for Axiom. Now, I don't know why Axiom would want its spokesperson to alienate folks who love their Axioms and their tube gear as well, but I think Alan has succeeded in that regard.
You may have noticed that folks who bother to post about audio equipment can become fairly attached to components which work for them ... for example, most of the people who post here are pretty passionate about their Axiom speakers. Over the years, some folks who obviously haven't listened to Axioms have made some pretty disparaging comments about these speakers on other sites. Usually, this amounts to people repeating the canard that Axioms are overly bright, or shrill, yadayada, comments for the most part made by people who have never heard Axiom speakers. I've posted my share of positive experiences with Axioms I have owned, in reply.
Here we have Alan who periodically makes pronouncements about tube gear which are equally baseless, but they are made by Axiom's resident audio 'expert.' In my opinion, it doesn't reflect well on Axiom and although his comments seem to attract and please like minded folk (whether they have ever heard tube gear or not) clearly they have alienated at least some folks who disagree.
Just my 2 cents.
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My Axioms past and present: M2s, M3s, M22s, M50s, QS8s, VP150, Merak M66 Merak MC6H, Merak MC634, Axiom related speakers: Michaura M55s, M66s and M665s.
