Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Considering M80’s – Questions ( Long Post)

I visit the board frequently and contemplated getting Axiom’s but ended up with Kef’s as I couldn’t audition Axioms in my NH area, well I honestly love my Kef’s but am looking to upgrade my HT set –up and have some questions on the M 80’s as they will be driving my decision to get the entire Axiom HT set-up :

1) My living room dimensions in feet are L X W X H = 15 X 13 X 8.5, is this too small of a room for the M 80’s. I listen to a lot of music and don’t want to end up with speakers that pound in my living room due to its small size.

2) What distance should be maintained from the back and side walls for these towers?

3) Do these towers really need a sub-woofer for music? I have the HSU VT3 MK 2 sub but am looking for speakers that hold their own for music and really need a sub-woofer for HT.

4) What do M8O’s really compare to? I have heard that sound similar to B&W 803’s. I’ll try to audition the B&W’s though they are way out of my price range.

5) Is HK AVR 235 sufficient to drive these speakers? I’ve read that HK is one of the brands that can drive the 4 ohm load but want to make sure I’m on the right path.

6) I will be adding a separate amplifier to drive the speakers shortly. I have Rotel RMB 1080 on my list so far which other amplifiers should I be looking at.


I’m really looking forward to finally ordering Axioms and listening to them in person and also comparing them with my Kef’s. If I’m sold on the M 80’s I’ll order the VP-150 and the QS8’s to complete my set up.

If anyone has the M80’s in MA or NH please let me know I would appreciate if I could see/listen to them in person.

Welcome!!

I have M60s, and they sound very similar to B&W 703, which I auditioned before I got my Axioms.

I have them with Rotel Rb-1080 power amp (2X200 wpc at 8 Ohms), and they sound great!

1. My listening area is about the same as yours. I started with 60's and within 30 days moved up to 80s. Your room size would probably dictate M60s or M3s with a sub, but with 80's you would not have to have a sub. I have a EP500.

2. 6 to 8 feet apart should suffice but mine are 12 feet apart. Mine are 8 inches out from the wall and toed in. 2 foot from corner.

3. I listen to music in Pure Direct stereo (no sub). The EP500 rattles the whole house in HT.

4. The 80's may be a little more efficient than the 803's and have more drivers.

5. From what I've read H/K are true to power specs. In stereo the 80's would be driven at apx 98 watts @ 4 ohms with the 235.

6. There is a lot of support for Rotel on this forum. I looked at them when I audtioned the B&W's before my Axioms. I ended up with a Denon 3805 and later added Outlaw Audio monoblocks.

I love the 80's. They sound good at low AND high volume.

I am a true believer in the 30 day trial. How good a speaker sounds at the dealer and at home are totally different. The return freight cost for a speaker is as good as the gas spent to go listen elsewhere in my book.

Others will chime in. Good luck!

HI Britrover,

I have a pair of M80's. My room is slightly larger than yours and I think they work great. I don't think the speakers are too much for the room, just don't turn them up so loud. The question really is, would smaller speakers, like the M60's be adequate for your room? The answer to that is probably yes.

I got the 80's vs. the 60's because I din't want to be wondering waht I was missing out on. Plus who knows what room they will be in a few years from now? I could move to a bigger place, and wish I would have bought the 80's.

I don't think you need a sub for music. I have a sub, but ususally don't use it for music, unless it's multi-channel SACD or DVD-A.

Distance from back wall should be at 12-18 inches. From side walls, probably 1.5 - 2 feet would be best.

I am using an Aragon 4004 amp to drive them, bought it used for $600.

Britrover, I'm thinking the the room dimension (15x13) seems a little small for a pair of 80's. I'm wondering if you'll get good imaging or would the 80's 'be in your face' with that room size....but that's just my thinking.

1) With the room size you have I would think the M80s might just be a tad bit to much.I will not tell you not to get them as they are wonderful sounding speakers.Be aware though these are not small speakers and will play at really high spls.

2) I have mine 18" from the back walls 2' from the side walls and about 9' apart.

3) The 80s do a great job for music without a sub.However I do use one in my system for music.I think once you get used to playing music with a good sub it's hard not having it in the system.

4) I have no idea.

5) It's up to your listening habits whether or not that will be enough for you.I use a Rotel RB1080 with 300 watts @ 4 ohm for mine.

6)

1) I think your room is too small for the 80’s. 60’s should work just dandy. Put the extra cash into good electronics, or don’t, it’s all about want, and not need when audio gear selection is considered.
2) About a foot or so from the back. Don’t know about the sides, I have a lot of room and it’s not an issue for me.
3) If your pre / pro has tone controls, then I’d say no. I like a little more bass than most around here, and I run a sub for music with the 1070 set flat, but if I use the L1 setting (+ 3 db bass), I turn the sub off. I reckon the right answer for that question is how much Thump-Thump do you like? The 80’s will flat out hit you in chest with bass though. Don’t have a clue about the 60’s.
4) My personal take is that their sound is extremely close to Paradigm Studio 100’s. I don’t think they sound much like B&W. Some folks think they sound like the 704’s, but I don’t. To be real honest, only you can answer that question; it’s too subjective.
5) I would say no, but JohnK will tell you yes. He’s smarter than I, so he’s probably right.
6) NAD is a worthy consideration in the same price range as Rotel. There’s something about Outlaws that I don’t like, but I can’t quite figure out what that is. I think that they just “seem” cheap to me. I have no experience with them, so just forget I said that.

1. Don't know for sure but a number of people seem to be happy with M80s in a small room. You just have to be able to get them away from the walls a bit.

2. Ideal distance from the wall will probably be different for every room. In general, you will get more bass as the speaker gets closer to the back wall. You can also use distance from the wall to correct for peaks in your room response, eg.

15 x 13 x 8.5 room has peaks around 40 Hz (OK) then in the 70-90 Hz range (not so good). If you have the speakers ~3.5 feet from the back or side walls that should give you a bit of a dip around 80 Hz which will counter the room peak and flatten your response out a bit.

3. I run M60s for music and normally prefer them without a sub. M80s would be even better. There are a few things that even the 80s won't fully handle without a sub, eg. low pedals on a pipe organ, but 99.9% will be fine.

4. I'm gonna abstain; the 60s sound better than anything I listened to in the last few years but I didn't listen to anything exotic.

5. There are two questions here :

- Does the 235 have enough power to sound really good and play at decent volumes in your room ? Absolutely, unless you like to play real loud.

- Is the 235 enough to take full advantage of the M80s, particularly if you move to a larger room in the future ? Nope... but going up one or two models won't make much difference either. I'm pretty sure the 235 has pre-outs so you are covered in the future for when the guys here talk you into needing 200-300 watts per channel.

Just to be really clear, other than the 4 ohm thing the M80s don't need any more power than the lower models, they can just handle more power and play louder. If anything they need a bit LESS power than the smaller Axioms.

6. Oh... well never mind about #5 then

just to add, you know it, I know it, everyone here knows it, the 60's will do just fine.

Now, with that out of the way, if you are anything like most of us, get the 80's.

My thoughts were like this. I knew I'd always want to get the 80's down the road. And I know I am not staying in this small house I am in now.

My room is 11x17x8 with carpet, sub floor, basment. The first few months i had the 80's, they were in another room, 11x14, hardwood, upstairs.

Are the 80's "too Much" for your room....nope. But the 60's will be fine as well. I keep them about 12" from back wall, and that again from corners.

Would I power them with a 235....nope. But the rotel should be very very nice.

Do you need a sub? Depends on the amp or receiver. With my Carver pre/pro powering the 80's, I did not "need" a sub for music. With the NAD I had, i indeed needed a sub. It's got more to do with the tone controls as someone already stated then just power. Also has even more to do with personal taste and ear. How much bass do you really want? And how loud do you typically play it?

But, you have a really good sub. Once you get used to listening to that sub, I just can't live without it. That being said, I do turn it off at time late at night to take it easy on the neighbors, and the 80's still sound great. Using a 4600 yammie now btw.

Do you ever stub your toes?