Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Question about comparing towers

Hello

I'm demo'ing a pair of Axiom M60s vs some CSW T200s, and have a few questions. The main thing I noticed between the two, was that the Axioms had more of a clearer, natural sound, while the T200s sounded warmer with a little less depth. Both have very good sound stages, and both sound good with music as well as HT.

But now here's the thing, everyone I've had compare the two at my house likes the way the T200s sound better, because it has more of bassy/deeper sound. Most of the speakers I've ever listened to sound more like the T200, almost like it had an equalizer on or it was set for less treble, more bass. The Axioms stand out because of how unobtrusive the bass is, and almost how plain (in a good way) the music sounds.

Do the Axioms take some getting used to in that regard? I'm by no means an audiophile, and most of the speakers I've owned previously were cheaper CSW models, Yamaha, or other cheaper end speakers. I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience with them, and how you like them now. I'm still on the fence about which ones to keep.

Welcome to the boards!

Hopefully the Axiom guru Alan will chime in.

Most Axiom owners will tell you that their speakers don't color the sound, just reproduce it faithfully.

The CSW T200s have 6 drivers as opposed to the 60's 4, so you will get more bass from the CSWs. Axiom's M80ti adds another tweeter and another midrange and give you more bass and more volume without coloring the sound. I've owned 60s and traded up to 80s.

When you said, "The Axioms stand out because of how unobtrusive the bass is, and almost how plain (in a good way) the music sounds.", you said everything an Axiom owner loves to hear. I listen to CDs with the mains only. For HT my EP500 shakes the house.

In the end, it's not what others think. It's what YOU hear!

If you had tried the Axiom M50's you would find them similiar to the CSW's when it comes to "warmth" The M50's are a little laid back and not as forward as say the M60's or M80's.

All are great speakers but you will have to decide if the forward sound is for you. I had the M80's and then went with the M50's and loved them, but like I said, it's up to you what sound you prefer. A more forward speaker or something that is a little more laid back.

In reply to:

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In the end, it's not what others think. It's what YOU hear!

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Welcome to the boards.
I have to agree with the above quote. I recently purchased m60's after testing many many brands at all price ranges. The most important thing is to learn what you like to hear. Your friends are not the ones to please.

I will add that your ears will adjust to the sound of your speakers somewhat but it is essential to know what you like. Don't buy just because one speaker is more accurate if you like a little more laid back sound. On the ohter hand don't but laid back if you really are looking for accuracy and neutrality just because your friends think it sounds better. It's very hard not to respond to that bassier laid back sound if that is all you have heard for years.
For what it is worth I love my 60's with or without my sub in the mix. Trust your ears and go with what you like!
oz

From what you've said it sounds like you prefer the sound of the M60ti's, and your friends prefer the sound of the CSW's. Who are you buying them for?

Most towers (nearly all I've ever heard until you start getting into the $2000+ range) have very muddy sound in the upper-bass region. That deep mid-range/high-low range seems to be a real struggle for most tower speakers. In fact, before hearing the M60ti's, I was strongly in the "bookshelf speakers and a sub is better than towers" camp.

What you're hearing is likely in fact clean, un-distorted, tight bass, not less bass. From your post above it sounds like you prefer that sound already, and given a few days more listening, you'll likely grow to really dislike the loose sound of lesser speakers.

Ultimately it's your ears and your call though.

The M60s are definitely growing on me, I was just curious if they had to grow on other people as well. As I said, I don't know anyone with a B&w system or anything else higher end, so they definitely sounded *different* at first.

I really like the way both speakers sound, and now I understand all the comments about a forward speaker vs. a laid back speaker. I think I'll play with them some more for the remainder of the trial before making a final decision, but I am already leaning towards the Axioms. The T200s definitely sounded more like speakers I was used too, and I think that's why I prefered their sound at first. I listen mostly to rock and alternative music, and not too much jazz or orchestral, so I still need to see which style better suits that kind of music.

And I still need to find a finish for the Axioms that matches the rest of my furniture I'm hoping the sorrel pear or warm cherrywood is darker than the pictures show them.

Thanks for all the help, and the quick feedback

if bass you want...get a sub to supplement. that is what they are for anyways. as for clean sound...the m60ti's have definitely grown on me. i can not for th elife of me get them to clip, burp, fart, or do anything unnatural that i would not want to hear. i CAN get just about every other speaker i have own to do those things easily with more volume...subs are your friends...get a couple new friends...and then decide...also, the bass you hear outta the m60s is not less...but much more accurate and tighter than you are used to. warm speakers tend to be sloppy...but to the unfamiliar ear...they sound good....to the trained ear...they sound like a bloated toad croaking...interesting sound..but not what you want to take home with you night after night. :-P

i dunno where that came from !!!! ROTFL

I guess that I had a similar experience, Mully. The first few times that I listened to the m60's I thought I was missing a little bit of bass. I even considered getting a sub. After a few weeks though, I came to like the sound better and better the way it was. Recently I downloaded some songs from iTunes with lots of bass (mostly techno stuff) and realized that these speakers are capable of producing tremendous amounts of LFE when asked.

When I fill out my system to for home theater I'll get a sub, but until then I'm very happy with what I have.

Mully, when I first got interested in audio stuff my ears were drawn to speakers that put out a lot of bass. Why? Because it was one thing that easily stood out to my untrained ears. I would say things like, "Whoa, those sound powerful." It wasn't until further into the game that I realized the important thing wasn't the amount of sound coming out of a speaker, but the quality. I find myself actually turning the level down on my sub when I listen to music. And to be honest, out in the living room I usually just run my bookshelves by themselves. My bedroom has the M40s and I keep inching them away from the wall trying to find an equable spot.

The main thing to remember is that speakers are a personal thing. Buy what you like and trust your ears. There's lots of free advice out there, but in the end you have to like what you hear. Good luck, and don't rush things.

You've done one thing right, so far--stopped by this forum!

>>My bedroom has the M40s and I keep inching them away from the wall trying to find an equable spot.

Aren't M40s just the perfect bedroom speakers ? Not quite big enough to seem out of place, but fantastic bass and very smooth clear sound. I run mine with about 18" between the back of the speaker and the wall... and 3-4 feet from the side walls. Any closer and I get too much bass... which is pretty impressive considering how small the woofer is.

Axiom seems to measure the outside of the basket while I'm used to measuring in the midpoint of the surround, so I would say the M3/M40 has 5-1/2" woofers and the M2/M22 has 4-1/2" woofers.

It's too bad Axiom discontinued them... they are brilliant music speakers but I guess if you already have a sub (ie an HT system) the M3s give you almost the same sound for less $$. Anyways, my M40s are cranked up high (go Kylie !!) and sounding great.

Yes, the bass out of these guys is quite impressive. They are like super bookshelves for the bedroom.

It is too bad Axiom discontinued them, but what a great deal for those of us who jumped on them while the price was insanely low.

Come to think of it, I haven't really pushed them that hard. Maybe tomorrow I'll see how much my neighbors can take. Right now I'm trying them with a solid-state amp and tube preamp. Sounds good, so far!

They definitely aren't "wall of sound" speakers; in fact my crappy cheap tower speakers sound better when you really crank the volume....

... but up to their limits, the sound is fantastic. One of the very few speakers that does a consistently good job of reproducing acoustic piano. I had a higher opinion of speakers in general until I scored a real piano in the living room.... now I can walk downstairs, go "plunk plunk" on the keyboard, and see what the track is SUPPOSED to sound like.

Emperor... naked... scary...

I'm thinking that so-called "chestiness" of the M40s may lend itself to a better depiction of a piano. I've got a couple of RCA Living Stereo cds I'll try tomorrow.

free bump

I don't get why you're doing this.

Tom Tuttle and Wid where with me Peter, come on man Actually, if you haven't noticed there has been a lot of threads started in the Stereo area, not going to mention the name of the creator, but in most instances had nothing to do with the category. Ok, I'll give ya a hint VP150's suck

I must be deficient, what the heck is this bump thing?