Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo How neutral are the M22ti's?

Hi everyone. I've been looking at Axiom speakers for a while now, and I'm currently in the market for a new setup.

One thing in particular is alittle tricky for me. I would use the speakers about 60% of the time for casual listening, but 40% for monitoring (in terms of track production and mastering. focusing on electronic music styles, including trance and tribal house). This means that I need a very neutral sound, highly detailed, but adding as little colour as possible to the sound. I am also looking at actual studio monitors (m-audio studiophiles, event 20/20bas, behringer truth), but considering the amount of time I listen to music casually I would like a speaker that sounds good, and would be practical for both applications.

I have an 8" powered sub that really knocks down the low frequencies, so I'm interested in something that has very well defined acurate mids and highs. Would the M22ti's be practical for this use? Or should I stick to actual studio monitors?

Opinions are greatly appreciated!

As far as I can tell from my own listening impressions, the M22 would suit your purposes very, very well. I listened to them with classical music CDs (the genre my ears are highly picky about), but the details, accuracy, neutrality and precise imaging are definitely the strengths of the M22.

Very neutral, Paul. Study this review, especially the NRC measurements. Should be ideal for your use.

Hello Paul,

The M22ti's are extremely neutral and uncolored--possibly the most transparent speaker available anywhere near its price. It's even more neutral than the more expensive Paradigm Reference Studio 20, which, although very close to the M22ti, still has a slight hump in the 100 - 200 Hz region.

It's my experience over the years that some domestic speakers like the M22ti are far more neutral and accurate than some of the "professional" studio monitors, whose frequency responses are quite wonky.

Regards,

very, very neutral.

Thanks for your help. I have also dug up many reviews about the m22's on other sites, including reviews from people who use them as studio monitors, and I think my decision is made. Now, the hard part is deciding whether to get Maple or Boston Cherry!

I heard a pair of M22s in a video studio and that is what turned me onto axiom's sound. I heard about them before, but hearing them fixed me!

Don't forget about the custom finishes, too!

thanks for pointing out those custom finishes, I didn't see them before. The Warm Cherrywood looked rather tempting, but I ended up ordering a pair in Boston Cherry. Now I can't wait for these to arrive so I can finally take a listen!

Welcome to the Axiomville, chrono! You will enjoy them.

Now that i've had an opportunity to listen to the M22ti's, I must say thank you to everyone on these boards for helping me choose these speakers. They sound amazing, and seem perfect for my application.

Now I just got to make a pair of nice stands!

Hi- could you maybe update a little about how these are working out with your studio setup? I'm planning to put together a digital audio workstation for computer-based audio recording, and already own a pair of M22ti speakers. Being able to use them as good monitors would definitely help my budget.

Although actually, it could get annoying moving them since my stereo and computer setups would be in different rooms- has anyone used M3tis for studio monitors?

thanks!

Hey Chrono i can tell ya how to make a Cheap pair of stands that don't look bad at all , Here is what i did got me a Piece of Wood 12x12 an inch thick( for the Base ) , got me a 4x4 24 inches long( cut it to the length u need ) an got me a Piece of wood a bit bigger than the Mi22's so what i did was cut it to Fit the Base of the Mi22 so it looks like it Fits perfect( that pc is used for the Top ) an then i went an got me a can of Black Vinyl Spray Paint an painted it an looks Dang good all my Buddies like it . But what u need to do is go to your Listening Position measure to your Ears an then make the Stand + the Speaker( the Tweeter should b right at Ear level ) or jus go with a stand an make it 24 inches total but i have both a 24 inch stand an the one i made which ended up being 19 inches in total height an the one that is 19 inches jus sounds a bit better might save u sum Cash on doing it that way

How neutral are the M22ti's?

In WWII they were Swiss.

Ford, that made me laugh out loud at work.

Hi,

Pierre Sprey, president of Mapleshade Records (www.mapleshaderecords.com) who make wonderfully natural recordings, has a pair of M3ti's for monitors.

I'll let you know when I hear back from him on how they are working out.

Regards,

I love Pierre's recordings, and I also love his speaker wire and interconnects, which I think are the best for the buck out there. These are cables which do make a difference. I also now applaud his choice of monitors.

Unfortunately, as Ken (I think?) pointed out... the guy also has a fine selection of eye of newt and wing of bat.

Ahh, I guess when you run a small label, you have to add "fleecing the flock" to your repetoire to make ends meet. I'm sure he's a great audio engineer, but a lot of audio engineers are also susperstitious. Kind of like a baseball player selling his "lucky socks" because, after all... they made him go from a .201 to a .259 BA.

Bren R.

Bren,

Hadn't seen all the weird stuff offered there (thanks for the link). A CD spray?? Bizarre. That's like Ed Meitner selling cryogenically frozen CDs some years ago. . .

Regards,

And WTF does "right vertical, horizontal and torsional resonant frequencies for optimum sonic isolation" mean anyway?

Throughout, he claims to be able to raise average soundign equipment to soudn more like really expensive audiophile equipment. But look at what he is using to achieve this "audiophile sound" - which probably ends up costing you more than just going to get audiophile equipment (whatever that means. And you're wife will be a lot less pissed off at simply buying expensive equipment than when she trips on your "speaker lifters" for the 10th time that night.

In reply to:

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And WTF does "right vertical, horizontal and torsional resonant frequencies for optimum sonic isolation" mean anyway?

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It's "this linament will cure whatever ails ye... you, good sir, do you have the dropsy? the vapors? rheumatizz? consumption? chillblains? It'll even put hair on a cue ball... roll up, roll up and see the wonders of modern medicine, all the way from NEW YORK CITY... that's right!" for the 21st century.

Bren R.

Every time I see a snake oil product, this Tom Waits song pops into my head:

Step Right Up

Not to beat this thread to death, but for those who are using the Axioms with a computer for digital recording/studio applications, what do you use for amplification? Maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems active monitors might work better for digital recording, rather than spend extra $$ for amplification and passive speakers. (Brands or types of amplification would be great- not sure if running an out from my computer's audio card into my current amp, an Arcam Delta 290, would work?)

Any insight is much appreciated.

All three studios I've spent any serious time in use rack mount power amps. Two use Paradigm Reference products, one uses Paradigm Signatures, I believe, in Studio A and B&W in Studio B.

One of the studios was flooded out this spring and they're still rebuilding... I'm trying to get the owner to look past the audiosnob factor and consider Axioms - maybe I'll buy him a pair.

Bren R.