Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Close to pulling the trigger on M60tis; ?s...

I am looking for a pair of tower speakers, and am giving serious consideration to the M60s. Although I am new, I have been researching HT information for months, and have many hours logged reading various boards.

These towers are only going to be used for music duty (on the B channel of my receiver) because I am really unhappy with my current speakers in music, and not *quite* satisfied in their movie performance. First I am going to get a pair of large speakers for music only, then I will deal with replacing the mains for HT later.

I have been told I really need to "demo" several speakers, but a) I don't have alot of money to throw around on shipping, and b) I am trying to get a feel for them as to whether I should even be considering them.

I am NOT an audiophile, I just want something nice that sounds good, and feel I can do better than whats available to me at "Worst Buy" or "Short Circuit City".

In all my personal experience with low-fi gear, I have a habbit of bumping the treble and bass controls, or back when I had an EQ would basically set the controls so they were shaped like a letter "V". Yes, I know thta is wrong, and not the correct usage of an EQ.

However, I work in commercial broadcast radio, and we use JBL control 5 speakers/monitors. Our equipment contains NO EQ and is flat and they sound PERFECT to me. Pleny of "high end".

So, my personal taste favors a little boost in the upper and low frequencies, and that leads me to the conclusion that the M60s are a good candidate for me (plus the price!).

What I am concerned about, is I have read several times that they are brig......I mean "accurate", and will really reveal any flaws in a system.

Since I have mostly low-end stuff, should I shy away from them, or would I be okay?

My receiver: Sony STRDA-1000ES
Current speakers: Klipsch Quintet IIs
Sub: SVS PB1-ISD (now call the PB12-ISD).

Rest of the equipment is brick and morter.

Thanks,

-Alan

Check out the B&W 703s if you can. They sound the most like Axiom 60s.

Did you check out the "hearing things" section. Check the first post for someone near you.

Dan the Axiom speakers excel in both music and HT, so why would you buy the 60's for music(b channel) and then get something else for HT use. The 60's are fabulous for both situations,so get rid of what you have and hook these babies up to the A channel and enjoy.

When we talk about flaws, we are talking about poorly recorded CD's, not equipment. I have some CD's from back in the 80's that don't sound as good as other CD's in my collection because of the recording process. Some CD's about make me cry because they sound so good with my 60's. The Axiom speakers are very neutral, meaning they are not laid back or bright as some on AVSforum may call them. You will hear the recording/soundtrack in its true form, that is a good thing in my book. Why would you want speakers that muffle or change the sound of what your hearing.

Based on your screen name, I'm guessing your from TN? Have you checked the "Auditions in your Area" thread in the "Hearing Things" forum? There might be someone close that will let you listen to their Axioms. That is all it took to sell me on Axioms.

Randy

Thank you SO much; that is exactly what I was looking for.

I don't think I have bad equipment per se', just not on the level of what most people with speakers in this class have, and just wanted to make sure all was okay.

As to HT, I don't have a dedicated "theater" room. My setup is in my living room, and although quite a large room for my modest sized house, large speakers are out of the question due to layout. That is why I currently own quintets, all wall mounted. When I first started putting things together, I needed the smallest speakers I could, but in hindsight was a poor decision because they don't blend well with my sub, so in the future I will be replacing them with bookshelves, although I do worry about mounting (won't be able to always hit a stud).

As to auditions, I haven't checked in the other forum, but in all my research I have done, I did find a "map" of Axiom owners, but didn't even see ONE in TN.

-Alan

Tennessee

Chattanooga - M60s, VP150, QS8s (metalaaron)

Nashville - M22s, EP175, VP150, QS4s (dmn23)

I'm in Memphis 8(...Bad spot to be as the closest audition would be to flip a coin and head west to Little Rock, or east to Nashville, both at least 3 hours away.


-Alan

Don't worry, not everyone here has dedicated HTs and big buck components.

My set up is in the living room and is composed of M60s, VP150 and QS8s. The sub is a used Axiom 350 I got for $300 Canadian and it's powered by a used Harmon Kardon 320 I got for $275US from an Axiom member. Oh yes, and it's all controlled by a used Harmony 659 I also from one of the nicest Axiom members you could ever imagine.

The sound is fantastic for stereo and for HT ...although I do often catch myself looking longingly at the EP500

Good luck with your choices, you're going to love your Axioms.

I don't think you can go wrong with the 60's. Listen to them for 30 days and return if not satisfied, one of the great things about Axiom.

If those Klipsch you currently own are anything like the RF7s I heard, you won't find the M60s bright at all.

Alan welcome, and thank you for catching yourself in time to avoid the use of the forbidden "B word". As you correctly note, the M60s are "accurate" and should serve you well.

Thanks JohnK! Ahhh...someone caught it LOL.

I'm new yes, but have been lurking for years, and doing alot of research for MONTHS, so I am armed with alot more info than the typical nuub!

-Alan

I also was in a similar situation and decided on getting the M60ti without listening. I did a lot of research and for best bang for the buck I landed in the Axiom forums.

I read and read and finally I pulled the trigger. While at first without calibrating or letting my ears get used to them I was unimpressed.

About 3 weeks into having them they sound very very good. Especially if you like to listen to your music loud as I do. You can really crank up the volume and get no distortion.

These speakers feel VERY accurate. You'll really start to notice the difference in quality recordings from different CDs. Part of my early disappointment was listening to some very old rock.

I started listening to other CDs that had much higher quailty recording and Wow what a difference.

I was one of those "turn up the bass and trebble all the way" retro guys from back in the 70s. I finally started listening to music for accuracy and I find my taste for music is changing a bit.

For example before my M60tis I saw cool jazz as elevator music. Now it is one of my favorite things to listen to. The accuracy and purity of the music on the M60tis just blows me away. Even started listening to some classical and that is impressive as well.

I love my M60's, even though Wid thinks I need to upgrade to M80's.

It's hard to go wrong with in home trials. But it is especially true with Axiom CS. It's the best way to try out 60s or any other speaker.

Wid is correct!

Thank all of you very much for your opinions! It really does help. While I know there is no substitue for "speaker auditions", honestly, the best thing I can say about my lisening habbits is "casual", not "critical".

Its funny, I am satisfied easily; yet at the same time I have a habbit of being a "perfectionist", and nit-picky as can be.

But, i have been "listening" to speakers in and around me as I come into contact with them (car, home, @ work in our studios), and so far, they all sound great to me....EXCEPT my home system!!! What is really getting weird, one song sounds GREAT on my system, yet another sounds horrible...And often times when I am listening/watching on my system it makes me sleepy (no, I am not making that up).

I think currently I am suffering from a bass "hole" though, and it depends on how much of that material is present as to whether is sounds good or bad.

Was listening to Steely Dan's earlier work, and it sounds....well, not right. Yet, when I popped in his "Two Against Nature" CD, it actually sounded quite good. In the former case, there isn't alot of bass down low, so my sub doesn't do much. In the latter, there is, and my sub starts to come alive. The more I lisen to my current setup, the more I regret buing those "cute" litle speakers.

Oh, well....Going to pull the trigger, and see how much of a difference it makes.

I listen to ALL kinds of music, but my two main types are:

Classic Rock, and Ambient/Space music. Pretty far ends of the spectrum I know...

Thanks again everyone!


-Alan