Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Help! what compact stereo for a college dorm

Christmas is coming...would like to get a compact audio system for my college student. Can you advise me on a compact and inexpensive yet quality system? Only have 2 desires from my student: 1) multi-cd/dvd player and 2) remote control. And findally from my corner, I'd like to get some Axiom M2i's to add the sound quality.

Bob, to go along with M2s, I'd suggest that a very good buy in a multi-disc(5)CD/DVD player is the Panasonic F85(about $130)suggested by Audioholics and a fine low-priced receiver is the Pioneer 912 (about $290).

For a small dorm room, the M3ti's may be a better choice than the M2i's. The M2i's will need a subwoofer. Without one, they'll sound very lacking in depth. They'll be clean and clear for sure, but your son/daughter I'm sure will miss the low end.

The M3ti's in a small room can get away without a sub. It's still not going to go all that low without a sub, but it's the "small room - no sub" speaker of choice.

I must admit that the though I haven't heard the M2s or the M22s, my M3s do sound a little exciting due to a nice mid-bass and upper bass. for my small room (15x10x10), the M3s play quite loud with ample bass. I would like to add a subwoofer but I'm desperately fighting upgradeitis and till now, its working. The M3s should be suitable for your listening since they "seem" to encompass the entire frequency range.

If i were livin' in a dorm room id probbly leave my stereo stuff at home and bring along my good headphones and a headphone amp. Then id have my computer which would also play my movies and have a tuner card for tv, along with 30 megs or so of songs!

I like the idea of using the computer for your movies, tv, and music, but I'm not a huge fan of headphones. I still say get a pair of speakers.

Unless you spend over $200 on a tuner(like a good viewsonic), do not expect anything close to decent for TV reception.

Yeah, although I do own what I consider is an excellent pair of headphones, I tend not to use them unless I have to. In my office I have a Sony "executive microsystem" , which is constantly playing music softly. And I cannot possibly replace even these crappy little speakers with headphones.

Perhaps it's time for me to replace the Sony speakers with a pair of the M2s...

Not trying to bum out all the axiom supporters here, but I would just go w/ one of the Denon/Mission shelf systems for your dorm room. I am not very far removed from the dorms, just a couple years, and remember what it was like =)

Save yourself a few bucks, get you an average shelf system that takes up VERY LITTLE room, and save the fun stuff for four years from now.

By the way, I think ecost has a pretty good deal on a Denon refurb shelf system right now.

If you start with a small system with quality speakers, those speakers can always be integrated into a better system after graduation. M22ti mains now will make excellent rear channels down the road for a 7.1 system, or would be perfect for the "bedroom" system later on, when you go all out for the kick-ass HT system later.

If you buy some crap shelf system now, it'll end up in the trash 4 years from now.

M22s as back surrounds?! If only I had that kind of money...

Spiff...MOST things that were in a dorm room end up in the trash 4 yrs from now.

Spending $500 on a 2 channel setup as opposed to $150 for a denon shelf system for a dorm room...easy choice to me. In my dorm room, space was at a premium, I thought about going the nice 2 channel route, but whats the point when they are 4 ft away from you cause they are so cramped?

I was happy to throw away all my dorm room "stuff" when I left college. I had a job, and didnt not need the beer/slime/whatever else covered stuff from the dorm days.

And maybe step off the audiophile pedastel if you call a Denon/Mission combo "crap"

I don't think I'm up on much of a pedestal calling a $150 all-in-one stereo system crap. I've owned things like that, and they're crap. They're designed to be crap. That is their purpose. They're like disposable razors.

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Not trying to bum out all the axiom supporters here

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DAMN IT twopecker!!!!!!! you brought down my Kirin Ichiban high by mentioning Denon/Mission and I'm all bumed out now.

P.S.: Don't worry, I'm not driving

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If you start with a small system with quality speakers, those speakers can always be integrated into a better system after graduation. M22ti mains now will make excellent rear channels down the road for a 7.1 system, or would be perfect for the "bedroom" system later on, when you go all out for the kick-ass HT system later. If you buy some crap shelf system now, it'll end up in the trash 4 years from now.

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Damn Craig, that is some of the best advice I've ever seen on this board........sincerely!

Thanks.

as i am in a dorm room right now i would say that the m3ti would not be to big. and i have a ton of crap in my room right now.

if its university dorm, where the rooms are smaller, and neighbors can here everything you do, i would go with m3ti's, not m22tis(also its more expensive)

but-think down the road. Next year i am moving into my frat, and ill have more space and ability to play loud music. if your son will also be moving out of the dorms, he will be able to support larger speakers better. I recomend speaker brakcts(the m22tis can be wall mounted)-which basically takes up a minimal amount of space when on the wall

Let me ask you guys the same question in a slightly different way:

You want to have a very compact but decent quality CD/FM stereo set for your office or dorm room, in order to play background music at relatively soft volumes. As for the speakers, you already decided to go with, say, the Axiom M2s. What are available on the market for a compact, all-in-one CD player/receiver that readily fits on your bookshelf?

I have found the sony MHC systems, 50+1 or 60+1 disc players with upgraded speakers not bad. This way the disc storage and handling is solved and there are a variety of continuous play options. On the other hand, taking up a little more space and improving sound quality, I upgraded the bedroom system to an onkyo stereo receiver and pioneer elite 101 disc cd player, both from ebay for just over $200 total. The advantages of the Sony MHC are: size, tape playback & copying which are occasionally useful and full integration. Integration means music radio, sleep timer, musical alarm clock and other features with one remote. The key being what axiom speakers did to the sound. The Sony does a good job in the office where I never have to do anything but touch a button. What we sometimes miss in the bedroom is the musical alarm clock.

another option, if you have a computer in your office, is to run your music off your computer. I have had the klipcsh 4.1 speakers for 3 years and they are the best. It beats everyone elses (on my dorm floor) system, boombox, stereo, or computer speakers by a lot

cost 300 dollars, probably less by now. You can probably get them on ebay too. Excellent for classical-good highs.
comes with sub and 4 speakers. There is also the 5.1 system, which comes with a center, but i believe that is unnecesary. Its extremely easy to set up, plugs straight into computer's sound card and you are good to go. Speakers are about 5 inches wide and 9 inches tall and can produce a lot of sound.

Also, you can put them in the 4 corners of your office and it will look nice(they supply you with long wires-just put them under the carpet,or near the ground

Ok, so right now I'm sitting in a dorm room listening to Jimi Hendrix doing a rousing version of Red House. It's 9:06 and about 30 minutes before my International Business class. From this perspective I can safely say that M3ti's are a very cost effective and space conserving alternative to convential $150-$200 "mini-systems." I've been woken up at all hours of the night by these bass-distorting titans of crap and I have to say the M3ti's easily put them to shame. If your son wants clear, well balanced music and isn't interested in hearing his music on the other side campus, you can't beat axiom. As for a source, I use my computer to supply me with over 30gb of mp3's (don't tell the authorities). Plus, a computer can also be used to play DVD's and regular audio CD's. Besides speakers, I'd recommend getting a nice little integrated amp like a Cambridge Audio A500 or a Denon DRA-395 for a little less money. Personally, I have a parasound Pld-1100 preamp and HCA-750a amp (75w x 2). These little speakers consistently impress me and I plan to enjoy them long after I graduate.

Enjoy,

-Josh

Any additional recommendations for a bookshelf-sized, decent FM/CD player/receiver??? C'mom, guys...