Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners 80s vs 60s

I know this has probably been asked 500 times but I'm going to ask it again. How much of a sonic difference do you notice with the 80s than the 60's. I have the 60s but am thinking about getting the 80's and moving the 60s to another room. Is there much more noticeable boost in the bass and what about clarity? I am finding that I really enjoy my music and I listen to everything from big band music, classical, to Movie soundtracks. I enjoy how well the 60s play what is recorded, but I wonder if there is any difference between these when playing music. I remember the origginal reason that I bought my axioms where for just watching my movies, but it is amazing what a good speaker can do for your habits! Music now does what it is supposed to do. Cause and emotional response! Anyway, enough of my rant? What does everyone notice?

The differences that exist are so subtle, an A/B comparison is virtually required to distinguish a difference.

The 80s do play a deeper range of bass so it is a bit more prominent and because of the extra drivers and cabinet size, it can play louder, better suited to even larger rooms.

Both speakers are excellent and VERY close in sound. Base your decision on room size and/or preference for extended bass (assuming you are not relying on a subwoofer for the low end).

Thanks!

One thing for the M80s is that they also perform exceptionally well at low volume. I only heard the M60s once and I felt they needed more power to be as good as the M80s. If you live in an appartment like me, this is a major plus. If you can always listen to a good volume, then it might not me worth the change and you might want to get M22s for your second room.

If you are using your speakers without a sub, there is a big difference between the M80s and M60s. After more than a year it still surprises me how low the 80s reach.

There are more subtle differences between the two in the midrange and top end as well. I felt that the 80s sounded noticeably more open/airy on the top end. I really noticed it with cymbals. This was in an a/b comparison at Axiom.

For me it was worth the $300 difference, but I wasn't replacing a good set of speakers like the M60.

Thanks for everyones thoughts on the matter. How much more of an open soundstage did you notice between the two? I do seem to think that for the 60s to really hit stride they need to be turned up a bit to give that openess. If that even makes sense, but it does seem that music has a new dimension to it when the level is turned up. Especially to 11

Thats hard to quantify. It was subtle. Not something you would notice unless you did an a/b comparison.

That was my finding as well. I found the M60s sounded much more like the M80s once the power was turned up a little, say in 80 - 85 db and certainly higher. The M80s really shine at lower volume times, where they still offer that great detail and an open/airy sound while the 60s sound compressed, slightly muffled, much more like almost any other quality speaker out there; but as most people seem to listen in the 80 -85 db range where there isn't much difference, just the slight differences as noted before.

well if 80's a very low in bass, does it mean that it's better or equivalent having 80's without sub ( ep-500) than 60's with sub ????

The 80s have more bass by themselves, yes, but not nearly the same as what a subwoofer would provide. Depending on what type of music you listen to most, the 80s might be completely adequate without a sub. However, if you're going to be listening to movies as well, then the 80s will never go as low as a good sub would.

Personally, given the choices you laid out, I'd choose M60s + a good sub over the M80s alone (I have heard both). However, if I wasn't confined to those choices, I'd get the M80s + two or more good subs.

The 80s have excellent bass on their own, but they wouldn't be able to hit the very low, clean bass of the dedicated sub(EP500) combined with the 60s. Nevertheless, as others have stated, I was surprised at how low the 80s can go in stereo with no sub.

I have the 60's and a 500 - Never having been exposed to the 80's, I can not imagine a better sound than I get. You would not be dissapointed either way - but now that I have had a good sub, I would never be without one. Even at low volumes watching regular TV the sub gives it that "full" sound.

Just as the others have said, I found the 80s, when I tested the A1400, had great amounts of bass on their own. I even had pictures rattling from the bass and it wasn't from loud volume levels however, once my Pb13 was brought in to the equation I could tell the 80s were not hitting as low.

My thoughts when I was at the Axiom plant and did the A&B comparison is, If I was only going to listen to music. I could easily get away with M80's. No sub required, and even today I turn my EP500 off when listening to music. If you are only looking for HT, then the M60's and a good sub is a great way to go. As for me, I use my HT room for both, I went with the 80's and the sub.

The biggest difference I noticed between the two where the 80's bass. I didn't feel the difference was subtle at all. Switching back and forth with my eyes closed I could pick out the 80's every time. Not that it was better bass either, just more of it. I kept having to ask to make sure the subwoofer was in the room was turned off.

Use 80's for music, use 60's and sub for HT, use 80's and sub for both.

My recommendations.

paul

Nicely summed up with that sentence

So what do you think these guys think about upgrading to the 80's and using the 60s for another room or would you go another route?

Hmm. If the objective was to put speakers on another room for 2 channel listening, I would leave the 60's with the sub and put the 80s in the other room.

If the objective is to upgrade the sound in your main room and putting the 60's in the other room was a was to get some use out of them, I would spend my money on another sub for the main room. Not to confuse things or anything...

I prefer M80s for 2 channel listening, when watching movies M60 or M80s sound virtually identical except if the volume is low then the M80s win, IMO.