Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater M80 Question...

Ok I've read on here before that some out there have put some sort of restrictor on the 2nd tweeter in their M80. I've been trying to decide on whether to purchase another set of M80's for our studio, or get a pair of M60's. I'm very interested in the M60's, don't ask me why. But since I already have M80's I've really been interested in hearing some M60's. So, if I put the restrictor on the M80, does it sound pretty much identical to the M60? Also, does that change the impedance of the M80?

I would love to try it out to see if I would prefer a pair of M80's or M60's. Actually, I was thinking if I really like the M60's I may just run them in the HT and move the 80's out to the studio since they're pretty much full-range and I don't have a sub out there. Where do you get the restrictor btw?

Axiom used to offer them but I thought one of the changes to the V2 did indeed calm down the high end just a bit.

It would not change the impedance at all.

Micah, it's fairly common that tweeters have higher sensitivity than bass drivers and resistors have to be included in the crossover to pad down the tweeters to equalize the bass/treble balance. As Rick pointed out, at one time(upon request)Axiom would furnish an additional resistor(affected both tweeters)to lower the tweeter level a bit more. Apparently the M80 crossover was modified several years ago to among other things reduce the treble level slightly. In any case, Alan has mentioned that the resistor is no longer supplied.

Wid is correct. If I were to wager a guess, I would guess that the M80s are the Axiom speakers that have seen the most changes over the years.

that is my understanding as well. I think back in the 80ti years this was an optional request. When V2 came around I'm pretty sure this was incorporated in the new design.

Ok I see now. I guess I had it mixed up a little. I thought you could basically shut one of the tweeters off, and that it would sound more similar to an M60 that way and I could listen to it in that mode and try to figure out if I might like a set of M60's. But I guess it's far more involved than that. I guess I should have known that the crossovers and enclosure tuning also have their differences, so in the end it really wouldn't sound much like an M60 after all.

So I suppose the best thing to do would be purchase a pair of M60's and just hear it from the horses mouth eh? Lol, thanks fella's.

Keep in mind that the m80 is slightly larger and has 2 mid ranges as well. Even if you did disconnect one tweeter it would still be an entirely different speaker than the m60, just with one less tweeter than it was designed for

But what I want to know is how do you like the Denon and the Emo>
\
\ Do you have any problems with the Emo and the Axioms ??? that was the setup I was thinking about and eventually throwing in a pair of XPA-2 's for the rears

Micah is one of the few that has not had issues.

Actually Randy, I think he did have minor issues but didn't think they were bad enough to warrant returning the unit...a couple of shutdowns if I'm not mistaken. Maybe he can enlighten us.

I think in general the lower end Emotivas have been pretty problem free. As I recall, it's been the MPA-1 (obviously) and the XPA-2 that have been problematic with the M80s. The UPA-5, XPA-3 (maybe the XPA-5?) and LPA-1 have been ok.

I could be utterly wrong, but I think that's where we stand now.

I don't know anyone crazy enough to own the XPA-1. Which is a really cool amp, since it has warning stickers that say it will kill you if you touch the binding posts while it's turned on.

Death via an audio system would be awesome. I would be legendary on all forums and probably win a posthumous Grammy. In memory of me, the Loudness Wars would end.

Of course, I wouldn't know any of this, 'cuz I'd be dead. But still....

Yea but .... you'd still be checking in on the forum every now and again wouldn't you Mark?

Just to haunt you guys... yes...

Does haunt mean active participation? A spectre, but not just a spectator?

I'm starting with you first, Charles..... BOO!

I'm hoping to spend at least a little bit of my afterlife as a poltergeist. I don't want to scare people to death, I just want to be able to play with their toys.

/em smiles as he pictures Mark discovering all his wood stock pre-mortised in cryptic patterns that look like there is a mysterious and ominous message to decipher but are truly random.

But seriously.
Sound aside for a second, you might also also consider the look of the two speakers depending on where they are going. The M60's, like Mark, show a little more wood.

Sorry Buddy, that's two in a row and without provocation but the topic fit and you became a target of opportunity.

Such as putting small toys inside subwoofers' ports?

Hey, look, another fun poll!

What spectre is Mark resembling tonight? single choice
	Casper the Friendly Ghost
	Count Floyd
	Count von Count (from Sesame Street)
	Count Chocula
	the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
	Other: please write-in
Votes accepted starting: 02/01/10 03:26 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

please-oh-please-oh-please-oh-please-oh-please-let-it-be-Count-Chocula!

Other: the ghost of an M40...

Sorry to side track this thread, but in interest in running the M80's with their own power source, I think Emotiva was brought up. How important is it wo supply the M80's their own power source? I mean if one is running them off a decent AVR that can put out modest amounts of power will the M80 benifit that much more from having their own power source?

I know these sucker are rated to 400w and I think I have heard somewhere that they have been tested to as high as 700w. That being the case what would a good power amplifier range be to run them? 200W, 250W 400W?

I am just currious, I have never looked into a preamp before but do know their role in a good audio system. I do have the outs I need on my AVR LOL (I hate fourms the cost way too much) so I googled EMOTIVA just to have a peak. I then got side tracked with sunfire, lexicon, macintosh, and the list goes on LOL.

Thanks, I hope I didn't side track too far form the OP's question.

Later
Phil

We're polling what kind of a ghost I'd come back as, and you're worried about side tracking the OP? We always hijack here...it's what we're known for! Though your post stands out a bit in that it actually has to do with something...!

The M80s don't need additional amplification unless you're in a very large room or play them insanely loud. Some people feel that they do, however, "open up" a bit more when listening at even "reasonably loud" levels if you add an additional amp.

You would want a receiver that plays nice with 4 Ohms, though... Denon is a popular choice here though there are others.

The M80s are an efficient design though, and for the vast majority of people, 80-120 watts is more than enough.

Whoa ... derailing a derailed thread, I believe ol' Phil has found himself a home.

I never could get those railroad cars back on the track without running them across one of those rerailers.

We are talking about HO scale trains here.....aren't we?

Speaking of HO scale trains, I am into the small scale helicopters......sweet I think the M80's would make a great landing pad.

That would make an EP600 an Aircraft Carrier.

Ok for anyone who isn't sure of the final verdict, the only real problems I had with the Emotiva stemmed from not being able to figure out the 12 volt trigger. I tried numerous fittings, but they all failed. So yes the Emotiva did shut down on me, but it was always when I was switching from Video to AUX or Cable to Video or something like that. That split second where the reciever wasn't sending any sort of signal to the amp tripped the protection circut for some reason? I always thought if I had a properly working 12 volt trigger installed it would fix the problem. But like I said, I couldn't figure that problem out.

As far as playing the M80's, the XPA-3 did that with ease up to levels that even I could barely stand. But like I pointed out in another thread, when you match a lot of power with these M80's, you get awesome sound all the way to max volume. If you've ever turned the volume up on just your AVR and at a certain point the speakers started to break up and you thought you'd reached the limit of the speaker (I'm talking about M80's, not just ANY speaker), you didn't. You reached the limit of your AVR and it went into clipping. Your M80's will play distortion free with enough clean power.

And I voted for the stay-puff marshmallow man. Althought now that I think about it, Boo-Berry might have been a better choice.

I'm going with Jacob Marley, only Mark will have a bunch of MacIntosh amps strapped to his chains.

Phil, a good amplifier power range to run the M80s is no more than would be required for maximum safe listening levels at the listening position. In the vast majority of cases the typical receivers rated anywhere in the 100 watt area do the job.

Very true, you're insight is dead on. However this is assuming our friend Phil here is the type of guy that wants to remain below safe playback levels. This only holds true for the majority of people, 5% of the population is clinically insane and screams, "Damn the torpedo's" while cranking 'Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats past 120 dbs... like me!!!

I realize it's hard to fathom when that sort of thing doesn't interst you in the least, but from what I gather, Ian Colquhoun (the designer of the M80's) fit's into that 5% himself. How else can you explain the A1400? Of course Ian's listening room could very well be larger than most of our homes for all I know. So keeping this on a personal experience level I'll just say that once I pushed the volume knob past 55 on the 100 watt reciever I was experimenting with, the M80's started to break up, sounding as if I'd blown every driver in the speaker. However I hadn't reached the limit of the M80's, I'd reached the limit of what a 100 watt reciever could do with an M80. There is more performance than that inside an M80... there are DANGEROUS levels of sonic capabilities locked within those cabinet walls, you just have to feed it enough power to squeeze it out.

JohnK is the voice of reason on this board Phil. He'll have excellent hearing well into his 90's. While I on the other hand will have to cram an M3 into my ear to use as a hearing aid within the next decade. So you just have to ask yourself, am I a level headed sort of fellow like John? If so then you will probably do very well with just about any 100 watt reciever you can get your hands on.

But if you're drawn to the dark side of the force like Darth Vader and I, you might tag that Emotiva website in your favorites list for future reference.

I think generally speaking, the majority of people have a "similar" listening level but let's be honest, there's a lot of music that just sounds better with some some extra juice applied. Take a song like 'Hot Blooded' or 'All Right Now' for example, they just enter a new dimension when you put the hammer down!

Or add alcohol

Remember the scene in 'Boogie Nights' where Mark and his buddies go to rip that drug dealer off and he's blaring 'Sister Christian' by Night Ranger while that little gay Asian guy is lighting off firecrackers the whole time??? Well that is sort of like a peak into my home life..... without the firecrackers.

Sounds exciting Micah.

Well I don't mean to brag, but I do look awful good in a pair of bikini underware and a silk robe!

Way too much information!

It coulda been worse, I resisted posting up pictures to prove my point.

Oh man I have been awake for 23 hrs now and still at work...did I mention I hate drilling rigs? Anyway I was going to say somthing but forgot what the thread is all about. I will recap and repost at a better time when I do not have "safety dance and bikini underwear" in my mind. I still have work to do LOL.

Later
Phil