Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Best mini system...

My kids come up every summer for 6 weeks, and we love to watch movies together. I just bought them a 46 inch tv for their room, and I would like to upgrade their sound so that they could watchh movies while I'm working on rainy days and such. I'm not really wanting to spend a ton of money on it because like I said, it's not going to get a whole lot of usage. And we do watch most of the better sounding movies in the main HT room anyway.

Still, I'd love to get them some Axioms to listen to their movies on. I doubt I'll invest any money in a subwoofer, so I was wondering between a set of M22's and M3's what would be a fuller sound? Their room is 12 1/2 x 12 with 8 foot ceilings. I'm sure either set will sound great, and I'm most interested in getting a set of M22's since they are so popular. I'm just wondering since so many people say for movies it's a must to pair M22's with a sub, and I don't really wish to purchase a subwoofer for their room, if the M3's would play a little more base?

I realize I'll probably completely blow this budget, but I'm not looking to spend much more than $500 bucks on this project. My son is 15 and my daughter 12, so in a few more years it'll be a guest room at best... and possibly even my fiancee's walk-in closet as she has outgrown her closet many times over already.

I also realize the vast majority of you will say the sound quality of the M22's make up for any bass they give up to the M3's... so I guess basically I'm looking for someone to make a case for the M3's. I've never really seen that done on here so far, so it may be a lost cause. I'm just curious I guess.

Thank you in advance for your advice/comments.

What did I tell you, Argon?

I'd go with the M3s, myself. Perceptually, they're fatter than the M22s (physically, too...), and they sound great.

You read my mind.


What about Bose?

What about em?

Ummm... what exactly DID you tell Argon? Were you guys secretly betting I was putting a mini-system together for my kids? Or have you been eyeballing the spill-over from my lady's closet onto the chairs in front of it???

I would still go with the M22s. They have a cleaner sound than the M3s IMO and play the same amount of bass, actually more, but it is not presented in the same manner as the midrange is not recessed on the M22 like it is on the M3.

I have M22's and my son has M3's. It's really a matter of preference, but IMO the M3's would be better if you are playing at lower volume, otherwise the M22's sound better.

Micah, the tests show that the M22 is tuned about 4-5Hz lower than the M3 and therefore has slightly more bass extension.

I really like the M3's and Algonquins which I was using for 2 channel TV & Music upstairs. Since the weather is getting better I will finally get them outside!

As you have M80's and the M22 are supposed to be similar wouldn't you like to try another Axiom offering???