Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M60v3...Thoughts On and Questions About

Yes John I plan to expand. I am doing a lot of reading on separates and have found the Emotiva UMC-1 processor and the XPA-5 amplifier are within financial and aesthetic reason...they really are quite attractive. Ive read some great reviews from Axiom owners indicating these components "bring life" to their speakers. But I am also aware of the problems Emotiva has had with 4 ohm loads...so I am cautious. Other separate's option suggestions for a 5.1 system are very welcome...Lee

Lee, playing slightly louder with a new receiver or separate amplifier can appear to "bring life" to any speaker, but there's no factual support for any effect due to anything other than a volume change.

You do realize the UMC-1 is a flaming pile of doo-doo.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1218226

Geez, and I thought it was only a "hot mess"

Lee, check out Outlaw Audio they have some very good products that are only slightly more expensive than Emotiva.

Your comment on the M60's sounding better once the volume goes up is reminiscent of how I have always said the M60's sounded much closer to the M80s at those levels. The M80s just sound good at all volume levels

Well, I am easily confused John. JC

Well, I am rather new at this...after all I do have "vintage" equipment which translates into arcane knowledge of technology and in my case, I'm not current. I know there are many views and theories about getting the best sound out of speakers. Like most, I would like to get the best sound from my speakers now and for any future expansion in a simple package. I suppose the easiest way to assure this is through an AVR...Denon, NAD, Rotel etc...rather than separates. My main goal for now at least is to maximize my listening and appreciation of classical music through the soon-to-be-delivered M80's. As I stated earlier I will be using a late eighties Denon stereo receiver. I re-read the manual and found I had made a mistake...the receiver is 55 watts per channel (not 45) with 0.02 THD and is also rated for 4 ohm speakers. I think it will suit me well for now. Jakewash's comment regarding the 80's vs 60's sounding better at lower volumes is the reason I traded up and went for the M80's.

So I'll continue reading and thinking about what power sources and applications and other accessories I'll need for expansion to HT, and with extra speakers around the house not being used I'll get a semblance of what an HT will sound like and an idea of the potential I may enjoy should I get serious about HT and surround. I know they probably aren't tonally the same as Axiom's but I just want an idea for now. And if motivated I'll coordinate the system's expansion with other Axiom's.

And another myth is perpetuated based on a sole opinion unfounded by any blind testing but believed strongly and reported as fact because "they heard it".
At lower SPL bass often becomes anemic. The loudness button on older receivers was designed to boost bass at lower SPL such that the music would sound more full and appealing. If anything, the extra bass of the M80 could be causing a similar effect, but then more bass at low SPL isn't exactly an accurate reproduction of sound. It is just adding more bass.

I have to agree with JohnK on his comments through this thread Captain, and having heard the M80s and M60s in a switched comparison years back, you will find they sound so similar that unless you had a switched comparison, it is unlikely you will hear any actual differences that are not more based on preconceived biases already planted in your brain (like the one that they will sound better at low volumes and that they are somehow an "upgrade" to the M60s).
The differences are incredibly subtle and those that exist are for obvious reason:

1) M80s have a greater bass extension (larger speaker, bigger cabinet, more drivers)
2) the M80s play louder (larger speaker, bigger cabinet, more drivers)

If it was something forum folks learned from the Axiom Anniversary blind tests is that the differences between speakers truly is subtle and even after listening in comparisons for 5-10 minutes, the mind starts to switch around thoughts, impressions and even gets confused.
In returning the M60s and waiting to get the M80s, your audio memory of what the M60s were like has already been 'lost' or in the least, changed from actual.

I wish we had time at the Factory tour for a second round of blind tests to compare two speakers from the SAME manufacturer and lineup to demonstrate how much harder it is to discern the subtleties.
A third fun test would have been receiver vs. amp, or cable vs. cable, just for kicks.

All that being said, it is possible the Axiom speakers do not produce a sound that is your preference. If you like a richer midrange (arguably even if it not as accurate a reproduction), B&W makes speakers that i've always thought to have a more rich midrange, but there are tons of other good speaker brands out there.
Don't limit yourself to one brand but i do recommend you try to find brands that at least have credible R&D programs for making their products.
In this category, Axiom scores very high.

Chess, I am not the only one that has heard this difference, the M60's do 'open up' when the volume moves beyond ~70-75 db. The sound stage becomes wider, Mojo noticed it as have a few others when commenting on the M60's. The M80's do not exhibt this to the same level, at least in the venues I have listened to them in. Mojo and I did as close to a blind session as possible and the differences were very noticeable when A/B tested. I will agree the differences might be less noticeable with a swapping out of the speakers and some time to forget the true sound of each but the M80s with their dual mids have a more forward presentation and this makes them seem more detailed.

But as you said this is only MY opinion others may not come to the same conclusion just like those listening tests done at Axiom, some still prefered the B&W.

I have to agree with Jason on this one, Also both M60s and M80s sounded similar, the differences were more than subtle, at least to me. Then, it's up to the consumer to decide which one he likes best. I went to the factory to A/B them, I brought home the M80s, my friend however liked the M60s better.