Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M80 vs

Im curious whether anyone here has upgraded from M80 v2 to the v3. Is the difference a real improvement.The reason i ask is there are v2's still available at a reduced price,but im willing to go full boat if it's a serious improvement. I considered the golden ear triton's but 2750 is a lot of beans,plus tax and shipping.Has anyone auditioned the tritons?
I have M2's now and will move them to rear surround duty or into my boudoir .

The inital review indicated that there was a substantial improvement of the m80v3 over the v2. However, I've never once felt that my v2 m80s are lacking and they match perfectly with my v3 vp180. That being said, I personally would spring for the v3s if the extra coin wasn't a problem. The magnetic grills are awesome and at least you know you will be getting the best that axiom has to offer.

I plan on upgrading to v3 eventually, if Axiom doesn't release an even higher model by that time. I see the word "smoother" in comments about them, I want to use the upcoming mystery device, and I plan on trying out a VP180 (or two) as well, so it seems like the right thing to do. I'm torn on whether I want to start buying my speakers in something other than stock finish. All of my existing speakers are in Boston Cherry, so it would make sense to stick with that rather than replace them all, but then I wonder if it would really be that awful to have speakers not match. Some of the premium finishes have me daydreaming.

I'm losing my focus. I haven't heard the v3 M80s, but I'm excited by the comments I've read.

Right now my speakers are all 5 different finishes.

On-wall M22: Standard vinyl Black
On/in-wall VP150: Custom vinyl Warm Cherrywood
Bookshelf M22: Standard vinyl Boston Cherry
EP350: Custom vinyl Cinnamin Beech
Bookshelf M2: Real wood finish Cherry Nutmeg

If I ever buy surrounds, I'll probably get them in the same finish as the M2, Cherry Nutmeg. If I ever buy M50's, I'd probably go with Cinnamin Beech to match the subwoofer.

Decisions, decisions. I feel for you.

I think the Warm Cherrywood would actually make a better standard vinyl than the Boston Cherry. There is a lot of red in the Boston Cherry, whereas the Warm Cherrywood is a more neutral, less red, more yellow and brown coloration. Would probably look better in most living rooms. But there is so much Boston Cherry out there that they would have to continue that one too.

I have heard the Triton and they are a nice speaker and because of their configuration, sound, of course, somewhat different than the M80. However, realistic comparisons were difficult because I only heard them in the store(Bay Bloor Radio in Toronto). They cost a lot more to begin with because you are now dealing with distributors and retailers who are taking their piece of the action. The trouble with the Triton models is if you wish to get a matching center channel the last time I looked, they only have one small model which really is not going to compare with the VP180 or forthcoming VP160. You could get M80s and a VP180 or VP160 and especially in a Home Theater application still spend less money for an overall better sound.

As far as any difference between the V2 and V3 configurations, I moved from a pair of V2 M60s to V3 M80s and quite frankly the difference, to my ears anyway, was marginal at best, so to go from V2 to V3 M80s is something I doubt, in day to day usage, you could realistically audibly hear. Room acoustics and other issues(source: audio/video) will have a greater affect on what you are hearing than moving from the V2 to V3 version of the same model especially a large multi-driver floor standing speaker like the M80.

If I could have a dollar for everytime this question is asked.

thanks for the replies. I have to admit ,i have the sickness that is uncurable by any amount of audio equipment.lol
With a difference of 600 dollars i just had to ask. I live a long way away and returning something from here is just not going to happen. I got my current setup shipped here and thankfully from the first audition i knew iwould not be sending anything back. I still am undecided though at this point i suspect i will go for the v3 so i have no regrets.

SirQuack - whre should i send the dollar to.

The only reason the tritons were considered was because the reviews were so good,but alas they dont fit with my decor ,it's faux wood or nothing . Also i already have 2 subs so the extra would be redundant in my small house.

Upgrade-itis is a real PITA .

You really can't go wrong with the M80s. You are correct, the sub feature in the Tritons would be overkill and might create more problems than their worth. I am curious though, you said there was a difference of $600. That doesn't seem like much when you are comparing the price of the M80s and the Tritons. Which cabinet finish are you considering?

There are some v2's in auction that are at the 700.00 mark and a new v3's are 1440.00 . I will go for the boston cherry. The tritons are 2750 plus shipping and tax. outta my league really.

I know I'd like to see those HPM 900s

I'd get the v2's if they are only $700!

They still sound great, though i need a new mid for one of them . It acts up at high volume. The woofers were redone many years ago, the foam surround failed and the ceramic cone's came apart as a consequence. TBH they produce nicer bass since they were redone.


The v2's are in auction and it will definetly increase in price,i will wait see to what point. If the difference gets too close i will just bite the bullet and buy the v3's

Absolutely true.
Differences are subtle, even though they are being described as improvements.
You would have to do an instantaneous switched A/B comparison to pick out the differences in V2 and V3. It is highly improbable that you would notice a distinct difference in day to day usage, unless you have yourself already convinced otherwise.

i like the look of the v2's better,but the magnetic grills sound like a great idea. decisions decisions

The magnetic grills on the v3's are neat as beans, that alone would steer me towards the newer version. At first I didn't know if I would like the look of the all silver drivers of the v3 either but after seeing the speaker up close and personal I really like that look, it makes for a clean layout.

Personally, I must admit that although my A/V room is filled with Axiom speakers including a pair of M80s in the High Gloss Piano Black finish, I have never really been a fan of the white/silver drivers. With the new magnetic grills that now eliminate the need for the holes in the cabinet which gives them that cleaner look, to me black drivers would have been more suitable especially if one desires to leave the grill covers off. Perhaps I am picking too many "nits" here but between the VP180 and the two M80s across the front, when looking at them when the grills are off, for me anyway, all those silver drivers are just a little bit too distracting even in the dark.

Hunh. An all black driver option could be pretty cool, but I bet it would add to the cost, since they'd have to anodize the aluminium or something like that.

I was wondering if there would be problems with silver drivers being seen behind acoustically transparent screens? I haven't heard any comments regarding this, so I'm assuming there isn't a problem.

You can order v3s with black dust caps. Win win.

But I want purple.

In all honesty the dustcaps will not be a deal breaker. Nice to know they come in black for the v3's.Im more interested in what they sound like than how they look. I wish i could get the real wood but alas my kids take too much of my money. One wrecked his sled and the other blew the trans in his truck. And of course this dang christmas thing.

Ken, I like the all black idea.

Only with certain colors of speaker, though. I like my darker wood with silver. Maybe gold, though... you could make some really ugly speakers if you started anodizing the aluminum cones!