Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Just demo-ed m60s: OK but need sub! What now?

Just demo-ed the m60s at one of the volunteer's place. It was good, clean but couldn't quite put the finger at what I was missing until the sub got turned on. Then it was WOW.

It was then that I realized why I just kept going 'round in circles. Every time I'm sure I'm getting the towers, I listen to either the towers or the bookshelves with a sub and think "I can't live without one (a sub)."

Admittedly, I like the extra punch to my music and although I like the clean, detailed and openness of the m60s I realize that no matter how what I would always feel a tinge bit of dissatisfaction without a sub to go with it.
I don't want to be feeling that with a pair of 800-dollar speakers!

I'm thinking, maybe I need to reevaluate what my sound priorities are again. I realized few things after the demo session:

1. I probably will never use these great speakers at full volume in my 15x13x9 bedroom
2. I can't live without the bottom end-A sub
3. I need to draw the line on what I'm willing to spend ultimately right now (as in till end of this year) : m60s plus a good sub is really not the amount of money I want to spend on speakers right now

So basically, I'm back at square one. Thinking of getting m22s with a really good sub so I can get more bass than just the m60s.

My question:

1. $800 m60s + $ 200 sub= $1000
2. $560 m22s + $400 better sub= $980
3. Between 1 and 2 which is a better idea? (Now that I know I want a sub and don't want to wait a long time to get a good one (money money money).)
5. The difference between a $200 sub and a $400 one

Here it is again: HELP!

Hello rotipom

Very interesting question! There are very few full range speakers out there, and real full rangers are very expensive! Considering the size of your room, I think a very nice subwoofer would go very well with a pair of M22s and if you're able to integrate these speakers, you'll have a very good approximation of a great pair of full range speakers.

well if it were me id probbly go with the M22 and better sub. a 200 dollar sub might be alright, but a 400 dollar one might be alot better.

I have the M80's and wish i had the money for a good sub, the 80's dont lack in the bass department at all, but with most songs i wish i had a little more kick in the gut feeling, but without the boominess. i think that even with the best speakers (there are exceptions) a sub is needed, definetly for movies and for music too if you like real oomph.

i'd either get M60's or M80's and then save for a good sub. Don't spend less than $600 on a sub to go with such beautiful speakrs. A 200 sub on M60's would be like painting a ferrari pink

Yeah, i agree that if you were willing to save and get the sub later on, the 60 or 80's AND a decent sub would be a killer setup. your room isint monstorous though so if you dont usually play it too loud you might be just fine with the 22's.

just remember, the M22's are a more forward sounding speaker compared to the M60's and M80's. They're also less dynamic.

I tend to be a 'save for the best' kind of guy rather than settle for less. But if you really only have 1k, then get M22's and a good sub, or M3's (if you prefer a laid back sound) and a good sub.

Another point to add that you just reminded me of with your reply:

If I ever were to have a larger room than mine right now which would warrant floorstanders and a sub it would mean that I would be moving my set out to the living area which means that it would be a complete HT setup (its just music for my bedroom right now, the tv is in the living room) which means that I would need to (at that point) add to my existing system (hypothetically speaking that I buy the m22s) and by then investing in floorstanders and a center to complete the set would be money better spent in space of time.

Makes sense? What do you all think?

See I thought having a dynamic speaker would outweigh my need for bass (which is why I keep going back to towers) until I heard the m60s today. Having the sub on with it made me realize that I don't want to STILL feel dissatisfied after having blown $800 and two months of saving.

Also, the room size factor was something that I never seriously took into consideration until today when I found myself cranking up the volume on the m60s in the volunteer's large living room to even get it to the satisfaction level I'd like. It really made me think: do I honestly need to spend that $800 and never have it to the volume to truly appreciate its advantages over say, the m22s?

If I go with the m22s I'd definitely like something like the Hsu which is in that 400-dollar range.

I totally undrstand the m80 gripe you have right now! That was what got me thinking while listening to the m60s (with and without sub) today. I like the extra kick! I thought I wouldn't miss the sub with the m60s but I sadly I did.

If you must have your stuff right now, it clearly sounds like for you the M22ti and sub is the better option.

But...personally I'd get the M60's and keep saving, and add the STF-2 later. It'll take longer to get everything, but in the end you'll have what you REALLY want, and will never look back and wonder 'what if?'.