Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Underwhelmed by the M3 on-wall speakers

I have not had much experience of any of Axioms smaller style speakers.

I have had quite a few 2way speakers, from Celestain DL4 and some very nice SL6. Energy C3 and some tiny Take5. They have a certain sound to them and perhaps I am spoiled to want more.

Having experienced the M80 and my LFR1100, I come to expect a sound level that leaves every audible sense fulfilled. I bought a set of M3 wall mounts with the hope that I would get the massive wow factor when my Media room is finished.

I had asked they they not ship them for a month or so when the computer speakers are ready to ship, but I guess someone didn't read the email. So when they arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago, I said OK. better give them a test and see.

I am wondering if it's the thin wall mount design, but it feels like they are lacking that special magic that the M80 and had. I know asking a speaker like this to sound like the large LFR is asking too much. It is not a bass thing, or I don't think that it is, but it feels like they are missing some of the passion and depth that I want.

Perhaps it's my expectations are too high and the large Axioms deliver in that enveloping sound that size brings to the table, but the M3 Walls don't sound all that much better than the Energy C3 that I currently have.

I am wondering if anyone out there in Axiom land has any experiance with the Wall mount vs a more traditional style bookshelf or mini tower speaker like the M22? The M3's just aren't what I was looking for so they are going back, but before I write the experience off to trying, I'd like to know if the sound of the M22's is going to deliver that bigger sound stage that I want?

Is it worth the trip up to Axiom Dwight to see them. Convert the cost of shipping into a cost of a road trip to see them.

Just wondering.

Wall mounts are always a compromise due to the thin cabinet design. My M3s on stands put out way bigger sound in a large area than one would imagine. Because they are in corners, I had to use Port Plugs to tame the bass, but now all is well.

I bet if you hooked up a sub with them, it would be a very different story...

TAM

Two part answer...

1. No experience with the in-wall M3's but I've been really impressed every time I listen to the regular ("full-fat") M3's. I have sometimes wondered if the smaller enclosures of the in-wall/on-wall M3's translate to needing a sub but unfortunately never tried them.

2. In my experience a trip up to Dwight is always worth it.

I have four on-wall M3s right now. Replaced my four QS8s for surround duty. I really like them, but admit that I never tried them as "mains."

Agreed that a *scheduled* trip is a good time for sure.

My intention to buying these speakers were not to really use them as mains, but more that they are going to be my back surrounds. For that job they will probably suffice.

But then there is the other side to this, in I already have quite a few small speakers that sound just as good if not better than these ones are. As the media room is not yet finished, and these speakers cost me actual money, my hopes were that I would be getting a far better and fuller speaker than what I got.

I don't know if it is the deep bass lack that is what sounds wrong. I have tried playing them with some classical music that sections are clearly in the mid to high frequency range, and then your unscientific A/B/C test, tried the same piece with the LFR's and they simply blow away the sound that I was getting. Then hook up a set of Energy C3 that are more of a classical speaker shape, and they too sound fuller and more depth 3Dimentional. It's not something that I can put my finger on.

Now I will admit that I am not accurately sound leveling each of the speakers with pink noise, so maybe I am not doing the tests right. But deep down I think that if I am going to spend the money that I would be far more happy with a classic speaker design and looking towards the M22.

I suspect that it is the thin profile of the on-walls.

I was impressed by the sound of my M2s (center channel) when I tried them as mains. Being a small bookshelf, they were obviously lacking in bass, but the mids and trebble were every bit as much a delight as the M80.

I have the m22 in/on wall speakers as my mains in my relatively small home theatre. They have a huge soundstage and fully disappear when played. They are capable of playing very loud, relative to my space, and remain articulate and give me that open spacious sound I love.

Hmmm. I think that my on-wall M3s sound better than the highly praised (even by me) QS8s for surround duty.

I get nice and fairly deep extension in the audio range compared to the QS8s as well, and they "aren't to shabby."

Just seems a bit baffling, then again, they aren't full sized tower speakers, and are smaller than their bookshelf brothers.

Some popular speakers or ones mentioned in this thread with have the following low end:

M80/100 - 31Hz $954each/$1395each
VP180 - 34Hz $965each
M60 - 40Hz $730each
VP160 - 45Hz $740each
M3 - 60Hz $249each
OW M3 - 70Hz $249each
VP150 - 85Hz $530each
QS8 - 95Hz $340each
QS4 - 100Hz $265each

So the only thing that goes a little deeper for a more full for the same or less money is the regular M3 by 10Hz for the same money. Nothing in the list above costs less per item (I know that comparing a center channel to a surround to a floor-standing to a bookshelf is a bit silly)...

For me, even my receiver noticed that the on-wall M3s could go deeper then my QS8s and it adjusted for it, and I love how full my surround sound is now (from the 25Hz deeper extension).

So I am a bit baffled, but certainly NOT saying that you aren't hearing less "wow" and "pizazz" than you should. I wish that I had some real practical tips for you.

Matt, when you are comparing the C3, how are you positioning them? Unless you are also hanging them on the wall, you can't dismiss room interactions as contributing to the perceived differences.

The C3 doesn't hang on the wall. it was not designed to. I had is on a stand beside the wall. As well the C3 was a good $400 less expensive, so I will give it some leeway for style from the side of zero cost.

But my point was more that I found the M3 onwall in my tests to be a bit too much of a compromise and was more wondering if the M22's even though they are almost double the cost are going to deliver the sound I desire.