Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion What's New At Axiom Introducing the M5 and QS10

I got mine today and wasted no time getting them hooked up. The short of it is - I like them a lot! I clearly hear fuller mids and more low end as compared to my M22s, and the difference is not subtle. I'd like to compare them directly against the M3s too, but my son absconded with those. Going only on memory, I'd say the M5s are big league M3s.

Being use to the M22 I went back and forth whether I liked the M5 more or not, but I'm now nearly convinced I will given more than 90 minutes play time. My only hesitation is I only got to compare them on blues, rock, and jazz before the network adapter on my receiver crapped out. I would have liked to compare them using classical too, where the flatness of the M22s might win the day (but I'm way too lazy to go dig out the CDs).

The side by side was done in my 13'x14' "music room", but the M5s are targeted for my home theater room where I think they'll be ideal. I ran them at 100, 80, 60, and 40hz, with and without a sub. While they get low, I don't think you'd want to use them without a sub. At this point I'm going to keep the crossover at 80hz, but getting a much richer sound at that point.

Also, I had no problem with volume using a Yamaha RX-V671 receiver (so nothing out of the ordinary). I did have to crank it a little more to get to 87db, but still had amp capacity when I stopped. Of course, this was still in that 13'x14' room; a larger room might be enough to trip over into dedicated amp teritory; we'll see when I put them in the 14'x22' theater room (which has a similar RX-V673 Yamaha).

Hadn't had a chance to share my initial thoughts until now.

The first thing I noticed is that the highs of the M5HPv4 sounded better than the M22v3s. I don't mean more clear, but a better, continuous sound stage. I listened carefully to make sure it wasn't just more diffuse, with some panning sounds, and they still track beautifully. The v4 tweeters are worth it, and as soon as I get a chance I'm going to call to see about upgrading my old VP150v2 for a new '160.

The next thing I noticed, is they were not as loud as the M22s, and the VP150 was over powering them on multi-channel audio. So I went and adjusted the trim levels. The M22s were at -5.5dB. The M5HPs needed to be brought up to -0.5dB to equal the -0dB level of the VP150.

That sorted I tried some louder music playback. Some real bass heavy stuff that was lacking on the M22s. The M5HPs definitely go lower, and even if they don't have much output at 10 Hz, they don't complain when attempting it.

"The M5HPs definitely go lower, and even if they don't have much output at 10 Hz, they don't complain when attempting it."

This is exactly where I have a problem with my Dreamcatchers. Even though I have them crossed over to my sub at 80Hz, if I play too loud, they bottom out.

While the M22ti and the M3ti don't bottom out, they just don't sound good. The M5HP, with the v4 tweeter, the mid-range and the HP driver, high quality cross-over, improved knowledge about the family of curves and improved enclosure design I am sure fixes all the problems I heard with the M3ti and M22ti.

Yeah there's no replacement for a subwoofer even with these but in Pure Mode (no sub) these bump pretty good. They shake the logos from the speaker grill and even my desk. I am just so extremely happy with these speakers.

I agree with you regarding the M5's tweeter sounding better. But I don't think it's just the v4 aspect; I think it's also the fact that they're crossing them over at 2.2 kHz instead of the 3.5. I think that is tending to smooth out the high end.

Likely right. Probably somewhere around the legacy cross-over point, the mid-range stops acting as a piston and starts to flex.

Originally posted the above post on the 6th, but unfortunately didn't get a reply. Hopefully someone will see this and respond.

Thanks

We are shipping QS10s and M5HP on-walls this week. If all the final tooling detail goes well then M5HP in-walls will be the week after.

Coolness can't wait to try the new Q. Suspense!!!

I don't know why anyone still uses pure modes, and direct modes, it makes every speaker sound the same and sound like @#$@$ - especially on a receiver. Turn that off, crank that bass and see what these puppies can do!

...and yes I've been away for a while, life is full or surprises.