Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M2V3 - Revisited

Here's to a great little speaker. I have a need right now to laud and have these guys to stand up and take a bow. I finally rotated my M2V3 into a line up of Axiom M22V3, Omega Super 5 and Hoyt Bedford Type 1. My intent is not to provide a detailed, professional review but to let this community know Axiom's gem is alive and well. Their detail, forwardness and transparency remains astounding considering their price point. Mostly run them with Denon AVR-1610 (2C) and occasionally Musical Paradise MP301 MK2... prefer the SS over tubes. I planned on another rotation this weekend but that has been postponed. Listening to M2V3 has made isolation quite a joy.

https://imgur.com/CIIvhRg

That's a nice set-up. I have both the M2v4OW and bookshelves. In my living room, they are both more enjoyable than the active LFRs.

The first review on the page below is mine. Should keep you busy reading for a while.

https://www.axiomaudio.com/reviews/index/list/product/301/

Nice read, thank you for the link. Your review was written with aplomb and highly detailed. Bringing in other Axiom models gives it depth and texture. Much like the M2's. I run all my bookshelves with dual subs (Outlaw and Boston), as I can't be without integrated bass. It's that added component that makes the room energized and the speakers transparent. One significant point you made was the tweeter location slightly below ear level. I believe that to be quite true... when I put my M22V3's on 24" stands the tweeter is raised 8" to 9" and the sonic result is not the same as with the M2's. With that said I'm going to experiment and get the M22's lower... same tweeter location as the M2's. And yes, that bass hump on the M3 makes them sound a littler fuller, but lack the M2's uncanny neutrality and improved imaging.

Ahhhhhhhhh...thank you for the validation of the tweeter height. I knew I was not imagining things because others at my place validated what I heard. I've often wondered if the floor-standers would sound more transparent with the tweeters located where the mids are. I know way back before v2, Axiom tested that and said it didn't work. I can see it would be challenging integrating the radiation from the woofers and mid-woofers when the two are separated by that distance.

I agree on the subs. I can actually run the M2v4 bookshelves in my living room without subs and still be satisfied. I can't do that with any other passive Axiom.

Yeah...the M2s are absolutely spectacular proving you don't need many drivers or big speakers for awesome sound. All those extras are for higher SPL. Ian has said as much a few times on the boards and in private. Of course some of us just have to find that out for ourselves.

I wonder how much better than the M2v4 a single driver speaker can sound. Wouldn't that be the panacea for imaging and soundstage?

BTW, my much shorter M2OW review can be found at the following link:

https://www.axiomaudio.com/m2-on-wall-speaker

Moreover to this point, interesting to see there are some bookshelf designs where the tweet is located below the mid woofer. Not too many though. Mission's VX series has this config.

I know what my ears are hearing and yet (also) believe Axiom's R&D has done their due diligence.

I don't know what all the problems are with placing the tweeter on the bottom of a bookshelf. I can see that one of the short-comings is early reflection off the surface the bookshelf is mounted on if it is recessed on that surface.

FYI: For our speakers models that use only one tweeter, the vertical design or measurement axis is the strip of cabinet between the tweeter faceplate and the woofer or mid basket. In the dual-tweeter models it's the point between the two tweeters. As your listening position ear level moves up or down from that point you will begin to experience a crossover suck-out due to lobing. Typically it's more pronounced if you are significantly above the design axis, rather than below.

Thanks Andrew for the exegesis. I plan on positioning the M22's on 12" stands Vs. 24".

That suck-out sure sounds great!