Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M2 vs M3 for Surrounds

Rebulx, more pics please. LOL!

The M3ow's are quite good. The M3c's I would avoid unless you need them for aesthetics ... they are a big compromise ... I would recommend M3ow for your ceiling speakers if the aesthetics work.

My take on the M3c sound:
I have the in-ceiling installed in a few places. One of the problems I found was that they are a lot better in small spaces then large ones. In a medium-large space in which an M3 or M3 on-wall could do a reasonable job, the M3c's sound thin. The ones in much smaller rooms (like my master bathroom) sound good but nowhere as good as M3/M2 or anything else Axiom. Walking from the bath to the master playing M22s (with out sub) is a huge constant in sound (for the better).

Do you have pics Michael?

Michael, please take pic-posting lessons from Rebulx.

The M2s are more neutral than the M3s, so I'd say it depends on what you fronts are. I see M22's in your signature, if that's you L/R I'd go with the M2. If you're using the M5 up from, then probably the M3s. (Full disclosure, I have M5s with M2s, but that's because I had M22s up front until I swapped in the M5s.)

The M2s give improved clarity (detail) and dispersion at mid-range and lower high frequencies compared to the M3s. You have to cross them over at 80Hz if you're going to play loud otherwise the bass will distort. However, I would not call the distortion objectionable and it may even be considered pleasant.

The M3s are definitely warmer-sounding. I like both in their own way. I have the M2OW in the living room for stereo. I don't have a cross-over on my 2-channel receiver so the M2OW bass distorts just enough to make them warmer.

The M5s are like M2s with bass.