Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo M5HP Bookshelf vs On-Wall

Please excuse me if this topic has been discussed at length before, it probably has, but I cannot figure out how to search this forum. So, I will go ahead and ask, what sort of sonic differences might I expect between the Bookshelf and On Wall versions of the M5HP?

And can someone please tell me how to search this forum, I don't know what it is I'm missing?

Mike, the bass of the OW version may acoustically integrate better in your room compared with the bookshelf. The bookshelf has a rear port that results in bass accentuation (boom) if placed too close to walls (boundary gain).

If the bookshelf is positioned a few feet away from the front and side walls, and carefully placed in the room with respect to your listening position, you will hear the soundstage start from the front plane of the speakers and extend back towards the front wall. It will sound as if the bookshelves are projecting behind them. You will also hear images outside of the speaker boundaries. Very cool! The OW also results in a very wide soundstage but perhaps not as deep unless you have them flanking a bow window like I do.

In all other respects they are similar. I love having the OW out of the way. They look and sound great!

I'll just add M5OW or bookshelves is a great way to go for 2.0.

Thank you Mojo, that's some room you got there.. Actually they would be flanking a bow window, similar to yours. The M50,s are in that position now so there's plenty of floor space, though they are probably closer to the wall than they should be, about 6 inches is all, and the M5's would have to be in the same position. In another room I have an Axiom Epic Home Theatre System with in wall M22's and I really couldn't be happier with them, they fill the room nicely, transparently and they play loud. I mostly use it for concert DVD's. So, though the lack of a cabinet still intrigues me I have experienced first hand that a cabinet isn't always necessary. I do have a question for you. How is the soundstage on these when sitting pretty far off axis? My M50's are in a second living room where my pool table is, and the only place to sit is a couch perpendicular to the speakers. If you moved your couch forward so that your left hand speaker is behind it, instead of in front of it like it is now, that's where mine is. How do you think the soundstage would be with the OW versions in this scenario? Right now, with the M50's, I am able to correct it somewhat by toeing in the speaker in front of me, though it's far from perfect.

I just tried it and the center image is very good. It's not like the sound is collapsing into either speaker.

I will tell you this though. I had M2OW where the M5OW are. When I sat on the couch, anywhere from mid-point to the end furthest from the speaker, I could clearly see the center image. There was barely any image collapse into the left speaker. I can't say that about the M5. Adding the mid-range driver messed with some of the off-axis response. I suppose the M2, within its specified operating range, is more linear than the M5.

That won't be a problem for you though and for 2.0, M5 is a great way to go. M2 may sound a little thin without a sub and if cranked up, they will distort if they're not cut off at 80Hz to a sub.

Thank you for doing that, I really appreciate it! I've actually thought a lot about putting on wall speakers in that room, this may be the best way to go. Wouldn't have to worry about kids knocking them over and I can get them above the couch which I think would help the sound in the whole room. Thank you for taking time to share your expertise with me.

Mike, in between my M5OW, I "see" acoustic images out in my yard. Floating above my lawn...LOL.

LOL !!