Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Just Put M80 V2s Back in System

Hi again Kodiak

I have a pair of LFR1100 Actives, 2xEP600 subs, 2xEP500 subs, 1 VP180, 1 VP160, 8 M2OWs, 2 x M22Ti's, 2xQS8s (somewhere, haven't seen them for a while), 6 gorgeous Michaura M55s (Love them!!!) 2 Michaura M66s and of course, 2 x M80V2s. I may have missed a few.

For some reason, the M22s aren't a great match with low power tube amps, they work fine with more powerful amps.

I agree with Mojo, the M5HPs would not be an ideal match with a tube amp. I tried them with a 60 wpc Conrad Johnson MV60se (uprgraded by CJ) and a Jadis preamp. They weren't bad.

I think for a bedroom, the M3s or M2s with a little sub and a tube amp would be ideal. I used to drive a pair of M3Tis with a 5 watt per channel Single End Triode KT88/12ax7 integrated tube amp and a little Velodyne 8" DSP sub. It was an incredibly great sounding system. In that room, it achieved the "wall of sound," and not just any sound, GREAT sound.

I had a pair of M100s in my main system. I think I was using the Conrad Johnson/Jadis amp/preamp. Just wasn't a good match for my room with those electronics. They sure were pretty in Rosewood high gloss.

Well sheet 2x6! Then never mind my last comment!!

Ok. Well I guess then I can’t wait to hear the comparison of the actives to the Wilson’s!!

What type of room size are the Wilson’s going into?

Im guessing your Actives are in a big space?

Please point me to an old thread if you’re not into regaling all the same info again!

Thanks eh!

Edit: I have a vague memory of a post about Michaura’s in a thread about “ post your systems “ or something.

The M2s would likely make your wife irritable. The M3s would put her in the mood. You know...for sleep.

Michauras were built by you-know-who for a company which launched just before the economic melt down in 2000. They used the aluminum black-eyed-pea 5.25" and 6.5" drivers. They had an incredible faux glossy rosewood finish which fooled just about everyone into thinking they were veneered.

The Michauras used a unique hex shape cabinet which are incredibly rigid. The M55s had 2 x 5.25" drivers and the 0.75" titanium tweeter which was also used in some Axiom speakers. The sound quality is really superb! The highs are as good as many ultra-high-buck speakers. The mids, sweet and the bass was accurate for as low as they went. They blended easily with a fast subwoofer.

The M66s are large hex shaped stand mounts, using 2 x 6.5" drivers and the 0.75" titanium tweeter. I stood mine on a pair of Dahlquist 15" subwoofers, on the shorter wall pointing down the long axis into a breakfast area. I used the Antique Sound Labs MG Si 15dt 5 watt per channel integrated tube amp with Shuguang Black Treasure KT88 tubes and a pair of NOS Telefunken 12ax7s (more expensive than what the amp cost me). Some Mapleshade Audio Golden Double Helix + speaker wire (all the charm of a coat hanger, ready to put your eye out, but sound really good) and a Sony DVP 9000es SACD player. My friends, this was one of the best sounding systems I've ever had.

I bought a pair of $7000 Emerald Physics 2.8 open baffle speakers from Mark Schifter. He flew in to set them up with their DSP and digital tri-amp rig. I played the Michaura M66 system for him and told him if the EP 2.8s sound better than the Michauras, I'll keep them. Although the EP2.8s sounded fantastic at T.H.E Show, in Irvine, the ones he delivered had the 'upgraded' tweeters and drivers. I kept the Michauras, the EP2.8s went back.

The Michaura M665 are towers, also hex shaped had the same kit as our M60s, but instead of the 1" titanium tweeter, it uses the 0.75" Ti tweeter. I gave one pair to my Rabbi and the other to a friend who needed a present. Both use their M665s with a little hybrid tube amp (25 wpc) from Monoprice, and both sound silly good.

I have suggested on several occasions that Ian build a hex shaped speaker line, or an elongated hex, some kind of 6 sided rhomboid ... maybe even with a curved back, that should really eliminate standing waves ... maybe someday.

Good luck to you Kodiak. Fill that large master bedroom with beautiful music.

kinky

That other thing Rich, was listening to music, dude. Of course if you listen in a lime mankini, in front of your bow window...yeah...kinky.

Kodiak, I was thinking about my previous post. I played the M100s with the Conrad Johnson amp. I ended up getting rid of it as it did not do what I hoped an amp with such an exalted reputation would do.

I think the M100s with the BATs would be terrific. After all, the BATs make the M80s sound great. I figure the M100s would sound substantially better.

Hey 2x6, thanks for the deep memory recall!

I looked up the BAT Amps. Very nice products. Wow.

Man you must have fun mixing and matching things and trying different configurations and rooms. Fun!

Good logic, the v4’s undoubtedly would sound great with the BATS.

Tell you what Kodiak, listening to some jazz, Ray Blue, "Amsterdam After Dark," and these M80v2s are sounding really good. Drums are tight, high hats sparkle, horns blat. Silly good.

Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain, "Will O' The Wisp," trumpets are true.

Right on man. I’ve got to find a quiet evening to play some jazz. M80’s are legendary.

I had good fun listening to Tracy Chapman today. From her greatest hits album.

Check out the drum fills and percussion in Open Arms. The whole song is fabulous but the simple drum fills and down beats after the chorus are stand out.

I’m gonna check out your jazz suggestions tomorrow.

M80’s……legendary.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6eWoTqIpKPFhgVHDK1uVrf?si=00qxeynCQ56cTwhodSZBXQ&dl_branch=1