Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Bad Ears-M2 or M3

I'm 74 and my ears and hearing have suffered because of age, rock concerts and motorcycles. I just ordered a pair of M3s mainly for our TV and some 2 channel music. I am now wondering if I should have ordered a pair of M2s because the M3s seem to be more laid back based on feedback and comments.

The difference is slight unless your listening critically. The M2 does best with a sub. The M3 can stand alone but I’d recommend it also have a sub. I’m sure if I put both behind a curtain most people would be hard pressed to tell me which is which (especially if a sub is present)

I think you will be very happy with the M3s.

Hey Mojak, you've been living the good life! You really can't go wrong between the two and for many rooms, M3 is the way to go if not using a sub. If you find, due to your hearing, the M3 is hard to understand with dialogue, I am sure you'll have no problem getting it replaced with M2. If you're not using a sub and the M3 bass is too much in your room, the M2 works well for that too. I can listen to my M3 all day long. Actually, I can listen to all my Axiom v4 products all day long.

Thanks for the feedback. I do have a sub so I'll try the M3s and if I do have issues, I'll trade for the M2s.

Please let us know your impressions.

Another vote for M3s here. Nice speakers!

Will do for sure!!

Strange. Years ago, I owned 80s, 60s, 22s, M2s & M3s over a few years. For the past many years, I've owned many other brands of speakers and now here I am back with Axiom. Not sure if it's always about the sound but also maybe just because that's what hobbies are all about....trying new things!!

I had an all Axiom v2 system. A lot has changed even though it looks the same. Not sure you know but real wood veneer now comes standard.

Received the M3s a few days ago. I have a TV hooked to an Onkyo receiver and a 2 channel Emotiva amp. At first, the speakers sounded flat and muffled. Now that we've had them a few days, they are sounding much better and crisper. Break in for me is more about the ears and head than it is about the speakers. Probably both are factors. We're happy with them. Haven't really cranked them up with music yet but I'm looking forward to doing that. I have a review under M3 customer reviews.

Well that didn't last very long. Just called and upgraded from the M3s to the M5s. I hate this hobby!!! :-)

The M5's are good. I have no doubt you'll be happy with them.

That said, you might want to try the M3s with an EP500. My older sub was ok, but didn't blend as well as the 500. Note: The key to a good blend is getting the right crossover and level. If you know the sub is there then its volume is probably too high.

Personally, I'd go for a M3/EP500 or IMO even better a M2/EP500 over a lone M5 setup. Anyone else have thought on this?

Hey Mojak,

Is your Onkyo an AV that can run a enter channel? Maybe add a small on wall Center channel to the order. There’s a few in the refurb and bstock. Run your m5 and center channel for tv. Then run in 2 channel for music. That could work eh? A center is meant for dialogue anyway which is what you are after for tv.

I have old m60s but the midrange ( 5 1/4 ) driver is really good FYI. The vocals in music are VERY good. The m5 might be enough on its own, but I have never heard it but I it’s definitely better overall then my old m60.

I do have a small sub. Our room isn't that large so with the sub and any of these speakers, we have plenty of bass. I have thought about getting a center speaker and may do that eventually. The M3s are fine with dialogue but at 74, my ears aren't as good as they used to be so I'm hoping that the 3 way M5 might be a bit crisper in the highs and mids. We'll see....

Hi Richard

Years ago, I used a pair of M3Tis with a small Velodyne sub (8 or 10") and a low powered SET tube amp (5wpc). It was a magical combination! Huge soundstage, way outside the speakers, sweet mids, and airy highs. The wee sub provided just enough bass enhancement and blended perfectly.

I like the M2s as well. I had a pair of M2Tis or whichever was the first iteration. They were very clean sounding, much like my M22s. Gave away the M2s, kept the M22s. They are in my closet.

BTW, I sold my M80V2s today. They were mint. Went into the Wilson kitty. Mike is coming over in a few hours to set them up. Very excited! Listening to the drop-dead gorgeous Michaura M665 towers until then. They sound very good. Bass isn't as exciting as the M80s, but pretty darn good. They have the same array of drivers as the M60s, but the cabinet volume is smaller. They use the Axiom 0.75" Titanium tweeter. It's a great tweeter! The glossy rosewood finish is so pretty! I'll post some pix.

Anyway, bottom line, I like the M3s with a tight sub with a good cross-over. The EP500s should do great.

Are these pretty, or what!?!?!

PS Mike Rose is on his way over to set up the Wilson Sabrina X's. These beautiful Michaura M665s (guess who made them. I'm sworn not to say. Nice job Ian!!!) are going to my good friend, Phil G. He was expecting the M80s but someone showed up and made me an offer I was afraid to refuse.

Hi Mojak

I think you are going to love the M3s. Give 'em a try.

Enjoy the music!!!!

What sub do you have?

Your buddy Phil is getting the better end of the deal. Those Michaura are beautiful!! And certainly more rare than m80s. Yup im sure he will be happy. No idea if either speaker is better than the other but the shape and the finish really looks awesome on the Michaura.

Post some pics of those Wilson’s man!!!

Not dialed in yet, straight out of the box, not all of the cling plastic wrapping off. Jennifer Warnes, The Well on the Marantz SA-10. Amazing sound!

Congratulations!!! Right on!!! They look great. The black actually contrasts really nice with all your warm wood interior. You’re gonna have a lot of fun dialing them in and playing your music collection. Fun!

Wish I lived closer to all you guys that around this forum regularly. Cuz I’d be headed over to hear those Wilson’s with scotch in hand!!! Cheers!!

2x, I’m sure you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of those …
Although, I’d keep a dust cloth handy … they look like magnets

I've got the scotch, I've got the Weber charcoal BBQ, I got the brontosaurus steaks, I've got the palm trees. You come on over any time.

Meguiar's ceramic detail spray. Has many fingerprints on it already. Rich, you come on over anytime too!

I do not think the M5s will be what your after … they are very similar to the M3 in that range. The M2 or M22 will be a bit crisper in the mids (not day and night crisper … just a tad) but from what you are describing I don’t think enough to make you happy. Think you might need to resort to using an equalizer to get you where you want to go.

I agree that the M2 or M22 are crisper than the M5. I don't recommend putting an equalizer in the signal path. Keep it pure. Get some tubes.

2x, we are not talking purity but a corrective bump in the high mids and/or highs …

Tubes are definitely not the correct distorting device we need here …
(2x, I couldn’t help my self, bubble thoughts. Ok I corrected it )

No worries mate. I hear what I hear. And, if you were here, you would hear it too. Mike Rose's audio emporium has the big D'Agostino separates (solid state), the wonderful Soulution solid state amp, the TOL Luxman solid states, and they are pretty darn good. But then you listen to the BAT Rex monoblocks and preamp, well ... you won't be able to unhear what you heard. Play them all through some Wilson Sasha DAWS, Alexxes or Alexias, or even the little Sabrina X's, and I would be shocked if you did not prefer the sound of the tube gear. It's not that solid state doesn't have musical tricks, but for the music ... tubes my friends.

As a matter of fact (or taste) I'd even put my entry level BAT monoblocks, VK56s and the BAT VK33 preamp up against any of those solid state rigs.

As I said, the M3s are great speakers so I should be happy with the 5s. Hopefully!! Part of it will be just getting used to the sound. Anyway, I intend on keeping the 5s with a sub and eventually maybe a center.

Sorry for the hijack Mojak. It was a pair of M3s that started.me down the path of audio obsession. I highly recommend them.

It's been an interesting read. So many speakers, amps, etc. to listen to. Guess my bottom line now is to compare the M3s with the M5s and decide which I like best.

This is a good “problem” to have!!! Look forward to hearing your thoughts Mojak.

Mojak, three things

first is that I’ve compared all of these speaker side by side … so I’m providing a first hand opinion. (Its of course is my opinion because it’s colored by my perception of what I heard at the time)

The 2nd is that frequency response is relative: so a poor low end could effect what the mids sound like. If you haven’t already I’d listen without the sub.

The third is that the fundamental frequency is the note we hear but the harmonics are what defines what it sounds like … so the crispness, detail is probably a loss in the frequencies much higher then perceived. You probably already knew this but it’s worth pointing out … just in case …

That all said the M5 is a very nice speaker … it’s an upgrade over the M3 as long as $ is not an issue.

Good thoughts. I will try the 5s with & w/o the sub to hear the differences. I figure I'll keep them over the 3s but who knows?? Look forward to comparing them.