Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M3 Powered vs KEF LSX Wireless?

Snow Grabbed them

Powering them with Denon PM-600NE, M2 aren't here but powering a friend's old paradigm monitors with them, its a good setup and also convinced me KEF is no match to an AMP and even speakers that can be had for $150 a a pair in the used market.

Here is my inexperianced review
Imaging: KEF better than Paradigm Monitor (probably because paradigm aren't near field)
Bass: Paradigm. So bad that even with a sub, there is an entire band missing between what sub can do and KEF can't.
Vocals: Pradigm monitors more crisp but then also doesn't seem natural, clinical (if it means what I think it means). KEF is more natural sounding, very melodious but then subdued
Instruments (voilin, guitars, piano): Crisp on paradigm, KEF in comparision not as bright and side by side you ask Paradigm is better, but after about 20 min of KEF they sound pleasing.

What am I expecting from M2? Sound more melodeous than Paradigm and missing band of bass present in M2. Paradigms giving me listening fatigue, KEF not, hope M2 does a better job.

Snow, you curious keener you! Way to go. Poor Canes.

The KEF sound exactly how I expected with the exception of the bass. I have to say I am really surprised. Those KEFs are a bit of a technical powerhouse with an integrated DSP and concentric tweeter which really helps with imaging. In the app, you can tweak the settings for the DSP. Tweak the boundary gain compensation and that may make a difference.

I don't want to say anything about the M2s because I don't want to influence you. Really curious what your findings will be.

Oh...and the tangerine waveguide on the KEFs. Almost forgot about that! I can't decide if that waveguide beats Bose's free space array.

BTW Mojo, Where are you in GTA, I am Oakville, if you are within 20 min would love to have you over and get your opinion, I know at the end its what I hear.

I realize a lot of us are biased and almost religious when it comes to Axiom, I know I am a bit and I know other Axiom owners who wouldn't mind taking out their trucks if Axiom was to shut down

Oh dude, I am way over on the side the east loves to hate. Otherwise, I'd be right there helping you decide which one to throw on the truckers' BBQs.

Yeah, I like Axiom but I don't pull any punches. I call it as I hear it. The problem is, all the v4 stuff is very good (can't speak for M22 because I haven't heard it) but each one is a bit of its own character. That's why I bought them all!

Found my missing band, I am embarrased to say it was user error, KEF sub cross over was set at 100Hz, Sub was set to 60HZ, so I wasn't hearing 60-100Hz

Good ears-brain! So how are they now?

Much better, its unfair to compare them to my M80s but excellent for what I am using them for, as I was saying paradigm monitors give me serious headache up close within 20 min. I am waiting for the M2 to be delivered and run them both for a week and put an end to this saga, at least until my audio itch is back.

I think Paradigm and Axiom collaborated on tweeters a long time ago. That might explain why older Axiom and Paradigm tweeters lead to brain damage.

I am curious if you've adjusted any DSP settings in the KEF app. Still looking forward to hearing about the M2.

I am still tinkering with it them, It took me a while to understand how High pass filter/low pass filter work, the "missing band" I was talking about. These are the settings

• Desk Mode (On / Off, -6.0 dB to 0.0 dB)
• Wall Mode (On / Off, -6.0 dB to 0.0 dB)
• Treble Trim (-2.0 dB to 2.0 dB)
• Phase Correction (On / Off)
• Bass Extension (Less / Standard / Extra)
• High-Pass Mode (On / Off, 50 Hz to 120 Hz)
• Sub Out Low-Pass Frequency (40 Hz to 250 Hz)
• Sub Gain (-10 dB to 10 dB)
• Sub Polarity (+ / –)

Initially I thought Sub out would just set frequencies going to sub, but the documentation is weak on all off this. So Sub's own filter + Sub out LPF decides what freq come out of the sub plays. I had turned on HPF which the documentation doesn't say what it does, but after tinkering; and in hindsight I am thinking duh. It is HPF for the KEFs themselves, so you can send some freq to the sub with LPF and setup a HPF which can and will cut out freq that don't come out of either sub or KEFs, add to that that my Sub was setup at 60Hz while receiving 100Hz and below created a whole lot of mess.

Rest of the settings, Desk Mode, Wall Mode, Treble Trim I just literally tinkered until I liked the sound. I really don't understand what they really do except for the effect it is having on sound. I will try to articulate each when I have a little more time and my wife not screaming for breakfast

The desk and wall mode adjust for boundary gain. Desk mode for the desk surface in front of the speaker; wall mode for the wall behind the speaker. Boundaries act as acoustic mirrors. The direct signal from the driver interferes with the reflected signal from the boundary. Those settings provide a degree of compensation.

You've read the table below? Click on it to read.