Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Tweeter in Axiom speakers M5HP

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to purchase three speakers for my home theater. I have narrowed it to 3 OWM5HP or 3 ONVP160. I wanted to know the quality of the components used in these speakers. I am not finding any good information on Axiom website.

Other speaker brands have information on the technology used in the tweeters and woofers. For example Dynaudio and Revel explain what improvements were made to the tweeter or have pictures of the tweeter. For Axiom, I am not finding any such information on its website.

For HP woofer, they say they use large voice coil and Andrew shows the woofer in the video but there are good close up pictures of the woofer or tweeters. I am more interested in the tweeter. The size of the tweeter in the YouTube is very small compared to other tweeters of other brands.

Has anyone opened the Axiom speaker and looked inside the speaker ? Do you have any pictures of the tweeter that is used in M5HP speaker ?

Thanks
Chiru

How do you plan to evaluate the "quality" of the components from their photos?

Axiom drivers are extremely well made. I’ve been impressed by the quality in most of thier products. If your looking for a place they cut corners material wise, it’s in the thinness of their veneers. But you’re also not paying for it.

Axiom is very flexible, you could probably but a tweeter and check it out before purchasing the speakers. You could also check with them if removing the tweeter from the cabinet to look at it voids the warranty (I'm guessing no); if true you could purchase and then check it out - returning them if you aren't satisfied.


I'm going to quibble on this rrlev. Back when the default was vinyl there was a surcharge for the wood veneers. They did away with vinyl option, but the veneer surcharge was added to the standard price. So you are paying for it.
I've yet to have a problem with the veneer and all of my newer veneered speakers (2 M80s 1yr, 2 M5HPs ~3 yrs) look fabulous. So I'm not complaining, just being pedantic.

How does one evaluate their satisfaction with a tweeter by looking at it?

I’m only talking about quality of materials … the veneers are extremely thin. It still looks good and doesn’t matter soundwise but you’ll won’t be able to refinish them. One sanding and your down to the MDF.

If I were to judge the quality of a driver or tweeter or otherwise objectively I would find similar items on parts express or solen or madisound etc. and estimate parts cost. You can probably get really close.

Having said that, I believe Andrew and Ian have been able to take good parts and execute great outcomes with their clever designs. I think they punch above their weight because the dollars go directly into sound moreso than other outfits. If it doesnt prove out in blind testing it doesnt make past prototype stages.

I replied to Chiru’s PM vouching for at least a trial. I think he has a lot of options but the internet makes objective research pretty tough these days. And besides, there are some gorgeous competing speakers on offer…. Status or trophy items sure are tempting.

I guess bottom line is I can afford other speakers but chose Axiom after listening to many over my journey through the hobby. Its like anything else, once you get proficient at something you can get more out of a simpler set of tools than you may think are required when you are starting out. I see speakers as tools, and they do a job. Simple. These ones do the job extremely well if you understand how to operate the tools properly.

That analysis won't divulge the quality. It might help with analyzing if a speaker manufacturer is charging an excessive price. Even that might be a stretch because the price ought to be a function of the composite performance of the speaker system. The price of the M5 for example is too low.

The only way we can judge quality is by considering the specifications, listening in our spaces and comparing against other speakers. Showing Chiru the disemboweled photos I have of Axiom speakers and drivers can't possibly inform his purchase.

It all depends on what Chiru is looking for. If he's looking for the status and aesthetics of a Veblen good, Axiom isn't it. Those brands have full page ads in the audiophile magazines and price tags to pay for their marketing.

If he's a spreadsheet jockey (and I see signs of it), there's no marketing points for him to bite into. There's no beryllium, cardioid bass radiation patterns, or line arrays. Axiom won't scratch that scratch.

But if he's looking for sound quality as their end game system, I think Axiom is one of the few loudspeaker brands where you don't have to doubt their product development process. It was a throwaway statement on one of their YouTube videos, but Ian confessed that he designed loudspeakers to win double blind listening tests (with the omnidirectional floor standing models at the top of that totem pole). With the sound directivity and listening window they've provided, I don't doubt it.

I can add that many years back they brought driver production back to Canada from China because they couldn't get consistent quality outsourcing. They took a hit in cost to be in control of the quality of the product shipped. That tells me they care about their product.

If you really want an opinion on driver construction ... I have had a few drivers out of their boxes: a tweeter which was damaged in shipping (Axiom sent me a replacement) and a M3 mid-range to see how easy it would be to add an insert to the back of the cabinet. Both looked like well made components with a big heavy magnets. This is one area i do not think you need to worry.