Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Horrific thought

another thought to consider: Returning to your earlier question of M50 vs M60. One consideration some folks have had when comparring well recorded vs poorly recorded material is the apparent fact that the M3 and M50 do a slightly better job of covering up the warts in the recordings. While the M60 makes a good recording sound great and a poorly one sound, uh.. not so good, the M50 makes all reasonable recordings sound good, but some better. As has been often stated, "they sound very pleasant" Maybe not as accurate, or analytical, but,very pleasant indeed.

I am sad to say that the majority of the music I listen to on my system these days is mp3s (and m4a/aac) streamed from my computer. Since I have a young (14.5 month) son who is currently all over the place all the time, I don't really have time to sit down and listen critically. While in my head, I know the music doesn't sound as good as it would playing from the original CD, my ears really can't tell unless I'm planted in front of the speakers.

Agreed, F107. The M50s are excellent speakers. In fact, I would venture to say that many people might prefer them over the M60s.

I was just listening to some older blues cds on my axioms and I came away impressed. You do hear the hiss but you would hear that on any speaker. I also have a MP3 cd that I play on my axioms and most of the songs sound pretty damn good on it. There are a few mp3s that dont, but they are the same mp3s that do not sound good on my SEAS components in my car as well.

For me, the quality of the music trumps any deficiency in the recording/mastering. You cannot erase the mood and aura of a great performance by mucking up the the mastering job. It transcends that.

You cannot erase the mood and aura of a great performance by muching up the the mastering job.

Oh sure you can. There are some horribly produced albums out there that have great songwriting and performances. And good speakers (any good speakers) just make you notice that horrible production all the more.

I see where you're coming from, but I still think the quality of the performance is of the utmost importance. You can take a hollow, crappy performance and polish it up to no end, but I'll still find it unlistenable, no matter how 'great' it makes my system sound.

I see where you're coming from, but I still think the quality of the performance is of the utmost importance. You can take a hollow, crappy performance and polish it up to no end, but I'll still find it unlistenable, no matter how 'great' it makes my system sound.

On this, we agree. I was simply saying that the converse isn't true - a crappily recorded or (more often the case) crappily produced but brilliant performance can be pretty unlistenable.

I agree. But if the performance is brilliant enough... Think of Miles Davis playing through a Victrola stuffed with gauze. It would still sound sweet.

Or The Joshua Tree.