Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Anybody in DC/Norther Virginia Area with M60s?

My M2s sounded awful when I first got them but after a couple of daysthey really sounded nice. Ditto with the M60s but I didn't have time to monitor "sound vs. time", I just let 'em play during the day while I was at work.

well i may as well start it... when i first got my M60s they did seem a little harsh on the ears, with real strong highs. which made me feel really crappy cause i had just dropped 2300 samoleans on these speakers without ever having heard them. However after about, and i $hit you not, 30 minutes of putting music through them they settled down and they now induce copious amounts of audio bliss in anyone who hears them. Now I don't claim to be an authority on the characteristics of Axiom speaker break-in or the lack thereof, but i DO know that either my speakers,or my perception, of them changed. Frankly, I don't give a damn, 'cause I love them now and THAT'S what's important.

I finnally found one (big john) here to support "Break in" theory!! I am soooo sure that my Rotel RCD-1072 cd player sounded so harsh at the beginning. I sat down at listening position and my ears would start hurting after 20 min listening. This did not happen anymore after a week or so: I could sit down for hours and listen to music and not feel any fatigue at all.

Before I leave home for a while (I will make sure I leave my speakers on and playin in "repeat mode"), a few more observation:

- Bass is sooooo heavy!!! it rocks my windows!!! Even with my "best of Sade" cd. I don't think more bass in necessary for music (different issue with movies) As you know my system is Stereo for music only.
- Compared to JBLs, M60s fill the room (my living room is big 20X23) so much better. I can sit in front of the computer, aside from my audio-video sitting area and really hear it very loud and clear.
- I moved the speakers a little forward from the back wall and they sound better now. I am concerned that my fiance when she comes back will not permit me keep at that distance now.
- I can clearly hear a distinct, sweet sound I heard when I demoed axioms. Awesome!!!
- There is no "sound color" whatsoever!!! I am talking about a certain sound I used to hear with my JBLs. They sound natural.

Trust me guys, first impressions are good... I am sure it can only get better.

Again, thank you Adrien for letting me listen at your place.

I just want to read some more impressions you guys had when you first got your M60 (or M40s, M50s, M80s).

Thanks!!!

Your CD-P burned in? Did I read that right?

I REALLY gotta get a spit shield for my monitor... or quit drinking Pepsi while reading the forums.

Ohh, and another thing - if the room is carpeted... the carpet will break in over time... it'll lay flat in radial waves from each of the drivers... helps wind resistance to the sound.

Blame break-in, blame the fact you're actively concentrating on listening, eventually you'll relax and just listen to 'em.

Bren R.

After a short "Break -in" in memory of my M3s; when my M50s arrived, I paid attention: About 20-25 minutes to settle in.

Skerdi,

Congrats on the new arrivals. Pictures are a must now... so that the rest of us can enjoy, too.

As far as the break-in goes. Who cares whether its the 6 inches of woofer that are breaking in or the 6 inches of gray matter between your ears that are breaking in. I think that you're used to hearing a "muddled" high frequency response and a pronounced mid-bass with the JBLs. That "speaker memory" will fade as you listen to the M60's over time, and you'll begin to get used to the speakers more as time goes on.

In addition, don't forget how close we were sitting when listening (around 8 feet). Your listening distance might be different.

In regard to the bass, that likely is the difference in your Rotel gear compared to my Panny/Yamaha combo (even though the DACs in the Yammy were doing the heavy lifting because of the optical connection). The Rotel might be accentuating the bass and high frequencies more than mine did. Try trimming these values (if you can) with your receiver or your CD-P.

In any event. I'm really happy that you're really happy. Keep us informed.

I have to agree with Bren here. I never heard of a CD player breaking in. I'm not gonna call you a liar, because maybe you really did hear it but I really don't see how. I don't believe in speaker break-in myself, but I won't say it doesn't happen. I don't believe my speaker's or my ears "broke-in." I liked my Axiom's from the first moment I heard them; then again, I've always had a very astute ear. I guess not everybody is quite as lucky.

Some of you guys made me feel really stupid with the "break in", even though I was quite sure what I heard with my CD player when I first got it, and after a week of serious play. My job is evenings and I have plenty of time during the day at home to listen by myself my audio equipement, loud, not loud, with no other people interfering. Anyway, I posted this question to Club Rotel and here is what I got:

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13253

Make sure you check it often, as there are plenty audio experts (or at least Rotel enthusiasts) who can jump in.

As would be expected there's a camp of "break in is real" and a camp of "break in is a myth/it's your ears/brain" people.

Most (not all) Axiomites are in the "it's your ears/brain" camp.

It's a viciously debated topic that can never be settled.