Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Speakers comparable to M3ti?

Don't feel bad about recommending the M3/M50 line. I think you summarized the issues in choosing between M3/M50 and M22/M60 families extremely well.

Now I'm going back upstairs to listen to my M40s

Yup, I'm gonna go listen to my M50s as well, but....

There's a dispute.....!!

The Wifes NASCAR race is on at the Same Time as my Formula 1 race!!!

The tunes or action DVDs will have to wait!

thanks for the summary. I had the M3s but returned them to get the M22s - based on what most people, including Alan, said. Probably wouldn't have gone wrong either way.

The important thing is to get what makes a person happy! Like I said; only one in ten prefers the M3! You were already familiar with the M22(as I was with the M3 before getting the M50s)so you went with what you understood and had a fondness for-which is as it should be! Better that, than to get what you don't like and end up badmouthing my babies!(that way we'd both be unhappy!)

This way we're both satisfied customers!

Good choice!!
Rich,

>>Like I said; only one in ten prefers the M3!

Just to nitpick -- one in ten BUYS the M3. We don't know how many people PREFER the M3. I bought M2s then M60s but when I got a chance to listen to M3s it was clear to me that I should have bought M3s first.

I stand corrected, a bit embarrased, but happy.

Bit by teeny bit maybe we're getting the word out to those who'll listen and perhaps consider the alternatives!

(Or maybe we should just keep the good stuff to ourselves?!)

Nah,...too good to keep secret!

First, I want to thank everyone for their inputs & feedback. As always, this is a great bunch.

By way of quick review, I think the M3s sound great. Haven't had a chance to do any really critical or comparative listening with these, and I'm working with a new little T-amp that I haven't powered anything else with. I've got so many different variables changing at once that this is far from a controlled experiment! On top of that, I've got a 14 month old daughter who's been keeping me busy, and her bedroom is right above this office so I can't go crank the stereo when she's asleep.

Anyhow, the fronts of the speakers are lined up to the front edge of a 16" Elfa shelf. The tweeter is about 5'6" above the floor, so about ear height (for me! ) when standing. So the positioning is far from perfect. I used the T-amp with a little portable Samsung CD player and Dell DJ as the sources. The room itself is about 8' x 13', and the speakers are at one of the shorter ends of the room.

I like the presentation. There is a good amount of bass, and the overall sound seems very clean. Wouldn't say that I heard any warmth per se, but it certainly sounds fuller than what I recall of the M2 without a sub. Material ranged from the new Slightly Stoopid CD to Jack Johnson to Stones/Beatles. Since this system is in my wife's office and will be for background music as she works, it isn't going to be used for critical music enjoyment. I think it will be easy to enjoy in that context.

What I'm hoping to do in the near future is separate some of these variables. I'll bring out the M2s I have, and compare to the M3s using both an existing amp I have as well as another T-amp. I'll report back when I get to do that.

Thanks again to everyone.

Rich

>>The tweeter is about 5'6" above the floor, so about ear height (for me! ) when standing. So the positioning is far from perfect.

If you haven't already done so, inverting the speakers might help a bit. Just make sure the front edge of the speaker is level with or overhanging the edge of the shelf.

Inverted speakers on a medium-high shelf has always been one of my favorite ways to place a speaker. No idea why, it's just worked well for me in the past.

Bridgman--

Thanks for the idea. Actually already tried that. Since the primary listening position is sitting, that change in position didn't make much of a difference. That might be something we try again for an extended listening period.

Could be that these particular shelves need more bracing, but do you not ever have issues with vibration when you place your speakers are shelves?

Regards,
Rich

Hi Rich;

It sounds as though you have the right speakers for the right job: The M2s for critical listening, and the M3s for absolutely everything else!

I guess anyone stating the M3s are warm could be considered just a bit inaccurate at that. I'm guessing that "Warm" has more to do with the bass hump emphasisng the bass a bit. Perhaps the terms "comfortable" "relaxed" or "pleasant" more fit the style of the M3.

And yup, being vertically symetrical is a good thing with M3s; I use all three of mine inverted! The surrounds as well as the center!! Gets the tweets a little closer to the ears at that. Does it help? I dunno; but, it seems as though it...uh...should. (I didn't shave my legs when I rode a bicycle a lot, but some of my friends did, they figured the aerodynamic benifits would make themselves apparent after about 150 miles or so, so...)

Yes, by all means give us an update when you can get around to a good comparo. We're trying to get as good and accurate a data base as we can to be able to give others, with similar questions, the best answers we can!!

(Not to mention reinforcing our own prior decisions!!)
Rich.