Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Amp for M22

Hello everyone!

Im about to purchase a set of M22's, but I still haven't decided on what amp to get.
I've narrowed it down to either the Cambridge Azur 640v2 or the NAD 325BEE.

I asked the experts here, and Alan said that both would be good, and Brent said that he would opt for the NAD.

I was determined on the Cambridge originally because of the design and slightly lower price, but now Im not sure.

I as understand it the NAD is a bit warm and would therefor be better suited for Axiom speakers?

Any advice would be highly appreciated, and as Im a real newbie on this stuff maybe it won't make that much difference if I choose the Cambridge? Will I be able to hear any difference at all?

Best Regards Martin from Sweden

Welcome Martin from Sweden.

You could go either way. I would get the one that you like the best and fits your budget. The Axiom speakers are very efficient and easy to drive. Also, they are not "bright" as some may tell you on other forums. No need to use a so-called "warm" amp to tame Axioms. An amp or receiver will not color the sound unless you've turned on some DSP or EQ extra features.

Hey Martin,

Welcome!!! From my quick look at both of them, seems the Cambridge is actually more expensive than the NAD. I'm looking at the used market though, but still looks a little less. Anyway, the Cambridge has a little more power than the NAD, but both do seem to get great reviews. Have you tested both of them? With two amps so close to each other in price and functionality, it really comes down to personal preference. I like NAD, personally. But not everyone likes the looks of them. They are basic looking. I like that both have a remote too. Hey, try them both! But do report back at what you decide to go with.

Thanks!

Zoë

Martin, another welcome. You didn't specify what aspects of the Cambridge "design" attract you, but whatever they are, if you can get it in Sweden for less than the NAD(here the NAD is generally available for less)there wouldn't appear to be a good reason not to go with it.

What you shouldn't be concerned about are two audio mythologies that you brought up in one short sentence: neither the NAD nor any other competently designed unit is "warm" or has any other audible coloration; the Axioms aren't "bright" and wouldn't need any help from a "warm" amplifier even if one existed.

Hello again and thanks for all your responses!

I decided to with the Cambridge as it was about 70$ cheaper than the NAD.
Actually I thought the NAD sounded just a little bit better, a little clearer in the highs. But that could maybe also have been the cd players, and the fact that both sets where played on a set of Dali speakers. They are known to be a perfect match with NAD.

The guy at the retailer said that he would go for NAD, and that they always are the best bang for he buck.
But, the 325BEE model NAD did not have proper pre-out he said, and that you would have to make some special Y-connection or what he called it, and that you only would have half the level of the pre-out. Im sure you guys know what this is better than me.
Im thinking about a getting a sub later on, and the retailer guy said that the Cambridge was a better choice to be used with a sub. I was very tempted to go with the next level up NAD which had proper pre-out, but then the price would be even higher.

About the design, I just think that the Cambridge look alot better then the NAD, with it's blue lights and more simple but stylish look. The retailer guy's response to this was "NAD doesn't waste money on design"...

Another aspect of it is that this amp and speaker set will to begin with be connected to my computer with Soundblaster X-fi soundcard and mainly be used for mp3. Therefor I think the difference in sound will be smaller due to lack of soundquality. After I bought this card, I really started to enjoy music again, and the whole idea of getting a set of good speakers started to form. I already have a set of the Sennheiser HD515 headphones, and when listening through these the difference between my old onboard sound and the X-fi was like night and day.

I was originally looking at the Audiobytes as I read about them on Toms Hardware's report from CES 2008 in Las Vegas.
But as I du a little deeper in Axiom's productline I was tempted to go bigger.
I was almost tempted to with the M50 instead, because if you calculate price and space consuption, a set of M22 with stands isn't that much cheaper.
But, I read a couple of reviews saying that one are better of with the M22, and that there is a reason for the gap in good reviews between the M22's and the M60's.

I placed my order last night and Im terribly excited to finally get them set up and playing!

Best Regards Martin!

This pure bullshit so anything else the sales person would have said would have to be suspect. You would have to use a couple wye connectors but it doesn't reduce the signal in half. I've done this many of times with great results. Anyhow congrats on the speaker purchase.

Thank you!

B.t.w. is there anyone who can explain this with the wye connectors and normal pre out.

My Cambridge has two pre-outs. One left and one right.
Isn't there normally only one line in on a sub?

Best Regards Martin

Some subs have left and right inputs, but most of us just use the left channel since it is a mono signal.

Sure it's not hard at all. You take a set of wye connectors and put them on the preout of the preamp section. From there you run one set of interconnects back to the amp section and another to the amp on a sub. It's that easy.

There are a lot of subs that only have one input. When running a sub in a stereo set up using the low level inputs it would be my recommendation to find a sub that has both left and right inputs.

Not the best advice when in a stereo set up.