I've noticed that my m22s sound better to me as HT speakers than as straight music speakers. Reading the forums here one would get the impression that the 22s are a HT speaker only. Are the floorstanders, m40s, m50s, m60s, and m80s all superior to the m22s musically. If so, I'm feel like I ooopsed.

Odd... I've enjoyed the M22s very much as music speakers. And we talk about music all the time!

I felt the same about my M22tis; flawless for HT, but lacking something with music. So, within the 30 day trial period, I am exchanging them for M60s. Others here have NOT felt this way, so it very well could have something to do with my room itself (dimensions, reflective surfaces, openings into adjoining spaces, furniture, etc.). Also, these speakers are so accurate that they are very unforgiving IF the source (CD/DVD) is not exactly well mastered. That, too, could be a factor, as I listen to a lot of older music.

I don't have the M60s yet, so I cannot answer your question as to superiority with music. But, Brent at Axiom thought the M60s would be an improvement for me. Jury is still out.

I find them to be exceptional speakers for both uses. I was just commenting that many seem to feel that floorstanders make a better choice for non HT purposes.

I've been leaning towards a floorstander, but I've gone well past the 30 day return period. It's hard to think about even parting with the 22s, though.

Now that I have the M80's, I have found them to be better than the M22's for music. Better enough that I wouldn't switch back, nor recommend them to anyone above the M60's or M80's.

In HT I can't really tell the difference that much. But yes, the M80's are also better for that purpose

It could be a couple of reasons...

1) like was stated above, poorly engineered/recorded music sounds like crap on accurate speakers.

2) unless you have a really good subwoofer, music could seem a bit lacking, either because a) you don't have a sub at all and music is lacking some punch, or b) you don't have a good sub, and your bass sounds bloated, slow, and muddy.

I owned the M22ti before I bought the M60's. The M22's were great, but I was in a pretty large room, and at the volumes I enjoy (approx. 80db +/-) that size room was taxing them a bit. (I have a Hsu sub, so my low end was covered nicely for both HT and music).

One great thing about Axioms, and the M22ti in particular, they seriously hold their value. If you really want to buy some towers, you could sell the M22ti's on audiogon.com for $325 easily.

I agree with this post with one caveat: it is possible to have a very capable subwoofer, but a poor setup in terms of location or crossover setting.

I think Spiffnme hit the nail on the head with point #2. If you don't have a good quality sub in an M22 configuration, bass reproduction will suffer. Since the M60s provide sufficiently accurate bass (certainly lower than the m22), a lot of people prefer to listen minus the sub. Heck there's M60 owners, like regular Chesseroo, that have a high quality sub and barely use it for music reproduction (50hz crossover) preferring the M60s to produce all but the lowest bass.

This is most likely the reason that the M22s don't get the same consideration that the M60s do, it's the subs fault, not the M22s.

I have the m22s and a cheap sub from partsexpress and they make me very very happy for stereo music (and tickle me/punch me for home theater).
Without the sub I might not like them for stereo music as much, but they are bookshelves and are limited. Perhaps its a matter of realistic expectations?

jr

I have the M80's and an EP350 set at 80hz crossover (because my receiver won't let me play with that, otherwise i'd try 60 and see what i get).

I don't feel anything gets 'wasted' by having towers cutting off at 80hz.

I used to use the M22's and could never get it to settle just right with the bass and i found them slightly too forward, i would get listening fatigue. Not the case with the M80's, and certainly somewhat less with the M60's.

I prefer towers to bookshelves

I believe the upgraditis virus has smitten me.

Sure sounds like it. (I'm a sufferer as well.)