Hey everyone first time poster. I've had my Axioms about 6-7 months, I have two pairs of M2's and the VP150, my sub is a SVS 25-31 PCi. Very happy with the system but, I am not satisfied with the mid bass "slam" or "punchyness". I replaced some older Boston Acoustics VR1 towers and CR series speakers with the Axioms the lower bass is good and mids and highs but there is just something missing. So just wondering is going with the a smaller sub like EP125 or M50's or M60's would help. My feq cutoff is 60hrz for the M2s and the 150, sub cut off is 100hrz. Thanks.

Oh, I'd bump up that crossover on the M2s to at least 80, if not 100.

I agree with Ken, and experiment with sub placement. When you say your sub cut off is 100hz, what are you saying. Are you talking about the crossover knob on the sub? If so, you should not be using that, since your receiver is handling the bass management crossover for the speakers you designate as small. Turn it to the highest setting, or if you have a bypass or disable option, to get it out of the way.

Sorry should have been more detailed the subs crossover is switched on the back of the sub to off, so bass management is done in receiver. I went ahead and set the M2's to 80hrz. What bothers me is the other day I rewatched National Treasure2 and at the beginning with the disney castle and the fireworks going off, with my old bostons it was very forceful. The fire works would make a loud POP rumble at the same time. The rumble is still there but the forcefulness is gone.

No matter the brand you should not expect as much from a small bookshelf compared to what you were getting from a tower. I would also try the crossover @ 100HZ.

Oh good catch Rick, I didn't read very close at the original post.

Yes, the VR1's are a floorstanding cabinet with much more volume compared to the m2's smaller cabinet which would produce more bass output. Also, the VR1 has dual 6.5" drivers compared to one 5.25" driver on the m2, which would move more air and give you better bass output. In addition, the m2's are rated down to 70hz +/- 3dB, compared to the VR1's which are rated to a lower 46hz +/- 3dB.

So your problem is not a fault of the m2's, just the nature of what your using. Bumping up the crossover on the m2's some more may help, as well as having the sub up front if it is not already.

GTP, welcome. Yes, the crossover to the M2s should be no lower than 80Hz and possibly 90Hz(if available)or 100Hz would be better. Another thing to consider is whether the "forcefulness" in the old Bostons was due to an inaccurate boost in the upper bass area, while the M2s are more accurately reproducing what's actually on the recording.

Yea, the M2 is nothing special on the bottom end. Not bad for the price IMO. The mids are classic Axiom though.

As others have pointed out, given that they roll off fairly steeply below the -3db point, even an 80Hz crossover would be low. From what I understand you need reasonable output below the crossover in order for the blending of the bass and the mid drivers to be smooth.

Just to add to what everyone else has said, yes upgrading to M60's would help with the lack of midbass the M2's do not have. I would also try the crossover at the max 100hz your sub is capable of. I think this may help but I also feel that you will still not achieve the same output in the mid bass you would have with the M60s plus sub.

Thanks everyone setting the crossover at 100 and bumping the sub up to 120 help alittle. The m60's I think are out of my budget range right now, so I think I will sell a pair of the M2's and go for a pair of B stock m50's. Also would the M3s or m22s add anything that the m2s are missing?

I think you would be very happy with either the M3s or the M22s. I suspect, with their little midbass hump, the M3s would be more to your liking.

I guess I dont get it. I have M22s and a HSU VTF 2 Mk 2....not a big sub by any means (not small either) and I think music sounds great! Maybe I'm more of the "flat response" kinda guy....dont listen to much bass heavy music...and when I do i like to to sound smooth. Movies rumble nicely. I have m2s as surrounds but I've never tried listening to just them plus sub.

I listened to my Paradigm DSP-3100 sub at my fathers house today with M2s as the mains, and it sounded damn good!

The M22s do sound more full even with the same crossover setting of 80. We have M3s as well and these sound the most rich and would probably give you the midbass sound your looking for.

We are waiting on some tweeters for the M3s as the very powerful Parasound amps blew them out.

I'm going to go ahead and order a pair of M3's and give them a try. Then later upgrade to the M60's.

Oh one last question, what cutoff for the m3's keep it 100hrz or set it alittle lower?

It depends on your room, speaker/sub placement, etc. The m3's are rated as follows:

Freq Resp +/-3dB: 60 - 22 kHz Graph
Freq Resp +3dB- 9dB: 50 - 22 kHz

I would say 80hz would be a good starting point.