Posted on Home Theater Shack website:

I've lived with the Axiom M100s for 5 months, long enough to post my impressions.

Bottome line: The M100s are fabulous speakers. Mine are real cherry, the finish on each is excellent, the speakers are well finished, the cabinets are extremely solid. I recommend the optional outriggers, as the M100s are tall and relatively narrow - I think outriggers are a must if you live in California earth quake country.

I have 3, 2 channel systems. Previously my favorite speakers were my Thiel CS 3.6s. The M100s match the Thiels in most respects and better them in Sound Stage and imaging.

The highs are wonderful. Cymbals sizzle, decay is excellent, bells ... well they sound like bells. The mids are on the rich side but accurate. Dynamics are excellent. Drums are reproduced very accurately. The attack is sudden, kick drums can make you jump, and the French Horns in Musorgsky's A Night on Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition were breathtaking. Piano music sounds like there is a piano in your room. These speakers put out a lot of bass energy. Once I moved the M100s about 3 feet from the wall, the bass became cleaner with much less bloat.

They handle symphonic music without congestion. Vocal reproduction is extremely realistic. Live venue recordings sound convincingly like live music. I don't play much rock, but as for jazz, classical, new age, crooners, big band, blues, these speakers love 'em all.

The M100s soundstage is wide, high and deep. The imaging? Spectacular.

I like crooners. Dean Martin's Dream with Dean LP just sounds rich and so pleasant, so "you are there." Bill Evans? I've listened all day to Bill on these speakers. Loreena McKennett's Elemental soars.

The long and short of it is Axiom's M100s are superb for 2 channel stereo. I retired my EPIK subwoofer, as I don't think you need a sub with these towers for music.

I expect these Axioms would be incredible home theater front L/R speakers as well.

So, to the folks at Axiom, Thank you! Your speakers do justice to the music.


The system:
Odyssey Khartago 2 channel solid state amplifier with Stratos upgrades
Odyssey Candela tube preamp
Yaqin MS 23b phono stage with Mullard 12ax7s
MMF 7.1 turntable with Ortofon mojo cartridge
Marantz NA 7004 Network player
Sony CX90ES 200 CD player
FiiO external DAC for the Sony


Read more: http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/t...l#ixzz3woQur1ZF

"I think outriggers are a must if you live in California earth quake country."

I don't think those outriggers are ISO3010 compliant .

On a serious note, how far apart are they spaced and how far are you from them at the MLP?

9' apart
12' from MLP
No outriggers yet

I will say that I did add outriggers to my LFR1100 and they do improve the look. I can't say I have ever had a speakers fall over on me. What they did however do for me it help remove the lean to one side as my basement floor is not exactly level.

Excellent review which does a bang up job describing the sonic aspects of the M100's.

Just don't add an EP800 to the mix. Once you hear what these guys do crossed at 40 Hz to an EP800, you will have entered the darkside and won't come back.

Seriously - you are giving them a great, high current amp, that has to be some aural bliss.

Hello guys!

EP800... Is there much musical information below 40Hz?

Just went to EP800 page and checked out the frequency graph. Are those measured values? That is table-top flat!!! and down to 16Hz!

That is crazy output! I'd love to see a comparison review with the big RELs, even the crazy expensive JL Audio Gotham, etc.

Yes. It depends what music you like. The piano goes below 30. Pipe organ to 16. Once you get into synthesized and electronic instruments...

Oh noes, EP800
Must have

Well, you can get into crazy pricing once you consider that you can't get away with just one EP800, you must get them in pairs.

I cheated and picked up the smaller EP500's that only really go down to 18hz.

I met up with one of the fellows behind Summit HiFi the other day(Canadian Emotiva Dealer)...he owns 4!!! x EP800's.

Nice review 2x6.

Like many people, I am wondering how much difference there is between the M100's and M80's esp when a sub is in the mix. Does this negate the slightly better low end of the 100's or are there any other advantages?

4 x EP-800s?!

I have only a pair so I'm suddenly feeling inadequate, ha!

TAM

Delete - double post

TAM

was going to say you feel so inadequate you had to say it two times..

Hi Adrian

Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of hearing the M80s. I have listened to M60s, and have owned M50s, M22s, M3s and M2s. I also have Michaura M665s, M66s and M55s (fantastic speakers)

I'm familiar with the Axiom "sound" which I would characterize as accurate, dynamic and sweet with excellent imaging and large soundstage.

Matt:

Actually one of my cats jumped up on my lap & decided to 'help' me post just as I hit the 'Submit Button' - twice I guess...

TAM

Here is the culprit. He is quite a specimen & is brilliant white as contrasted to the pics:






TAM

Tam, that is one contented cat! No allergies, eh?

If more proof was not needed, if there is trouble, it's highly likely a pussy is at the center of it.

We have a small herd here - 4 domestic felines plus 1 feral tom cat that we care for outside - so no allergies so far.

Another creature has shown up this week - a beautiful doe who has been living in our secluded back yard...

TAM

Oh noes, 2 EP800s. Must have.