Hi All,

Been a Axiom guy for a while now for HT and a couple years ago upgraded the 2004 M22s for M80v4s which has been fantastic. I brought the M22s up to my cabin for music and hooked them up to my fathers old Nikko STA6060 (after I had it refurbished) holy crap, the sound was astonishing out of the M22s. This is the first time I had ever hooked them up in a stereo set up. Literally brought back my joy of simply listening to the “sound” of music. I couldn’t believe the low end. I’ve enjoyed them very much and decided to upgrade to the M5HPs and just ordered them last week! Now I’m debating the amp situation. The Nikko is warm and deep but also old and fuzzy even after the refurb. I have an old Dennon AVR that I had the M22s originally hooked up to and it sounded flat and without any life. The Nikko is really what brought it all to life. I’m thinking of trying the Marantz PM6006 with the M5s. What are your thoughts on that combo? I’d like to keep that warm lively sound and get rid of the fuzz and finikeyness of the Nikko. Mostly using Spotify/pandora but do have a record player I use maybe 20% of the time. Thoughts welcome and thoughts in general on the M5s! Super pumped to hear them.

Can't offer any input, but interested to see your feedback.

Axiom guy, how far away will you be sitting from them, how large is your room and will you be using a sub?

Hi Mojo,

Sitting 6-7’ away, room is like a den in a great room (den+living room+kitchen) but 15x20 sort of defines the space with 8’ ceiling. It’s an older cabin with many weird additions before I got it haha. No sub planned right now, I was happy with the low end of the M22. I have an old Tannoy sub if need be but really wanted to just run the M5s.

I like older, beat up cabins. Nothing like a pair of speakers to spruce them up a bit.

The M5s are wonderful! You will hear the spaciousness of your M100s and perhaps even better imaging and soundstage. Your room is very similar to my living room where I get a ton of enjoyment out of them.

I drive them with a Pioneer A9 which has about 10W more continuous out of it than the Marantz. But...and this is a big but...I can get a good 200W peak out of it per channel because it's got a toroid for each channel with almost 40,000uF of capacitance. This is real important because the M5s are about twice as hungry as the M22s. That HP driver will give you awesome bass but due to its mass, it's got to eat.

I sit 10 feet away and that Pioneer is just fine and gives me music throughout my 1075 sq. ft. main floor. Given your 7 foot distance, I think you'll be just fine with the Marantz.

Just check to make sure it has a sub out or at least pre-amp outs because you may want to add a sub later. Not because the M5s don't have enough bass but you may find they have too much and you want to manage it better through a sub.

Here's how mine are set up. 12 feet apart and I'm 10 feet away.

My review is the 3rd one down titled "Holography & black magic". Just get them. LOL!

https://www.axiomaudio.com/reviews/index/list/product/930/

Great lookin set up! Thanks for the detailed info, and excellent review! I’m really excited for them to come in, I was trying to be fiscally responsible and clicked the “I can wait” even though I can’t haha. I think I’m gonna hold off on ordering the Marantz until the M5s come in and I can try both the Nikko and the Marantz and see what works best. Cheers!

Enjoy!

Jritz, I looked that Nikko up. No doubt your M5s will sound great with it. But you won't know what you're missing until you try a more modern design like the Marantz.

You will "see" more distinct images with space between them, a wider and deeper soundstage and more pop and sizzle to the sound. I'll just warn you it's a slippery slope. Once you hear it, you can't unhear it.

Thabks for checking it out, haha so true! I’ve already rationalized the purchase in my head. Now I’ve gotta just hold off on buying it until the M5s actually show up! Haha

It's tough waiting, huh? You know you could upgrade those M5s to active LFRs?

Finally got my M5s! I also ordered a new Denon PMA 600NE as it’s reviewed really well. I excitedly set it all up last night anddddd was extremely underwhelmed. The sound was good but really not much of an upgrade over my M22ti’s that they were replacing. Thought maybe I need to break in and tweak the settings. Woke up this morning and thought I should swap back to the Nikko and just see how it sounds. HOLY CRAP! That’s what it was missing, that really brought them to life and they sound amazing and full and warm. I really like a warm pronounced low end (I’m a bass player) probably more than most folks, and boy that vintage tone delivers. Amazing, so happy I have the Nikko a shot, and I already own it! Haha. Anyway that’s the 2 day update/Review. Axiom delivers the goods as usual.

I'm not surprised about that Denon. It can't power those HP woofers. My Pioneer A9 has absolutely no problem.

One thing that would be interesting is to contrast the soundstage and imaging between the Denon and Nikko.

Glad you are satisfied!