Having used the Energy Connoisseur C-3 speakers for 3 months while I made final decisions on my Axiom speaker system, I had planned to provide lots of comments about the differences between the Axiom M22 and the Energy Connoisseur C-3. However, after doing some listening comparisons and measurements. I find there is little I can say definitively. These are similar sounding speakers and I enjoy both of them, but I’m happier with the M22 as part of my system.

Comments:
Definitively, I can say you should plan to enjoy the front baffle design of the C-3 because the speaker grill distorts the treble, perhaps because of diffraction.

With some conviction, I can say I think I prefer the stereo imaging of the M22 speakers and that they seem just a tiny bit richer and more interesting to listen to. The C-3’s occasionally sound a bit uninspiring especially with poor recordings. The C-3 sounded like it might have a little more bass extension, but I couldn’t measure any difference. The only difference I measured that appeared significant, and large enough to be real and not a measurement error, was at 4 kHz where the C-3 dipped and the M22 peaked. Published charts show the same. I do feel there is an audible difference for sounds that happen to fall at that frequency and sometimes the M22 seems too loud at this frequency. I’ve tried a -2 db EQ adjustment to smooth out the 4 kHz peak, and sometimes it seems like an improvement and other times it doesn’t. It’s a subtle difference.

Spiffnme has previously commented he though the M22 was clearer and cleaner than the C-3. I’d tend to agree, and the SoundStage charts on Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise would tend to support that since the C-3 is a bit noisier around 1 kHz.

Beyond that, influences from my room acoustics, the significant limitations of my test equipment (Radio Shack SPL & Rives Audio disk), and the time it took to switch speakers were more than enough to wipe out differences between the speakers.


Information Resources:
For more experienced/competent information and comparisons than mine, you can check out these links I used during my speaker research and some old threads on this board.

SoundStage Review of Energy Connoisseur C-3; June 2002


SoundStage Review of Axiom Audio M22Ti SE; November 2001


Sound Stage Review of Axiom Audio M2i; September 2002 (Axiom vs Energy comments)

Alan Lofft’s post for spiffnme “First, what’s the difference between…” from 3/25/2003:

spiffnme post “Axiom vs. Paradigm vs. Energy” from 4/5/2003:

Thread “Axiom M22, M3, Energy C-3” from 9/19/2002 (for a different viewpoint)

First link didn't work

No boxiness with the M22s?

I think the Energy C-3 and the Paradigm Studio Reference 20s are both great speakers from what I have read. I have heard the Paradigm 20s but didn't need to buy them.

I have Ascends and M22s and I think they are both very good - maybe great as well.

I'm not sure why the first link didn't work for you. It's working fine for me.

The M22 doesn't sound boxy at all, to me. It's just as transparent as the C-3. They both frequently just disappear into the room.

I mean the "Sound Stage Review of Axiom Audio M2i; September 2002 (Axiom vs Energy comments)" link. Still doesn't work for me. Odd.

I have the M22s and I don't think they sound boxy either. The guy in the last link thought they were boxy. I guess listening can be a very subjective experience at times.

The M2 link is wrong. The last part should say m2i instead of mti.

Here is the correct link :

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/axiom_m2i.htm

Thanks for the correction, bridgman. I guess I missed double checking that link like I did all the rest.

I included that last link because it was information on the C-3 vs. M22 that existed on the board and to provide a different viewpoint because people do hear things differently.