New here. I'm looking to get new speakers for our family room, 22' X 15' X 8' with a 10' opening on 15' wall to the kitchen/dinette. I currently have Polk Audio RT7's for the front, CS400i center and RT35i's in the rear, PSW450 for the bass. Power is supplied by a Pioneer Elite 84TXSi(140watts). System is used 50% music, 50% movies. It’s not that I'm unhappy with the sound, just looking to try something new and different. I’m considering the following from Axiom:

M60v3, VP150v3, M3v3
or
M22v3, VP150v3, M3v3.

In either case the sub will be an Epic Empire or Legend. Unless HSU has some surprise offering on Saturday.

I'm on the fence about going with the 60's vs the 22's for the fronts. I've read very positive reviews on both speakers here and on the AVS forum. Just not sure if giving up the 2nd midrange driver in the 22's in lieu of getting 1 mid and 2 bass drivers in the 60's is a good idea in my application. I emailed Axiom Audio Expert JC and got his opinion. Just looking for any other insight, direction, suggestions you can offer. After all, the thread is labeled ‘Advice from Axiom Owners’ and that’s what I’m after.

Thanks

First of all welcome!

IMO, it depends on the type of music you're listening to, what you are looking for and the $$$ that you want to spend. The M60s will definitely have more bass (bigger cabinet, extra woofer). The M22s should be more pronounced in the mids area if it's what you're looking for and the bass would be handled by your sub. Both setups should sound very nice in your room size.
I would be tented to go with the M22s since you'll have a very capable sub and at this price point they are a bargain.
One thing I would do is consider the QS8s for surround as they should do a much better job at it than the M3s.

Welcome

Most Axiom customers are justifiably enthusiastic about the quadpolar surrounds (the QS series). Recommend you stretch your budget to get those instead of the M3 for the surrounds. They are very immersive.

That's a pretty big room; you don't say how loud you like it. That might be the only consideration relative to getting a floorstander.

The M80 posse is going to come in and make you feel like you are incomplete if you don't get those.

I have the 60's and think they are wonderful. I still own some Polk speakers (RS3000 sub/sat) and think the Axioms are clearly "better" in my room.

If you can find the money and space, the VP180 is getting rave reviews.

The difference in price from the M60s to the M22s would pay for the upgrade of M3s + VP150 to QS8s + VP180 NICE!

Unless you have to buy stands...

During my tests I found the M60 v2 and m22v2 share a similar sound, more so than the M80, my original M22Ti's sound closer to the M80's. I suspect this is the same with the v3. I think with your room size I would look to the M60's to help smooth out the sound with better upper bass capabilities that the m22's lack, this provides an added warmth to the music, for movies the differences are not as noticeable, even then we are nit picking; either way you should really enjoy either setup. Best idea would be to order both M22s and M60s and then return the ones you don't want.

And ya if you want it all get some M80s (just for you Tom)

Thanks for the welcome.

Music preferences is rock and jazz. Loud, but not rattling the windows.

The QS8's would stretch the budget seeing as I would have to buy the special stands. Wall mounting, even with swivel brackets, would never pass the WAF. But if they are going to be that much better I'll have to consider stretching $$ a bit. Hell, it's not like I do this every year.

Bruno,what you said about the 22's being more pronounced in the mids is exactly why I can't decide between them and the 60's.

My receiver does 6 and 8 ohms, not 4 as the 80's are listed at. Besides, more $$. Sorry Tom.

The VP180 is an inch too wide for my rack which has enclosed sides, damn.

Thanks for the input,
GTZ

Very few receivers ever have 4 ohm listed but most will power them. The M80s are actually very easy to drive, only 1 watt at 1 meter to reach 92-95 db, better than either of the M22, M60.

Again, I suggest ordering both M22 and M60 and try them out for the 30 days then ship back the ones you don't want, this would be the BEST way to find out which works for your particular room and tastes.

Yeah, I would not be to concerned about the whole 4ohm receiver thing, usually not a problem.

I don't understand how the M3's are less obtrusive as surrounds than wall-mounted QS8's.

They really are terrific speakers. I had them set up in a pretty suboptimal room and they sounded great. Then, in their current location, they work so well that I didn't really get as much improvement as I was hoping for when I went from 5.1 to 7.1.

With the subs you are considering, you should be pretty happy with either the M22 or the M60.

Have fun.

GT, welcome. The M22s plus a good sub(which you'll be getting)form an ideal combination in my view and I've certainly found no significant limitations in my use of the M22s plus EP500. The size of the enclosure affects tuning for low bass extension and loudness, but isn't a factor above that. The thought sometimes expressed that a tower speaker "fills" a big room with louder sound has no factual support above that bass area; the drivers, not the enclosure size, determine that. The M22s have no deficiencies in that respect and are at least the equal of the M60s, if not slightly superior in the all-important mid-range because of the dual drivers. Your sub will supply excellent bass extension and loudness.

I'll also suggest using QS surrounds and not to be concerned about a nominal 4 ohm impedance rating on a speaker such as the M80, which is above 4 ohms for the majority of its frequency range

GT,

I have a lengthy review where I compared both the M22 and M60 for movies and music. If you'd like to give it a read, here it is:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190290#Post190290

I AM a little biased towards the M22's, though. For music, their clarity can't be beat.

You got style bro. (your sig)

I know of your review, have read it about half a dozen times before I even registered here. It's thorough and informative. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

New direction in my choice for a sub. Found a 1 year old Epic Sentinal for $450 I might jump on.

I think the QS8s are a hands down no brainer. First, I think speakers on stands in a room are much more obtrusive than speakers on a wall. Placement of the speakers (lack of appropriate walls) is really the only justification for stand mounting them, in my opinion.

Add to that the fact that the QS8s have a 1/2 Octagon shape, they sort of blend into the walls better. They don't simply jut out like a brick the home builder left sticking out of the wall. The included T bracket is a snug, wall tight mount that is clean.

If the wife won't go for black speakers hanging on the walls, consider doing what I did, which is getting a lighter finish on the speakers and buying white grill covers - they virtually disappear on the walls (GTZ - check out my pics in the wall 'o fame for an example).

Others have posted about painting the speakers. You shouldn't hesitate to consider this as an alternative option, especially if aesthetics are competing for optimal performance.