And my question is: How important is/isn't the HP woofer option. Factoids:

1. I will be using these speakers crossed over @ 80 Hz. to a subwoofer
2. I don't listen loudly
3. The primary focus is to be 2.1 stereo - not movie surround

And finally - given the above conditions, is there any reason at all to consider the M100?

Thanks!

Given the recent review of the M100 you may want to consider it. They go in depth and are candid with the performance.

A "WOW" speaker.


http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/h...tion-event.html

Something I noticed when I went from M2's with a sub to M80's is that the midbass was much improved. Even though the crossover is 80 hz it happens gradually and the extra woofers of the M80 really rounded out the front stage. I can not say the HP option will improve on this though I doubt it will hurt. My impression is that with 2 channel listening without the sub is where the HP's shine. If you are like me and don't like buyer's remorse get the HP's if you can afford it.

Richard

The 100s are overkill for me. I'm settled on the M80s. The remaining question is "regular or high power?" Since they're $700 cheaper and since I'm using a sub, I'm leaning toward the regulars...

Sorry, I just need to jump in here and say that I LOVE your alias name...

Boomzilla! Raawwrrrrr. Awesome.

OK, back to your topic.

The M80 is good, the M80HP's are better.
Used v3 M80's for $900 would be hard to pass on though.

The dynamics you crave, HP.
Beautiful sounding speakers.

I haven't heard the HPs, but honestly, if you stated that you don't listen loudly, I think the non-HPs would be the better choice.

There is a subtle difference at all volumes.

&

It goes beyond sub/no sub IMHO.
You do need to sit and listen to appreciate them, well worth the difference in price.

I know you have had both so your opinion carries weight. Just because there is a sub , it is not like the bass drivers in the 80's cease to function. I wish I had the cash to upgrade. Though I may just get the drivers and build my own crossovers for giggles.

I was happy with the v3M80.
The trade in option and the available funds for the 3rd tower pushed me over the edge.
I am happier with the HP's.
I just got home, think I'll go enjoy them now.

Thanks, brwsaw - your post goes to the core of what I'm asking - Is there a difference at all volumes, and is it worth the cost. You think so, and Socketman says you've actually owned both, so your opinion is an informed one.

I'll may spring for the HPs based on your recommendation. As I understand it, should I order now, I also get the v4 tweeters? What do you think of those?

Thanks - Boomzilla (moniker NOT indicative of listening preferences)

Well, having priced things, the HP M80s are $2,530 with the footers, and the M100s are $2,930 with the same. For only $400 more, is the M100 a better option than the HP M80?

The main reason I was attracted to the M80 was its low cost. If I'm going to add 1/3 to the cost with HP woofers, I'm most of the way to the M100s instead. The cost difference of the HP woofers as a percentage of that M80 total investment is HUGE!

The original $1,500 cost of the M80s was within the WAF. The $2,530 to $3K may not be. The alternate is to go M60s with the sub - THAT cost is more doable.

On the other hand, I do plan to keep these for a long while, and I'm reluctant to be "penny-wise and pound-foolish." I could afford the $3K, but to do so, I need to liquidate lots of "closet gear" first, and the delay will put me beyond Axiom's sale price window. The even HIGHER prices after this window expires may put me out of the running entirely.

jump now for the (affordable) M80s sans HP or wait for the (far more expensive) options down the road?

I've heard the HP's with both tweeters and didn't notice big difference but this should be related to the narrow room.
The imaging I've seen/heard from the HP's make me wonder if it can get much better.

brwsaw - One last question - Have you listened to your M80s full range or do you use a sub? Crossed over where?

I had the M80 v3 and recently updated to the HP M80 V4. I also use a sub. The new HP M80 v4 is a different animal than the regular M80. The music is more focused, cleaner and more dynamic. I am not saying the M80v4 is a bad speaker just the HP M80v4 takes it to another level. The price increase would be consument with upgraded performance. I found a noticeable improvement at any volume level.

Thanks to all. Based on advice from Brent at Axiom (and on budget limitations), I ordered a new pair of base M80s today. I don't doubt that the HP versions are superior but for 50% more money, I just had to pass.

For what I spent, I'm expecting great things.

You will not be disappointed . I firmly believe that if you never hear the next model up you will never miss them. Its like a tv, better ones come out all the time but if you don't go look at them what you have will look just fine. You cant miss it if you never had it. Capisce !

Given the improvements in my room (room-treatments) and my electronics, i expect these Axioms to sound better than other (far more expensive) speakers that I've owned in the past. We'll see...

Well you now have my attention. I realize audio memory is short but I for one would like to know what speakers you have owned n the past and how they stack up against the M80 once your receive them.

I've experimented with 2.0/2.1/3.0/3.1/5.0/5.1/7.0/7.1 and have found each work well with different sources/inputs.
With the M80 I've been crossed over at 80 and 90 100 and 110 in different rooms, which ever sounded best in that room.
The HP's are run at 80 for HT, but more often than not I'm listening in 2.0 for music and 3.0 for the PS4.
I'm sure you'll be happy with the M80's. Congrats.

They are great with good source material.

My past speakers include:

AR-11a
Dahlquist DQ-10
Thiel 1.5
Thiel 3.6
Klipsch Heresy 1, 2, & 3
Klipsch Cornwall 2 & 3
Klipsch La Scala 1 & 2
KEF Q300
Spendor LS3/5a
Defnintive Technology BP towers & SM65s
Magnepan 1.2 & 1.6
And twice this many more I can't remember

The M80s will be used in a 2.1 configuration with PowerSound Audio XV15 subwoofer equalized by a DSPeaker Anti-Mode 8033. The source is a JRiver Media Center server with CD rips in uncompressed WAV format. The computer feeds my Oppo BDP-105 via DLNA over ethernet. The Oppo's DAC outputs (used as preamp, DAC, and bass-management) feed my Emotiva XPR-2 power amp directly.

The room is 26.5 x 15 foot with ATS absorber panels for slap-echo rejection. Every corner of the room is naturally vented, and there are no standing wave problems.

It's not perfect, but it sounds better than 99% of the friends' systems that I've heard. The M80s will be pulled out 1/3 of the way into the room when listening & stored back against the wall when not in use (it's a living room, too).

I'm REALLY hoping for great things from the M80s.

Sounds like you are all set. Congrats on the speakers. AND The great sounding room.

Foaming at the mouth for the speakers to arrive. Spring fever?

When you get your m80's I'd like to hear your thoughts with regards to the comparison the m80's and the Magnepan's.

Well, I can tell you already that the Magnepan 1.6s that I had were excellent speakers - but not in my room. The room was such that I couldn't be symmetrical from left to right AND I couldn't get the speakers far enough from the back wall.

Front-radiators, like the M80s do better in my room because I get more direct sound & less reflected.

I will post impressions once the M80s get broken in, though.

Have you received them already?

Look up, look way up

They come when they come - but not yet.

I'm late to this thread, but I'll answer this one anyway. On most music, you can't tell the difference between the M80s in 2.0 and with a sub. It is not until you get content down in the 20-30 Hz range that the sub makes a difference. Movies are a whole other story.

Thank you, Fred. That's what I thought. The speakers should arrive Friday of next week. Since I have a good sub, I plan to run my M80s from 80 Hz. on up only. I'm hoping that the crossover point will be inaudible.

My DSPeaker bass equalizer has a setting to slightly boost ported subs down to about 20 Hz with a fast roll-off below. I plan to try that too.

I run my M80s with an 80 Hz crossover as well since I do have a sub.

The M80 really is a very good speaker for the money.

I'm looking daily at the order status, but no shipping yet. They said 10 days (assuming business days?) and about three days shipping. I ordered on the 7th of April, so my 10 business days (assuming they didn't take off for Good Friday) should expire on Monday the 21st. I'm further assuming that since the price increase is immanent that Axiom is either needing ALL of those 10 days or that they may even be running late?

I'm hopping up & down like a kid needing to pee waiting for my new M80s...

Sometimes they're early, sometimes they're late.
As an FYI, I found my M80's needed a little push when I got them. I babied for the first +/- 20 hours only to find they wanted to roar.
Wish I could have kept them for upstairs.
As a side note, keep an SPL meter handy. They'll sing so clearly you'll turn them up to very nice levels quickly.

Axiom was nice enough to call me today & say that the shipping delay is because the optional outriggers are backordered. They offered to ship the speakers immediately & the outriggers when they came in, but I said no, I'd wait. They're expecting new outriggers to arrive mid next week.

So the anticipation continues to build...

And surprise - My M80s shipped today!

While I await FedEx, may I ask the opinions of the Axiom forum members:

I have the following amplifiers available to me. Of the lot, which should I try first?

1. Emotiva Audio XPR-2 (1KW/Ch. @ 4 ohms)
2. Crown PS-400 (330W/Ch. @ 4 ohms)
3. Crown XLS-1000 (350W/Ch. @ 4 ohms - Class D)
4. Marantz MA500 monoblocks (180W @ 4 ohms)
5. B&O 1900 receiver (30W/Ch. - impedance not specified)

Please note that I do NOT listen loudly AND I will be crossing the M80s over to a subwoofer at either 80 or 60 Hz.

#1

what i can say is this little thing:
if you are to buy a Crown, don't get the XLS-1000, the S/N ratio is not high enough; other XLS models are good.

Yes, my thought is to first try the Emotiva also. The Crown XLS-1000, I was thinking of using as a surround-sound speaker amp until I got the Marantz amps. I'll write a "review" once I have time to enjoy the new speakers for awhile.

Quiet forums want to know...

I am quite interested in if you can actually hear any difference between the M80 with a sub and without when playing music. Looking at the graph

The M80 speaker doesn't really have much db falloff until you are around the 30-35hz range and that is getting very close to the inaudible range anyway. Unless you are listening to a highly processed dance/rap music that uses the synthetic boom lower thumping sound, I can't really see much music getting to that level.

So I wonder, in setting up your crossover to limit the M80 to lose below the 80hz where they are clearly capable of playing down to 30hz is hampering the speaker to do it's job.

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Hi Oakvillematt,

The M80s do pretty well without a sub, especially the High Power version. Currently I am running two EP800s with my LFR1100s with the crossover set to 40Hz. Only certain pieces of music remind you the subs are there but when reminded it is great. The crossover setting of 40Hz worked best in my room but some playing around with that is always a good idea for your own room.

Ian is being very modest when he writes "pretty well". They do a damned fine job on bass..


Yup. Depending on your room, you may well see a little room gain below 40 Hz as well.

Since I have an EP350 that plays flat to 20 Hz, I am in a good position to test this out. The only music I really noticed the sub on was some classical pipe organ stuff I have.

I'm not a purist, so I have my system set to 2.1 for two channel sources.

That's IT, Fred! It's over! Turn in your hippie badge, now!

2.1!!! You 60's faker! What's next from you, quad?!?!