Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Never heard Axioms but considering vs Paradigm

snodog, another option would be to check the audition thread in the hearing things section to see if anyone is in your neck of the woods. that way you can hear the axioms.

The paradigm monitor and studio series have different sounds. Everybody is going to use adjectives to describe how they perceive the sound, but everybody hears the sound differently. The studio series are often described as "detailed" or "bright". I like "precise" but some would say they are "harsh". The monitor series are often considered to me "warm", but I find them "muddy". Ultimately, the best thing to do is listen to as many different models as you can to find out what you like.

Most people, myself included, find Axiom to sound very similar to the Studio series. If you can find studios and you like them, you'll probably like Axiom. If you don't like the studio sound, you probably won't like Axiom.

Side by side, money no object I would probably go with the studios; however, money is not no object and for more than twice the price it wasn't that much of an improvement for me

Well if money was no object I would probably honestly be getting the signature S8's. That is interesting though because I don't like too warm of a sound as it seems to me like it is sacrificing detail but owning the Monitor 7's I personally thought they were thought of as bright which is actually why I chose those over the 11's which to me did seem muddier or more of a hard rock speaker.
I think the only thing I would gain with the studios is a better look but that is just my opinion, I am not keen on the angled edges of the grills of the M60's but then again I can just leave them off too!

The Monitor 11s have much larger drivers than the 7s (7 1/2" vs 5 1/2") as well as a much larger cabinet which would likely explain why the 11s seemed more bassy and the 7s "brighter" to you. I auditioned both of these and preferred the range of the 11s over the 7s but both were nice.

If money was no object, what speakers would I buy? Sounds like a great thread topic.

We've done it.

I'm of the opinion that's kind of rude to our hosts. But that's just me.

What if our answer was that we'd sit down with Ian and have him custom design a money-no-object speaker for us, and then have Alan do all the listening tests to ensure it's up to snuff?

That's a good answer.

Up the ante and test the prototype m100s with the EP1000?

Well sorry guys I didnt mean to offend. That may have come out wrong. I have been googleyed at the Signature series for a long time now and that is only one of those personal things I 'dream' of owning like some people with cars and such. Certainly not a stab, hell it sounds like this is a great company and I love finding good customer service married to excellently built products. Sorry guys, I wouldnt be here if I had negative thoughts.