Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M50s instead of QS4

krikan, re "timbral difference"...

timbre..."The combination of qualities of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume."

Basically, the timbre of a speaker is it's sound signature. You want the signature of your speakers to match each other(timbre) so that you don't have any tonal differences from one to the other which can be quite noticeable esp on your front three speakers in a surround system where timbral matching is most important. With few exceptions, this is why you should generally stick with speakers from the same company. The M50s are "voiced" slightly differenly, as are the M3's from most of Axiom's speakers.

The M3/M50 have a simialr sound(I haven't heard the 50's going by other's with this one), The midrange on them is slightly recessed compared to the M2/M22.M60/M80 thus giving you a timber mismatch between them. The more neutral to prominent midrange of the latter speakers gives them a more forward sound to many ears.

I used M50s as side surround speakers years ago. I found the arrangement unsatisfying. I've used M2s as well, no love there. I used some M22 like Michaura M55s - liked that a lot. QS8s? The bomb.

The stands are nice because you can easily re-arrange them to suite your environment. I like them because they are at ear level when sitting which made a big difference compared to wall hanging above as mentioned.

They will set you back a few dollars but they are well worth the money.I just put two sets together last night and really like them alot.

PS The wife likes them too!

But Shawn, the idea is that for most of the sounds carried by the surrounds it's more effective to have these coming not at ear level, but from at least 2' above. An exception would be multi-channel music which had a discrete instrument in the surround channel which was meant to be heard more directly.

Hi krikan,

Thanks to Adrian for the definition of "timbral" differences.

If you want to do a simple and quick demonstration of the coloration (or timbral signature) effects on sound, have someone talk to you in a normal voice and then as they are talking, tell them to cup their hands around their mouth as though they were going to yell to make their voice carry farther.

You will hear an immediate change in the tonal quality (timbral signature) of his or her voice. That is what happens when a loudspeaker "horn-loads" a driver. It's an unnatural coloration or timbral change.

You can even do this demo yourself if you have a bathroom with a bunch of reflective tiles. Just face the mirror and keep talking then cup your hands around your mouth and you'll hear the change in your own voice. It's a quick and fairly dramatic demo of horn coloration in speakers. It adds a slightly nasal quality to the voice that's not accurate.

Our ears are acutely sensitive to sounds in the midrange, so that is why we notice any slight tonal (timbral) colorations on dialogue in the front three speakers (and the surrounds, if the colorations are blatant).

Regards,
Alan

Thank you Alan for a clear explanation..Really helps..

Thanks to 2x6spds for his avatar..My 4-year old just couldn't help laughing and refused to let me change the page... took me a little longer to get it and join in.. Nice one.

I am so glad your 4 year old enjoyed my bad penguin avatar. I get a kick out of it myself.

I am so glad your 4 year old enjoyed my bad penguin avatar. I get a kick out of it myself.

I am so glad your 4 year old enjoyed my bad penguin avatar. I get a kick out of it myself.