Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Need advice

I've owned them all at one time or another, you can't go wrong with any of the choices. A lot depends on room size, listening habits, etc. The m60's and m80's will put out more bass than the m22's.

It is an entertaining game that I play when I think about which speakers to go with. One day I am sure which axiom model I want and the next I am unsure again.

I was so sure on the M22s as mains for a long time, but now I am leaning more towards the floor standers. If I bought the 22s, I would want to purchase the axiom speaker stands, too. That's already $700. Then I tell myself for a few hundred bucks more I can just get the 60s. Then when I think about the price of the 60s, I tell myself a couple hundred bucks more and I can get the 80s. Strongly leaning towards the 80s as my first purchase.

Initially I began looking at the M60s but once I was assured by both Axiom representatives as well as the board members here that Denons had no issues driving the M80s, I knew I had to get them. Might as well get whatever you want first time out...whether that be 60s or 80s. M22s are excellent speakers judging from owner reviews, but as you already are aware, if you require stands to go with them it tends to narrow the price gap. They're still a great buy for the $$ though.

Adrian,

In a perfect world, if the M22s did not require stands, I would jump on them with no questions. I was willing to overlook the decrease in value of purchasing stands with the M22s for a while but I know I will want M80s eventually anyway. I figured why mess around and get it right the first time. It is a great thing the 667 has a pre out for an external amp if I ever require one in the future.

I always look at it like this:
If you buy $700 speakers from a manufacturer and put them on stands, 7/10 of your final price is going towards the sound.

If you instead buy $1000 floorstanders, 100% of your final price is going towards the sound.

Seek, of course the purchase of the Axiom stands isn't mandatory. There are less expensive ones commercially available and very satisfactory home made or improvised stands running from $0 up can be used. The bookshelves are better buys, at least where a good sub is going to be used anyway.

I've listened to M3s, M22s and M60s. In my opinion they are all perfect in specific situations.

What I haven't listened to are M80s, and I'm very curious if they add value over the M60s... for me anyway.

They add 20 more value units!

My first purchase was M80's and man, I have never been so pleased! When I first turned them on I was watching golf and the ball hitting the ground made me smile so wide because it was like I was right there.

Hi Seeking,

I assure you that you'll be thrilled with the neutrality and transparent musical accuracy of the M22s (if you pair them with a good subwoofer) or the M80s, compared to your old Energy Take 5s/Polk setup. I know the sound of the Energy Take 5s (quite decent but a bit edgy--exaggerated in the upper mids, which emphasized sibilance in my auditioning), however, they're not in the same class at all as the M22s or M80s.

It really depends on the size of your room and whether the M80s might be too large to ideally set up for a great soundstage. The virtue of the M22s is their versatility in setup because they're smallish and compact. The M80s are big, heavy, and tricky to place in a modest-sized living room. By the way, I have both systems on a switcher setuup in my modest living room (13 x 19 x 9.5 ft) and much of the time switching between the M22s and M80s with the subwoofer running, I can scarcely tell the difference.

If you have a big room (3,000 to 5,000 cu. ft or larger), then get the M80s, because they're capable of extremely clean playback in a big room at high sound levels.

Regards,
Alan