Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion What's New At Axiom LFR1100 Active

Naked real wood M5HPs (Rosewood, natural stain, piano coat), and a naked ADA1500. You never knew about their wood finishes?

That rosewood looks mighty fine on those M5s. And they need that 1500 because they're little Watt piggies. But they look and sound so damned good!

I knew wood was available but my priority always was performance over form. I'm so satisfied with the former that I've been thinking about the latter. I've also finally made my place my own so I look at my speakers in a new light.

Rich, you're right. Ever since I upgraded my centre to the 160v4, it's been one upgrade after another. That centre was like it came from a different company compared to the 150v2. That experience, Craig's reviews and Dale Rasco's measurements made me take a calculated risk on the 800v4. From there, I knew the M5s were winners from the soundstagehifi review, Craig's impressions and the curves Axiom posted. The QS10 was admittedly a gamble and then I was completely blown away when I heard both. Folks say "blown away" is being overly-exuberant and previous versions were similarly good and I proclaim BS on that at least comparing ti and v2 against v4. The M3, M50 and M100 purchases were all curiosity on my part. When I heard all these in my home, it hit me that Axiom figured out the speaker formula. This is beyond engineering. It's science. It demands the highest levels of respect.

So now I'm thinking walnut will look great in the main room for active LFRs and rosewood will add a nice accent in the living room.

Are you trading up or keeping everything?

Trading up. I'm really struggling about my QS10s and 800. I'm thinking of trading them in for real wood. My hesitation is that they sound so good, I don't want to mess with them, you know?

I'm also thinking of getting M22s in Rosewood to try in the living room. It bothers me that I haven't heard v4 M22s. It's really the only Axiom v4 speaker besides the M2 that I haven't heard.

Blair, my living room problem is eating at me:

- The M5 gives me wonderful detail. Broad soundstage. Can't do much about a lack of deep depth of soundstage because I can't move them too far into the room; but the depth is actually pretty good. Highs in that room were a tad too much but with some changes I've made in the room layout, the highs are now perfect. The big problem is the 2.0 bass. It's too much when I turn it up. So I can dial it down by 6dB and it's much better. But then I have to turn it up when I listen quietly. I have to make these adjustments via the Chromecast and it's a PITA.

- The M50 is wonderful in there. But I miss all the M5 detail...LOL!

- The M3 is great but when I crank it, I can hear it straining. Not a fault of the M3. With a sub crossed to it or at saner levels, it's just great.

- The M100, while terrific in the dynamics and detail (more so than the M5), just can't give me the imaging the M5 does. But damn, if I wanted to rock out upstairs and let the neighborhood know about it, that's the speaker to get.

So now I'm left wondering about the M22. It appears highly flat in the Axiom specs. This is one thing I really like about the M50 too. Since the M22 craps out at around 65Hz or so, it might tame the bass problems in my room while maintaining imaging, detail and soundstage.

At least this is how I am justifying the purchase to myself.

Blair, I could say fukitol for the living room and live with no soundstage or imaging by going to a Force or a Freedom. Then I could take it to my homies for a good time. But I know damned well, when I'm chilling in the living room, laughing at the show my neighbors put on outside my window, I'll wish I had some holography going on. You know what I mean?

Mojo, all I can think of is that you live in a nudist colony with all the entertainment you get out your window.

For the record, Mojo did say yesterday the Active 1100's would be his last speaker. Today, he's talking about getting M22's.

Hey Mojo ... Ian is working on a new ribbon design that will have quad opposed 10 inch subs (2 per side), a 1600 watt subwoofer amp ... Quad 6.5 inch woofers - Triple 5.25 inch mids front and back and a new, Colquhoun Labs Ribbon Tweeter array front and back.

Full DSP with 1500-2's (five of them) for a package price of $28,000.

A nudist colony provides far less entertainment than the hillbillies beyond my yard.

That was yesterday, Craig. Today I have a new speaker roadmap.

That speaker Ian is working on needs more cowbell.

Is it wrong to get a pair of speakers with different finishes for each?