Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners M2 vs M3 for Surrounds

Rebulx, more pics please. LOL!

The M3ow's are quite good. The M3c's I would avoid unless you need them for aesthetics ... they are a big compromise ... I would recommend M3ow for your ceiling speakers if the aesthetics work.

My take on the M3c sound:
I have the in-ceiling installed in a few places. One of the problems I found was that they are a lot better in small spaces then large ones. In a medium-large space in which an M3 or M3 on-wall could do a reasonable job, the M3c's sound thin. The ones in much smaller rooms (like my master bathroom) sound good but nowhere as good as M3/M2 or anything else Axiom. Walking from the bath to the master playing M22s (with out sub) is a huge constant in sound (for the better).

Do you have pics Michael?

Michael, please take pic-posting lessons from Rebulx.

The M2s are more neutral than the M3s, so I'd say it depends on what you fronts are. I see M22's in your signature, if that's you L/R I'd go with the M2. If you're using the M5 up from, then probably the M3s. (Full disclosure, I have M5s with M2s, but that's because I had M22s up front until I swapped in the M5s.)

The M2s give improved clarity (detail) and dispersion at mid-range and lower high frequencies compared to the M3s. You have to cross them over at 80Hz if you're going to play loud otherwise the bass will distort. However, I would not call the distortion objectionable and it may even be considered pleasant.

The M3s are definitely warmer-sounding. I like both in their own way. I have the M2OW in the living room for stereo. I don't have a cross-over on my 2-channel receiver so the M2OW bass distorts just enough to make them warmer.

The M5s are like M2s with bass.

How did you use the M3 ow for the tops?
Mount them on the ceiling?
Using the brackets provided by Axiom?
Possible to share a pic?

Thanks.