Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler What is your favourite Axiom speaker?

Members here often collect Axiom speakers over time. Some members have examples of almost all models in their collection. I have to say after meeting several models now I continue to be impressed by the value and versatility of Axiom products.

Sooo…

What is your favourite Axiom speaker/product in your collection?

Depends ….

At the affordable end:
- M2/EP500. … both are really good in their range. Together they are fantastic.
- M22 (pretty sure you can request them). They sound like the M2 but are 3db more efficient. Save some $$$ on your amp for a slightly higher speaker cost.
- if a sub is too much then the M3. It’s a very slight trade off in mid clarity for some additional base but you won’t notice unless you A/B them with the M2.

At the high end:
LFR1100 actives can’t be beat at least for the money. I know 2x will tell me that I need to compare them to his Wilsons but at this level of audio it’s hard to imagine much room for improvement. They are magical to my ears and that’s all that matters.

I have to give a high- and low-end answer too.
I love my M80s, so that my answer up "high" (The only other higher end speaker I've listened to is the LFT660).
But dollar for dollar I love the M22v2. (I never heard the v3. And I didn't like the v4 version, it seemed to have muffled the highs.)

Ok, so you guys set a great tone.

If I’m going affordable I have to give it the M5HP bookshelves. Get the placement right and WOW! No sub required in a small room.

If I’m going to open up the budget I have to give the nod to the EP500 subwoofer. Again, WOW! Great dynamic lows in a small footprint. Pretty much anchor any system around a pair of these.

I wonder sometimes if Ian has set up an all M100 surround setup with subs. Now that would be something in a big room!

If you were getting muffled high with the M22 V4 then it must have been a bad copy. The M22 & M2 V4s shine in the mid to high as long as your not clipping your amp and not trying to fill a great room. I’m not even gonna qualify that with a IMO

I think I’d agree especially when priced against the M2/EP500 combo … that said I like the combo more.

Both are a bit pricey for low-end money … which leaves the M3 for that space …
And that’s especially true if you go for a refurb on sale.

Cant disagree with you. Those are just my faves so far.

Still have yet to meet the M100s and a VP180. And of course the LFRs.

Curious what Chesseroo has to say on faves. He’s had a few and has put effort into testing.

Don't want to divert the thread topic too much, but no, it was a small 12x13 room, a decent Yamaha receiver, I used an A/B switch, and this is critical - my wife agreed with me that the M22sv2 clearly sounded better than the v4's. I'm talking out my butt here, but I think Axiom was trying to address all the "bright" talk that was common back then and toned that down in the v4. Also, it wasn't only one speaker and what's the chance that both speakers were bad? If anyone has a more definitive knowledge of the v2:v4 differences I'd love to know the specifics.

As for the M3, I've never been a fan. They're decent enough (I kept mine for a bedroom system), but they sound like the old 'loudness' button got stuck in the on position. Great if you're listening to 70s classic rock, but not so great otherwise. In my case, definitely an IMHO!

Never heard a V2 but from what I've read many feel they are a bit bright. That said, a lot of people like it and there is nothing wrong with that,

When I first A/B'ed the M3 V4 against the M22 V4 I thought that the M22 V4 might have a bit of brightness. The M3 on the other hand seem'ed to have more base and a bit of haze in the mid's. When I A/B'ed both to my HD650 and DT700 phono's I decided that the M22 V4 was fairly accurate and the M3's had a base bump which, IMO, caused the mid haze and relatively made the highs a bit recessed. In any case this is being fairly critical and I don't think most will not notice either. IMO, given it's cost, playing the M3 alone is very enjoyable.

I get it, you like the sound of the M22 V2.
Using that as a reference the M3 and the M22 V4 will both have toned down highs
Which might make them sound a bit dull in relation.

P.S. When I get my actives setup again it would be interesting to see if I come to the same conclusion.

The m100s with vp180 was a good setup although I technically never heard them in a finished room. The LFR passives are definitely a step up and I'm sure the actives would be on a whole other level.

I like the m2s with my 600. Just a really clean sound overall. I still like the LFRs over the 100s.