How to compare when on websites? (1 Viewer)

[Mike Romo]

hi guys-

I just don't know how people do it. How do people buy speakers now? I mean, I have some good stereo stores here in LA but they certainly don't have all the brands that I read about (and admire). I had a great experience with SVS when I got my subwoofer, but now I am looking at some speakers to replace my PSBAudio (bookshelf) speakers with some towers.

My problem is that I listened to the Paradigm Monitor 9s at a store and they were fantastic (Paradigm ::: Models :::Monitor 9 ) but I keep hearing, er, reading good things about Axiom speakers as well. It looks like the M60v2's were comparable (Floorstanding Speakers : Millennia M60 v2 - Axiom Audio) but when I look at the specifications, they just don't seem to match up and, even worse, I am not sure what numbers means which speaker is "better".

Axiom's specs read:
Max Amp Power: 250 Watts
Min Amp Power: 10 Watts
Freq Resp +/-3dB (Hz): 37 - 22kHz
Freq Resp +3dB- 9dB (Hz): 27 - 22kHz
Impedance (Ohms): 8 Ohms
SPL in Room1w/1m(dB): 93 dB
SPL Anechoic 1w/1m(dB): 89 dB
X-Over 200 Hz & 2 kHz

While Paradigm's read:
Low-Frequency Extension 39 Hz (DIN)
Frequency Response:
On-Axis - ±2 dB from 51 Hz - 20 kHz
30° Off-Axis - ±2 dB from 51 Hz - 15 kHz
Sensitivity - Room / Anechoic 96 dB / 93 dB
Suitable Amplifier Power Range 15 - 200 watts
Maximum Input Power† 150 watts
ImpedanceCompatible with 8 ohm


From these readings, it looks like the Axioms can take a more powerful amp, but then the Padadigm my have a better frequency response?

I just don't know how to read these things. Does anyone have tips for online speaker shopping and what to be looking for?

thanks--and any recommendations for new floorstanding speakers would be appreciated. I am looking to spend around $700-800, with $1000 being my upper limit (hence these two monsters).

all the best,
mike

 

[Mike Romo]

hey hey!

after a bunch of research on how to read those graphs on speaker sites and other information, I am going to rock the Axioms...yay!