A choice of better mains or matched timber (1 Viewer)

[Robertto]

If you had to choose between buying a set of better mains(upgrade rest later) or match timber immediately what would you choose.

Why you ask, well if I go w/HTD or Axiom M3s or M22s I can match front or rears now or I could upgrade to better(very subjective) mains IE paradigm moniter 7s or 5s, or Diva 2.1s just to name a few.

What would you do and why, considering short and long-term implications.

I would be running a SAWM40 and Cerwin-vega LS6C center(temporary). And if I just went w/mains the rears would be leftover Aiwas from a old home theater.

Thanks

 

[Tim Baldwin]

Robertto,
What is your split between movies and music, and about which are you more passionate? I listen to more music than view movies, and I am much more discriminating about music reproduction, so I would opt for better mains without hesitation. In general, I would always opt for better quality over quantity.

 

[Robertto]

See that's the thing, I am more of a movie guy. 60/40 split I would say and although I want to raise the level of music quality it is really about improving my HT in the end. And, w/my denon, I usually run music in 5ch stereo. Not the way your supposed to, but I think it sounds better than 2 ch stereo in my set-up.

 

[Al B. C]

Go with the better mains. You will notice a bigger difference in your system than worrying about timbre matching right now.

 

[John Garcia]

I think the Axioms are already a good choice as mains. I have not heard the M22s, but I have heard the M3s, and I would expect the M22 to be as good or better than the Monitor 5. M22s up front with a VP150 or VP100 and you would be good to go. Good for both music and HT.

 

[Robertto]

Ironically enough I was just doing a little comparo between those 2 speakers. I have heard the Moniter 5s and liked the clarity, but they where short on the low relative to the moniter 7s and am concerned that the M22s have smaller mids. Now that being said I was demoing w/o a sub. M22 are less $$ though.

Also, I think these 2 speakers would match fairly well w/my current Aiwas mentioned above since they also have dual 6" drivers.

Am I selling myself or what?

On more Q, what's the corp history of Axiom, they are not one of these flash in the pan companies are they?

Thanks!

 

[John Garcia]

My comparison, back to back in my system, was M3Ti and my Mini Monitors. The Minis have more bass hands down, but the M3 was a bit more accurate and natural sounding in the midrange, even at elevated levels. When set to large, the M3s require a sub, in which case you will also need a sub for the M22s. The M5 does not have any lower bass than the Mini Monitor, but has better midrange. The M3s were a bit brighter than the Paradigms though.

Had I known about Axiom a year ago, I would have bought the M3 over the Mini.

Axiom does not seem like a flash in the pan kind of place, certanly a quality speaker for the price.

 

[Robertto]

Yes and I listened to the M3s too different store, similar set-up, ditance from wall etc. And the M3s had a bit more on the low end than the M5s, but where not as bright and clear up high.

Just invested in a SAwm40 yesterday so I am pretty good to go in the sub dept for the time being.

You've been a big help w/your opinions in a number of my posts, thanks again!

Leaning more and more towards the M22s

 

[Juan_R]

I would purchase a good pair of mains, you can always set your receiver to phantom center so you dont have any timber problems across the front stage.

 

[Marc H]

Axiom has been around since 1980.
I started selling them in 1987 and then selling them by mailorder in 1997. They should be around for a long time. They do huge OEM business.