Comparison results: Axiom 80 vs. Polk RTI12

[emorphien]

Didn't say anything like that.

indeed it seems you did though, through implication

 

[zumbo]

I try desperately to steer people toward Athena, Energy, Polk Audio, Monitor Audio, and B&W. It is so hard to convince people that these companies are the ones making quality speakers. It is great to hear a real story. These "reviews" of ID companies are advertisements. It is also my opinion that any published review is an advertisement. I say it over-and-over. Thanks for your thread.

I think it's a tricky thing zumbo to say Axiom isn't a real speaker manufacturer.

Didn't say anything like that.

indeed it seems you did though, through implication

Nope. No implication. Must have been interpretation.

 

[PENG]

As far as Johnny's "comparison" did he even bring the Polks over and at least do an A/B or was he just comparing them going completely off memory in a totally different room? Could the Axioms be coming off as "bright" due to his friends room just like the Polks were in his old place? Not much of a comparison if I say so.

If you read his post, this was what he said:

"So, I took my speakers over to my buddy's place and we did a side by side. As his Axioms have a 30 day return policy, he wanted to compare too."

 

[PENG]

While it does take a good bit more for a B&W 800 series set-up, it is the reference for me. B&W 800 series are the way a speaker should sound.(IMO)So, if a speaker has similar quality sound in a cheaper package, I believe that is the way to go. It all depends on the budget.

I absolutely agree, but I would add that it may only apply to people (like me) who want their sound system to sound like live music especially classical music concert goers. There may be people who prefer the "colored" sound, such as bright/warm or certain buck/boost of certain ranges of frequencies. Based on the way they sound, I assume the 800 series speakers are designed to reproduce sound true to the recordings with no intentional alterations.

 

[Matt34]

If you read his post, this was what he said:

"So, I took my speakers over to my buddy's place and we did a side by side. As his Axioms have a 30 day return policy, he wanted to compare too."

LOL, I retract my statement then....completely missed that line. I think my eyesight is getting as bad as my ears.

 

[mike c]

perhaps there should be a break down on what rule he violated lest there be misunderstandings.

How 'bout this - read the forum rules, don't break them, and you'll be fine. You know, I'm a member of a number of forums and I've never had so much as a warning. And I don't think I've ever read a single rule. Most people here are the same. I believe this is the second time I've given Johnny boy a ban (though it may have just been a warning, I'm not sure). I guess some people just can't play by the rules.

actually, I was thinking an explanation on why he was banned ... lest people think he was banned for bashing axiom.

 

[littleb]

I'm sorry for jumping into this thread at the midnight hour...but I have to say that I've tried some of the B&M speakers, even after I was the owner of the Axiom M22 bookshelves. During this process, I never did find a bookshelf speaker that made me want to ditch the M22s. So, I convinced myself that a tower speaker was what I was looking for. The lines I auditioned were the B&W 600 series, the Paradigm monitor and studio series, the Polk RTI12s and the PSB image series. For some reason, I preferred the PSBs over the B&W and the Paradigm's. I don't have anything against any of these speakers, and I almost switched over to the PSB's until I read Tom's review of the Vasallo M22s/M60s. It was this review that convinced me that I should give the M60s a go. I now have the M60s as my front speakers and I'm very happy with them. Are they a bright speaker? Sure, they are. I also found some of the B&W and Paradigm's to be bright. Most Polk owners have said the RTI line is also bright. I haven't had any issues with the build quality of the Axioms, and most of mine were ordered from the FO. I don't really know where this build quality issue comes from. Maybe, it's just the wood veneer vs vinyl wrap thing, but I don't care about that. I like the way they look, and I saved a tree. I guess I'm writing this because I really don't understand where the Axiom hate comes from. I think Axiom makes great products, as do other manufacturers. I think many people have tried their products and sent them back, because they didn't have the sound they were looking for, just like I returned a pair of B&W 602s3 and a pair of PSB T25s because, to me, the Axiom M22s sounded better. It doesn't make any of these products bad, just different. But, I don't hate either of these products, since I found them to be inferior to my Axioms.

 

[gene]

Axiom speakers aren't for everyone.... nor are Polk, Paradigm, Infinity, B&W, RBH, etc. Thankfully there is a variety of quality brands out there for people to take their pick based on their listening preferences.

 

[littleb]

Gene,
I hope you noticed that I .

 

[Tom Andry]

So when do I hit the 2 multiple chicklet club? I mean, there must be a club dedicated to me, might not be a fan club, but a club none the less.

Can't help you there. I wish people would use the Reputation and Infraction options on the forum more. It seems that whenever the Reputation is brought up it is usually in the negative (some so-in-so gave me a red chicklet and I'm STEAMING MAD) though I have noticed more and more members with two. That will eventually roll over into three, four. Don't worry sheep, you'll get there. I've got to get better at using the Rep system myself. So, hurry up and say something helpful!

 

[robot]

I one of the things Johnny Canuck was getting at (and others) was that it would be nice to see comparisons and reviews for other (and sometimes more mainstream) brands. There is an inherent bias in reviewing only certain manufacturers.

 

[zhimbo]

Are they a bright speaker? Sure, they are.

Someone help a newb out...That the Axioms are "bright" is close to The Common Wisdom, it seems.

"Bright", to me, would mean emphasizing treble, a high frequency peak, etc.

Axiom's anechoic frequency reponse graphs look awfully darn flat to me, certainly for the m60s/m80s.

What else would "brightness" arise from?

 

[billy p]

I one of the things Johnny Canuck was getting at (and others) was that it would be nice to see comparisons and reviews for other (and sometimes more mainstream) brands. There is an inherent bias in reviewing only certain manufacturers.

Yea, but these companies help pay the BILLS by advertising here!!
I listened to some Polks Rti8's and their sound is not for me(like sheep said). I find it funny JC went over the top because a while back he considered the move towards Axiom M80's and thought better of it after talking to members here and been advised he needed more amplification for the Polks and not new speakers. Then he tells his buddy to go out and buy them, only to trash them and gets himself banned !

 

[Tom Andry]

I one of the things Johnny Canuck was getting at (and others) was that it would be nice to see comparisons and reviews for other (and sometimes more mainstream) brands. There is an inherent bias in reviewing only certain manufacturers.

I'll say it loud for the cheap seats: POLK WON'T SEND US SPEAKERS TO REVIEW. WE'VE ASKED. IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS HERE IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE WON'T - IT IS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SEND THEM. BLAME THEM NOT US.

Clear enough?

 

[Sheep]

Can't help you there. I wish people would use the Reputation and Infraction options on the forum more. It seems that whenever the Reputation is brought up it is usually in the negative (some so-in-so gave me a red chicklet and I'm STEAMING MAD) though I have noticed more and more members with two. That will eventually roll over into three, four. Don't worry sheep, you'll get there. I've got to get better at using the Rep system myself. So, hurry up and say something helpful!

Funny you say that, I got one in this thread. Not signed of course (coughpussycough).

People these days like things sugar coated. If someone is an idiot, you can't just say it. Has to be "Well, we've run some test, and you appear to be in a select group, that is slightly different then others. Your... special."

I wish those systems were not used. If someone is wrong, you can always correct them, no need to punish them. If someone is a stupid *******, just ban them. To many people on here that take stuff to heart and sit in their bathtub slitting their wrists over it.

Judge a man by how he acts under pressure.

I'll say it loud for the cheap seats: POLK WON'T SEND US SPEAKERS TO REVIEW. WE'VE ASKED. IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS HERE IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE WON'T - IT IS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SEND THEM. BLAME THEM NOT US.

Clear enough?

Very.


SheepStar

 

[gene]

I'll say it loud for the cheap seats: POLK WON'T SEND US SPEAKERS TO REVIEW. WE'VE ASKED. IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS HERE IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE WON'T - IT IS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SEND THEM. BLAME THEM NOT US.

In Polk's defense, we have casually requested review samples from Polk in the past at trade shows and via emails, but never heard back. Sometimes its hard to find the right contact person at some of the larger companies like Polk, but we will keep trying. Many of them still have their heads stuck in print magazines and haven't jumped into the internet bandwagon yet.

If you don't see brands that you want review covered on our site, submit a poll of brands in the appropriate forum area (IE. Loudspeakers) and we will actively pursue the ones that get the most votes.

 

[Warpdrv]

In Polk's defense, we have casually requested review samples from Polk in the past at trade shows and via emails, but never heard back. Sometimes its hard to find the right contact person at some of the larger companies like Polk, but we will keep trying.

They are on the verge of releasing a new speaker line, that looks pretty nice, not that looks are what its all about, but I would be interested in how they sound... My old LS70's sounded pretty good to me, good enough to keep running for 8+ years...

And I have never heard an Axiom product...

 

[littleb]

About 10 years ago I heard a Polk setup in a local stereo shop, and I just loved the sound. I even remember telling myself that I should buy those. At the time, upgrading my system wasn't a priority, so I passed. Shortly afterward, I started to get the upgrade bug and returned to find that they had disappeared. If I had purchased that system then, instead of waiting, maybe this Axiomite would be a Polkie.

 

[Jey Jockey]

Hi folks, what kills me is that so many,ok maybe most of these posters that bash and spew forth brand hatred have never even seen or heard the gear they so very much dislike. Its quite obvious that alot of this goes back to the my "Dad can beat your Dad up stuff" from when we were kids. You know, we all know these people who either know it all and or think whatever they own is the best. The problem of course is that these forums are perfect for such personalities as they are annonymous and can say anything they like without supporting what they are saying.

I just sold my Klipsch speaks after 6 months, I'm not going to bash them but they were not my ideal "music" speaker actually harsh and ear piercing comes to mind,but pretty awesome for HT only. I have ordered the Axiom M80v2 after lots of reading. I will not be jumping on the "Axiom fanboy wagon" this time however. I just want and hope that they do what has been reviewed here and many other places which is sound amazing for music and HT. If not, they go back and I move on till I found that golden sound, I will never buy speakers again that I cannot audition in my own home, this little 6 month stint with Klipsch cost me a grand and it won't happen again.

 

[mazersteven]

I'll say it loud for the cheap seats: POLK WON'T SEND US SPEAKERS TO REVIEW. WE'VE ASKED. IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS HERE IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE WON'T - IT IS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SEND THEM. BLAME THEM NOT US.

Clear enough?

Why not purchase them. There should be enough cash in the account.