Which should I try: Axiom M22, Ascend 340, Swan 2.1 ?

[AbyssalLoris]

I think you're mixing up Soundman and me (Aby). Soundman has been looking at towers too (eg. M60, Swan 5.1, etc..). I have been looking at mostly bookshelves (MA S2, Swan 2.1, etc..).

Now I forgot who posted this but you are right on the money about brightness and Klipsch. The 2 or 3 Klipsch bookshelves I heard were harsh and bright to my ears. That would tire me in 20 minutes. I would never play rock music on those speakers. So I'm sticking with intention of eliminating the Axioms. For Soundman though, they might still be a good choice.

I do like speakers to sound detailed. Just not bright. Don't see why the two can't be had together - detailed/accurate and mellow/warm. I felt the MA Silver S2 possessed these qualities. Relative to the Ascends/Swans/Rockets, I don't know. Haven't heard any of those three.

Still waiting for some word on the Swans Diva 2.1. If you own or have heard these, SPEAK UP. By the way Soundman, have you seen the pictures of the Swan 5.1BC? I agree that the 5.1 looks gorgeous. But not so sure about the BC. Hard to tell from the photo. Just making sure you realize the difference.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Bassaddict, my listening room is probably a nightmare for acoustics in terms of shape and so on. It is L-shaped, with one entryway to a kitchen, a passageway to bedroom and another entryway to stairs. I'll try to put in some kind of a diagram later. But I do believe the listening area is small overall.

 

[rnatalli]

I've never heard Swans, but have heard Rockets, Ascends, and Monitor Audio. Everything you're saying points to Ascends IMO. However, you seem to like MA speakers which I feel aren't as laid back as Rockets or Ascends which is why I threw Mordaunt into the mix. But others might feel differently. Ultimately, the only way to be sure is to order pairs of each and try it out and let your ears decide.

 

[mazersteven]

Still waiting for some word on the Swans Diva 2.1. If you own or have heard these, SPEAK UP.

Are you talking about these?

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_30&products_id=45

or these?

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=69

 

[mazersteven]

By the way Soundman, have you seen the pictures of the Swan 5.1BC? I agree that the 5.1 looks gorgeous. But not so sure about the BC. Hard to tell from the photo. Just making sure you realize the difference.

Swan 5.1BC

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_30&products_id=47

Plus click under speaker where is says "Enlarge". When speaker photo pops up move your cursor to the upper right corner of the photo and click next. The second photo is the "Faux Black Cherry" finish.

 

[bass addict]

I think you're mixing up Soundman and me (Aby). Soundman has been looking at towers too (eg. M60, Swan 5.1, etc..). I have been looking at mostly bookshelves (MA S2, Swan 2.1, etc..).

You're right I was. There are too many of you in the thread now.

 

[rnatalli]

You both need to buy speakers to cut down on all the confusion already

 

[Soundman]

What size room are these going in? You mention bookshelves in your original post but now you are looking at M60's. What is your main goal?

I was originally going with bookshelves, but given the size of my room and my seating position (12 ft from speaker location), I may have to go large. the room is 16x16, with a 12 ft vaulted ceiling. It opens up into a similarly sized kitchen, except the kitchens ceiling only goes up 11 ft at the highest point. So, it's a decent size space to fill. I think the Ascends wouldn't have a problem filling it. i don't consider the 340se's a bookshelf, more like a mini-tower really when you look at performance. I spoke with a rep from Axiom and he said the m22's would sound a little thin in the mid-base region and reccomended at least getting th m50's with that space. Personally, I don't think the m 50's give enough of an improvement to be worth it, so might as well go with the m-60's which would be a significant improvement over the m22's. As you can see, I've gotten upgrade-itis before i've even purchased anything. it is contagious, or so I've been told.

 

[bass addict]

I was originally going with bookshelves, but given the size of my room and my seating position (12 ft from speaker location), I may have to go large. the room is 16x16, with a 12 ft vaulted ceiling. It opens up into a similarly sized kitchen, except the kitchens ceiling only goes up 11 ft at the highest point. So, it's a decent size space to fill. I think the Ascends wouldn't have a problem filling it. i don't consider the 340se's a bookshelf, more like a mini-tower really when you look at performance. I spoke with a rep from Axiom and he said the m22's would sound a little thin in the mid-base region and reccomended at least getting th m50's with that space. Personally, I don't think the m 50's give enough of an improvement to be worth it, so might as well go with the m-60's which would be a significant improvement over the m22's. As you can see, I've gotten upgrade-itis before i've even purchased anything. it is contagious, or so I've been told.

LOL. Yeah I definitely think a bookshelf would be pushing it in your listening space. I noticed the M22's really started to sound compressed when pushed to the limits. I have yet to push my M60's hard enough to hear them strain. I had them hooked up to a Cinenova Grande amp at reference and they didn't even break a sweat. I am extremely pleased with them, especially the QS8's. I do feel even the M60's could use a good sub as they are still lacking in the bass department. I tried M80's but actually thought they were tougher to get a good soundstage (extremely picky with placement) than the 60's. I think you need to be sitting 15' back of the M80's to allow them to open up. I haven't listened to them but I have heard the M50's have a different tone to them that a lot of people didn't like. It's either the M22's or 60's. The funny thing is the M22's actually timber matched my VP150 better than the M60's. There seems to be a slight tonal shift between the 60's and 150. I really wish they would port it.

 

[Soundman]

You both need to buy speakers to cut down on all the confusion already

Sorry. Didn't mean to add to the confusion. I thought it interesting that me and AbyssalLoris were looking at similar speakers.You're right though. I really need to buy. Buying speakers is such a journey, but in the end I hope it will be worth taking the time and getting the right speakers for me.

 

[Soundman]

LOL. Yeah I definitely think a bookshelf would be pushing it in your listening space. I noticed the M22's really started to sound compressed when pushed to the limits. I have yet to push my M60's hard enough to hear them strain. I had them hooked up to a Cinenova Grande amp at reference and they didn't even break a sweat. I am extremely pleased with them, especially the QS8's. I do feel even the M60's could use a good sub as they are still lacking in the bass department. I tried M80's but actually thought they were tougher to get a good soundstage (extremely picky with placement) than the 60's. I think you need to be sitting 15' back of the M80's to allow them to open up. I haven't listened to them but I have heard the M50's have a different tone to them that a lot of people didn't like. It's either the M22's or 60's. The funny thing is the M22's actually timber matched my VP150 better than the M60's. There seems to be a slight tonal shift between the 60's and 150. I really wish they would port it.

Hmmmm....Something to think about. I do like a seamless sound stage, and from what you are saying the m-60's may not give that to me. I wish I had the space and money. I'd put 3 m-60's across the front!

 

[Soundman]

LOL. Yeah I definitely think a bookshelf would be pushing it in your listening space. I noticed the M22's really started to sound compressed when pushed to the limits. I have yet to push my M60's hard enough to hear them strain. I had them hooked up to a Cinenova Grande amp at reference and they didn't even break a sweat. I am extremely pleased with them, especially the QS8's. I do feel even the M60's could use a good sub as they are still lacking in the bass department. I tried M80's but actually thought they were tougher to get a good soundstage (extremely picky with placement) than the 60's. I think you need to be sitting 15' back of the M80's to allow them to open up. I haven't listened to them but I have heard the M50's have a different tone to them that a lot of people didn't like. It's either the M22's or 60's. The funny thing is the M22's actually timber matched my VP150 better than the M60's. There seems to be a slight tonal shift between the 60's and 150. I really wish they would port it.

...It seems the Ascends would be a more seamless front stage since the center is almost exactly the same as the 340se's. Hmmmmmm.....

 

[bass addict]

Hmmmm....Something to think about. I do like a seamless sound stage, and from what you are saying the m-60's may not give that to me. I wish I had the space and money. I'd put 3 m-60's across the front!

It's noticeable but not terrible. I catch it with slow rolling pans across the front soundstage from time to time. You really have to be listening to even notice. None of my friends who have come over can pick it up. Of course they also don't see the SDE that bugs me either.

 

[Soundman]

It's noticeable but not terrible. I catch it with slow rolling pans across the front soundstage from time to time. You really have to be listening to even notice. None of my friends who have come over can pick it up. Of course they also don't see the SDE that bugs me either.

SDE?

 

[bass addict]

SDE?

Screen door effect.

 

[Soundman]

Screen door effect.

OK gotcha.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Are you talking about these?

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_30&products_id=45

-> definitely

or these?

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=69

-> i wish!

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Swan 5.1BC

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_30&products_id=47

Plus click under speaker where is says "Enlarge". When speaker photo pops up move your cursor to the upper right corner of the photo and click next. The second photo is the "Faux Black Cherry" finish.

Oh yeah. You can be sure I've done this a few times already! I was just pointing out to Soundman in case he thought the photo on the main page was the BC version.

The BC has an interesting look as far as I can tell from the photo. Not like any other I've seen in terms of color and finish. But then I haven't seen many. It might look good, or it might look ok. I can't say.

 

[mazersteven]

-> definitely

You might want to ask SilverSurfer if he has experience with them.

I'm also hearing good things about these speakers from Jon Lane.

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=32

 

[mazersteven]

Oh yeah. You can be sure I've done this a few times already! I was just pointing out to Soundman in case he thought the photo on the main page was the BC version.

The BC has an interesting look as far as I can tell from the photo. Not like any other I've seen in terms of color and finish. But then I haven't seen many. It might look good, or it might look ok. I can't say.

Well these aren't the exact speakers you guys have been talking about. But here are some good photo's of the finish quality vs. some other manufacturers from Swans. In case you haven't seen these.

Order from left to right is Swan D2.1SE, Dana 930, Ascend Sierra, and B&W 805S