Axiom M60 speakers expert advice please

[floydianslip]

I listen 60% audio/ 40% HT. I need some advice on whether I should keep the Axiom M60s I bought 2 1/2 weeks ago (have 30 days) or go for something else? I've been listening to them and they sound great, but just lack something. The best way to describe it is a midrange recessed impression or lack of mid punch. Soundstage is there and wide. The highs and lows are fine, but on some songs I feel like the music is farther or not as forward as I remember (I have heard some pretty good systems before.)

I need to make a decision soon on whether I will keep these babies. Now, I'm wondering if this impression is mostly due to the DVD player (a Pioneer DV-400V) and receiver (an HK 3480) I am using?

I don't have the cash to upgrade these just yet.

Also if I did keep the m60s, what would be some good pairing choices in trems of cd players & receivers the $500 range? Thanks in advance for your responses

 

[mazersteven]

Those axiom speakers are very efficient, and are easy to drive. Your receiver should be fine.

 

[floydianslip]

So is it the Pioneer DVD player that's not able to reproduce audio well? I am satisfied with it for movie audio. Is a seperate CD player usually needed for great audio? Thx.

 

[Matt34]

I listen 60% audio/ 40% HT. I need some advice on whether I should keep the Axiom M60s I bought 2 1/2 weeks ago (have 30 days) or go for something else? I've been listening to them and they sound great, but just lack something. The best way to describe it is a midrange recessed impression or lack of mid punch. Soundstage is there and wide. The highs and lows are fine, but on some songs I feel like the music is farther or not as forward as I remember (I have heard some pretty good systems before.)

I need to make a decision soon on whether I will keep these babies. Now, I'm wondering if this impression is mostly due to the DVD player (a Pioneer DV-400V) and receiver (an HK 3480) I am using?

I don't have the cash to upgrade these just yet.

Also if I did keep the m60s, what would be some good pairing choices in trems of cd players & receivers the $500 range? Thanks in advance for your responses

Have you played around with the placement of the speakers within the room? I would start there before handing over money unnecessarily for new components.

 

[Haoleb]

Your the only one who can determine if you should keep them or not. Sure there will be people chiming in telling you that you should buy this speaker or that speaker but you wont know if you like it until you listen to them yourself.

If you like everything else the M60 has to offer you might want to try and listen to the M80, From what you describe I think they might fill in that gap you find lacking. But of course there are tons of other great speakers out as well, you just wont know until you try.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Another simple thing to try is to listen to excellent quality recordings (if you don't already).

 

[floydianslip]

Thanks for your replies.

I have the TV set up in a corner and so they are diagonal in the room. Is this a big no-no? Yes, I have moved them around - wide - narrow - long - short - toes-in - straight, the sound changed very little. The thing is they sound amazing with movies - strong and pleasant with depth, but with audio CDs they lack that something I spoke of. Could this be the DVD player that cannot accurately render music CDs? Anyone heard of this? Do I need a seperate CD player? I was eyeing the Cambridge 640 when I'll have xtra cash.

 

[floydianslip]

I realize "I" ultimately need to decide. I just want as much info as possible. I am not an expert obviously, but have good ears I think. Your advice is appreciated here.

 

[mazersteven]

I realize "I" ultimately need to decide. I just want as much info as possible. I am not an expert obviously, but have good ears I think. Your advice is appreciated here.

My recommendations

1) Acoustic treatments, placement (tweaking), and calibration.
2) Try other speakers in your house side by side with the Axioms.

http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-mts01.cfm

 

[floydianslip]

thx again. Could it be the DVD player is bad with CDs though (even excel. quality ones)?

 

[fredk]

Nope, its not the DVD player.

Can you describe what is missing a little better? Is it in particular instruments, voice?

Can you post some of the recordings you have listened to that you now find lacking?

What speakers have you listened to that give you what seems to be missing with the M60s?

Were your previous speakers in the same configuration and did they have more punch?

 

[R-Carpenter]

It is very unlikely that your DVD player is screwing up the sound but it is possible.
I would experiment with the placement and acoustic treatments first as mazer said.
It could also be that you just don't like aluminum drivers. Sometimes that's the case.

 

[floydianslip]

Thank you all for your suggestions and input. I tried a bunch of stuff and in the end I realized the M60s just don't sound right musically to me. No period of breaking in of my ears will fix that. They'd be good for HT only, in my case. So I'm returning them.

Yesterday I went to hear some Dynaudios in store. I was blown away! Wow what a difference. I thought, see I knew I wasn't imagining things.

So, I ended up buying a used pair of Focus 110s on Audiogon. Now I am soon to be in audio heaven

 

[mazersteven]

Yesterday I went to hear some Dynaudios in store. I was blown away! Wow what a difference. I thought, see I knew I wasn't imagining things.

So, I ended up buying a used pair of Focus 110s on Audiogon. Now I am soon to be in audio heaven

The SVS MTS series has been compared to the Focus series in sound quality. IF your looking for a more affordable HT system you might want to take a look and audition the SVS speakers yourself.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-mts01.cfm