Axiom Vs Paradigm? Help with speakers, newbie here

[rmichaelson85]

Hey guys,
I am not an audio guy, please bare with me. I have a studio and I am looking for a way to play music. I am looking for high quality speakers. I have an mp3 player and CD's.

I have been looking at the Axiom m22 speakers: http://axiomaudio.com/m22ti_main.html
As they were recommended.

I have heard that these speakers are lacking when it comes to bass.

I can spend at most around $700, and I am looking for a nice set of bookshelves, or even floorstanding speakers if they are in my price range. Others have suggested I look at Paradigm.

I'm hoping someone can lead me in the right direction, I really know nothing about this. What do you guys recommend and are the Axiom m22 bookshelves a good choice?

Thanks

 

[speakerman39]

Hey guys,
I am not an audio guy, please bare with me. I have a studio and I am looking for a way to play music. I am looking for high quality speakers. I have an mp3 player and CD's.

I have been looking at the Axiom m22 speakers: http://axiomaudio.com/m22ti_main.html
As they were recommended.

I have heard that these speakers are lacking when it comes to bass.

I can spend at most around $700, and I am looking for a nice set of bookshelves, or even floorstanding speakers if they are in my price range. Others have suggested I look at Paradigm.

I'm hoping someone can lead me in the right direction, I really know nothing about this. What do you guys recommend and are the Axiom m22 bookshelves a good choice?

Thanks

Be sure to consider the Infinity Primus speakers. Right now you can get some real good deals over at vanns.com. My entire set-up is all Prmus w/the exception of my subs. Hope this helps.

 

[Nick250]

I have been looking at the Axiom m22 speakers: http://axiomaudio.com/m22ti_main.html
As they were recommended.

I have heard that these speakers are lacking when it comes to bass.

I can spend at most around $700, and I am looking for a nice set of bookshelves, or even floor standing speakers if they are in my price range. Others have suggested I look at Paradigm.
Thanks

You will never know what speakers you will like until you hear them yourself. Some folks like the M22 and others think they are too bright.

If it were my $700 I would buy an x-sub for $200 and a pair of B&W 602 S3 bookshelf speakers for $500. I think you get much better sound with bookshelves and a sub than with floor standers. But that's me and my preference. I suggest you audition as many speakers as you can that are in your price range. From my point of view, you are dead in the water until you have done auditions. If you want to go up in the price range a bit, the Paradigm Studio 20's are great, I have owned mine for five years.

Nick

 

[Pianoman84d]

Without knowing more about your listening preferences, I suggest you also add the Ascend Acoustics 170 coupled with a good sub to your list. Can be done for your price range as well.

I recommend you buy both the Axioms and the Ascend and compare and see which one you like better in your room with your equipment.

 

[rmichaelson85]

I listen to rock. I definitely want something that will accomodate vocals. I rarely listen to anything with deep bass (hip hop). I do want something that would work if I were to listen to this type of music. I also may hook the speakers up to my TV.

Keep in mind I live in an apartment complex, I won't have many opportunities to really play loud music. What do you guys suggest based on the situation Ia m in?

Here is what I'm looking at:
-Axiom m22- $460
-Paradigm studio 20's- $800 (would only consider these if they are significantly better than the other choices)
-Cambridge Soundworks M80- $500
-Energy RC 10's - $550
Ascend Acoustics 170 with a sub
B&W 602 s3 bookshelf with a sub

I will not have an opportunity to listen to the speakers before I make the purchase. I'm having a difficult time narrowing things down, this is a shot in the dark. I can purchase two units and return the one I like least. I've thought it over and can spend at most $850 on the speakers. In your opinions, what do you feel would be my best option. Much appreciated.

 

[emorphien]

I've heard the M22s are lean on bass and that the M3 is better, particularly in a smaller room.

Are you sticking with those brands or are you open to other suggestions? I'd really suggest the Focal 706 V (essentially identical to the 806 V which is an $800 speaker and I'd probably put against everything in your list).

 

[Pianoman84d]

I would not recommend the Axiom m22's without a sub. Same as most small speakers, they need the extra help down low.

I think that you will be happy with any of the stuff on your list. In my mind, seeing as you cannot listen before you order, go for the Axiom or Ascend and return them if you are not satisfied. They are the only ones that give you a thirty day trial. Also, I'd consider auditioning the Aperion 632's. They pay shipping both ways if you aren't satisfied.

Haven't heard the focals so I can't help you there.

 

[rmichaelson85]

I think I'm going to go with the Paradigm Studio 20's.

Someone said 'A $500 receiver would not be the best fit for the Studio 20.'

I will be using these speakers in the low to mid range (I've heard the word mid-range, im assuming this means mid level volume) primarily.

I know nothing about receivers... I would be inclined to go with an inexpensive receiver, because I'm splurging a bit on the speakers. What reciever would work well with these speakers?

Thank you

 

[emorphien]

Well, while it's true that the speakers are more important than the amplification or source material to a great degree, driving something like the Studio 20s with a cheap stereo receiver would be undercutting their capabilities by most likely not having the most dynamic, detailed sound and lacking some extra dynamic power when the source material calls for it. Those speakers would benefit from a step up in receivers, or a step in to integrated amplifiers IMO.

What receiver are you thinking about though? Or rather, how much are you looking to spend on one?

 

[Nick250]

I think I'm going to go with the Paradigm Studio 20's.

Someone said 'A $500 receiver would not be the best fit for the Studio 20.'
Thank you

That someone is poorly informed. Any receiver in the $400 to $500 range from Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo will do just fine. Receiver choice will have practically nothing do with sound quality in your listening room. Sound quality is controlled by speaker choice and room acoustics, not receivers. A $1000 receiver will sound no better, but it will have more features and an inaudible amount of increased power.

Nick

 

[rmichaelson85]

What is an integrated amplifier?

I do not know where to begin when it comes to receivers. I'm buying nice speakers, and I would want to get all of the benefit. Although on one hand I do not want to spend a lot of money on a receiver.

 

[littleb]

I think I'm going to go with the Paradigm Studio 20's.

Someone said 'A $500 receiver would not be the best fit for the Studio 20.'

I will be using these speakers in the low to mid range (I've heard the word mid-range, im assuming this means mid level volume) primarily.

I know nothing about receivers... I would be inclined to go with an inexpensive receiver, because I'm splurging a bit on the speakers. What reciever would work well with these speakers?

Thank you

I originally ordered Axiom speakers because I found that I didn't particularly care the sound of the B&M speakers that I could audition in my area.
I have the M22s and they are light on bass, but so are the S20s, which I have auditioned. Personally, I find the Paradigm studio line is extremely harsh sounding. I have been told that these two speakers sound very similar, but I prefer the Axioms. Before I had the M22s, I owned a pair of B&W 602s3, which I returned the same day that I purchased them. I found them to be awful. One thing to keep in mind, I believe, is that the 600 series is pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to that brand, and I think it shows. It's my opinion that if your going to go the B&W route you might want to start at the 700 series and probably higher. I'm not really a Paradigm fan, either. Of the 3 companies, I liked the Axioms the best. Does this mean I think Axiom makes the best speaker in the world. Of course not, but between these manufacturers, I liked the Axioms best. For all I know the Infinity Primus might be the best of the best. I've never heard them, so I don't know.

 

[speakerman39]

I originally ordered Axiom speakers because I found that I didn't particularly care the sound of the B&M speakers that I could audition in my area.
I have the M22s and they are light on bass, but so are the S20s, which I have auditioned. Personally, I find the Paradigm studio line is extremely harsh sounding. I have been told that these two speakers sound very similar, but I prefer the Axioms. Before I had the M22s, I owned a pair of B&W 602s3, which I returned the same day that I purchased them. I found them to be awful. One thing to keep in mind, I believe, is that the 600 series is pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to that brand, and I think it shows. It's my opinion that if your going to go the B&W route you might want to start at the 700 series and probably higher. I'm not really a Paradigm fan, either. Of the 3 companies, I liked the Axioms the best. Does this mean I think Axiom makes the best speaker in the world. Of course not, but between these manufacturers, I liked the Axioms best. For all I know the Infinity Primus might be the best of the best. I've never heard them, so I don't know.

Well as a former owner of the Paradigm Studio 20 v.3's and a current owner of the Infinity Primus 360's, C25, and the 150's thought I would comment here. First of all, the 20 v.3's were anything BUT lacking in the bass category. In fact, the 20 v.3's will best many of the tower speakers out there. More specifically, the 20 v.3's are very open and airy while the mid to upper midbass is so punchy, tight, and very articulate sounding. Quite an accomplishment for such a small speaker that has a much bigger soundstage than one may imagine. The imaging is off the charts so to speak. However, the Primus 150's are very good for what they are BUT are not in the same league as the Studio 20 v.3's-NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!! But, for the money the 150's are hard to beat. That is, the 150's are a bit warmer sounding than the 20 v.3's and are NOT quite as extended nor do they image as well. However, this is why the Studio 20 v.3's are $850 a set and the 150's are less than $120. Given the op budget he should take a good look at the Primus for sure. He will be glad he did.

 

[ndsh]

I went through a similar selection of speakers in Fall '05. Add in some Klipsch, Polk, Tannoy and its the same list.

Of everything I had heard in the stores available to me, I thought that the Studio 20's were the best. I perceived them to have very detailed sound and reasonable bass for fairly small bookshelf. Both of which I was looking for

After a fair bit of online research, I ended up taking a chance on the m22s and was not disappointed. I found the sound to be similar but not quite as detailed. If you compare manufacturers specs, I believe that the bass extension was fairly close (~60Hz m22s, ~55Hz S20s).

Both gave me the sound I was looking for, and neither would have disappointed. I admit that the $ difference was a key factor in my final decision, but I don't think I missed anything by going with Axiom.

Either way (and for any other bookshelf as well) a sub down the road is an excellent addition and there are a number of great candidates.

If you enjoy the sound of the S20s, I don't think you'll found a more similar sounding speaker than the m22.

 

[Crackerballer]

Let me add my 2 cents. I currently have the Studio 20's, and I was running a Yamaha RX-v2500, now running a denon avr-887. Let me say, as a poor college student, all these purchases have been worth every penny. I found a local paradigm dealer, and auditioned the studio 20's and 40's. All I can say is I was IMMEDIATELY sold. If I had had the money, I would have def went studio 40's

And as far as Axiom, I have no experience with them. Yet everyone raves about them. If I was on a budget, the Axioms and a nice sub would make a great sub sat system from what I read. Get you a mid level receiver like the rx-v2500 which can be had for around $500, and then you can thank me

 

[rmichaelson85]

I purchased the Focal 706V's today for $595/pair. I was only able to listen to an entry level focal 800 series, a very similar speaker, and I was thorougly impressed.

Any suggestions on receivers/integrated amplifiers would be appreciated at this point. If anyone has any used equipment I would consider it. A used receiver would make sense for me at the moment, I can get something fairly nice and hopefully I won't burn another hole in my already small pocket.

 

[Crackerballer]

get on audiogon.com and ebay