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Axiom speakers - thoughts?

i_build_stuff

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May 12, 2022
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I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on Axiom speakers?

I would think they'd be exactly the sort of thing that would get attention around here since their design process is all about measurements and blind testing.

They're interesting to me because.. well, they're what I have. I've had their M80v3 for about a decade now and I really like them.. but they're the only modern "good" speaker I've heard, so I don't really have much of a frame of reference.
 
I used to retail Axiom. They where good. Sounded fine, the subs had some whallop and thump and took lotsa power in stride. I'd buy them.
 
I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on Axiom speakers?

I would think they'd be exactly the sort of thing that would get attention around here since their design process is all about measurements and blind testing.

They're interesting to me because.. well, they're what I have. I've had their M80v3 for about a decade now and I really like them.. but they're the only modern "good" speaker I've heard, so I don't really have much of a frame of reference.
They seem like a research-centric company, but it's unsettling to me how few reviews of their speakers have ever been published. If they are as great as Axioms claims, it's a shame the world has no objective way to tell. Their fans are also interested, perhaps interested enough to ship Amir a speaker?
 
I just stumbled across Axioms website after I discovered, that they seem to be responsible for the loudspeaker line of Bryston. Interesting line of speakers and Subwoofers which makes me wonder, why they seem to be under the radar even at ASR.

Any owners here who like to share their experiences or even better: send a pair of speakers to Amir?
 
There is a good video you tube video with a tour of the factory. They have their own anechoic chamber in house and measure their subs on a tall pole for 4pi or something like that. In the past year or so Axiom merged or bought Bryston and recently purchased Magnum Dynalab, two highly audio regarded Canadian companies.
 
There is a good video you tube video with a tour of the factory. They have their own anechoic chamber in house and measure their subs on a tall pole for 4pi or something like that. In the past year or so Axiom merged or bought Bryston and recently purchased Magnum Dynalab, two highly audio regarded Canadian companies.
But why are they nearly absolutely unknown in the EU? The other two brands, especially Bryston, are well known and highly regarded here (Germany). They do ship to Europe though, but I would appreciate to be able to listen to or order them in my country. Buchardt saw the problem and established a representative dealer in Germany....

So Axiom, it's up to you :)
 
But why are they nearly absolutely unknown in the EU? The other two brands, especially Bryston, are well known and highly regarded here (Germany). They do ship to Europe though, but I would appreciate to be able to listen to or order them in my country. Buchardt saw the problem and established a representative dealer in Germany....

So Axiom, it's up to you :)
They sell direct. So maybe it's hard since they won't have local support and rep?

The founder of Axiom is Ian Colquhoun, he was part of th NRC research with Dr. Toole.
 
I can't tell from their pictures if their tweeters employ waveguide or not.
 
Has anyone tried the Axiom active speakers with Bryston amplification
So, here is a response 3 years late. I have a pair of Axiom LFR1100 active speakers. They do not have an internal cross-over, so each requires 5 channels of amplification and a dedicated DSP. That'd be a lot of Bryston amps, a total of 10 channels.

I use a pair of Axiom EP600 subs, their VP160 center and 8 on wall M2OW surrounds. I use an Integra Research RDA7, 7 channel amp and a Marantz 7025 to drive the center and surrounds. Sounds pretty darn good for home theater.

I have a warm spot for Axioms. About 20 years ago I ordered a pair of their M3Ti bookshelf speakers driven by an Antique Sound Labs MGSi15DT 5 wpc SET integrated, sourced by an Ah! Njo Tjoeb tube output (Marantz modded) CD player and a Velodyne sub. Well, that wonderful sounding system started me on my audio journey. A fantastic sounding system. Since then I have had their M50, M80, M100 floor standers and their M3 and M22 bookshelf speakers. Wonderful speakers.

I then stumbled on Michaura, a short lived audio venture using extremely rigid hex shaped cabinets and Axiom parts. Got their M665 floor stander, M66 twin 6.5" big standmounts and their M55s. I use the M66s in the workout room with a pair of Velodynes. I use 6 M55s as surrounds in the upstairs HT system, with Thiel CS3.6 F/LR, an Axiom VP180 center, a pair of Axiom EP500 subs, a Cary 7 channel amp, Marantz 7025 and the Marantz 7703 processor. Great for music and movies.

Axiom bought Bryston a natural since they have been building Bryston speakers for years.

Great company, great people, and I think their speakers are wonderful.
 
Axiom is just the sort of company I'd like to support, just the sort of product I'd buy, but I get hung up on their ugly aesthetics. They could use a good update on their design/ website/ reviews etc. I don't know if I could let that "vortex port" in the house, I'm already on the fence with my cats. A few other manufacturers have addressed port design w/o looking so anatomical?

I would like to see their speakers measured.
 
I just stumbled across Axioms website after I discovered, that they seem to be responsible for the loudspeaker line of Bryston. Interesting line of speakers and Subwoofers which makes me wonder, why they seem to be under the radar even at ASR.

Any owners here who like to share their experiences or even better: send a pair of speakers to Amir?
I own Axiom m80s now for almost a decade. Initially I was somewhat dissatisfied with the base response and a harsh upper mid. I was driving them with a Denon x4000 at the time in a 20’x10’ (approx) room that was not treated in any way. I came to realize Denon’s Audyseey x32 was to blame for the poor base response. I eventually moved the speakers up to my cottage and coupled them with the same Denon x4000 line out to an Emotiva XPA2 ver2. The space is much larger with a cathedral type ceiling. I now bypassing Audyssey for the front speakers under all listening modes, surround and stereo tracks. With the changes I often find myself longing for their sound as I’m only at the cottage for about a month out of the year. Whether because the speakers have been broken in, the Emotica xpa2 or the new space I find the base extension extememly deep clean and sharp. It goes deeeep, like subwoofer deep. I no longer detect harshness in the upper treble. Poor recordings sound unimpressive but I suppose that’s most often the case. On my last visit I played around with near field listening at lower volumes and they were again exceptional.

For half the time I owned them I regretted it. Now I love them and can’t imagine what I’d have to spend to get an improvement.

I did get some clipping at one point when pushing them hard. I had engaged Denon’s Restorer setting at Low which really ups the base output but should only be used for compressed tracks (low sample mp3 for example). It could have been a combination of volume level, the settings and the lossless high base track I was listening to that caused a problem. Either than or some sort of sour interaction between the Denon’s line voltage and the XPA’s input sensitivity could have been at fault. Either way it only happened the one time and I had to push the volume up past a level you wouldn’t want to expose yourself to for longer than a half a minute. Another possibility is I pushed the woofers beyond the max excursion point. That’s just a wild guess though since they are rated for 400w and XPA2 v.2 puts out about that into 4ohms.

When I bought the speakers I got a great deal. I just looked at current prices and am shocked. I paid about CAD$1200 for the m80s at the time. Looks like they’re over CAD$3000 now.
 
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I have the On-wall variants of the M5HP, VP160, M22, and M3 in our family room where we have zero space for traditional speakers. I wish Axiom was still a budget brand with ultra low cost from 10-15 years ago but I'm quite happy with the used models I picked up over time and decided to order the On-Wall M5HPs new after being impressed with the refurbs/used models. All of them are eggshell white with the cool grey grills and that makes them spouse approved plus they actually sound really really good. They are powered by a Lexicon RV6 which is basically an Arcam 550 with a Lexicon faceplate. The Dirac measurements are very solid and on most speakers I can limit correction to either bass range or the upper crossover region and let the natural high frequency roll-off take place. The down-firing ports are a nice touch and the wall power-bracket that seems like a gimmick is actually quite convenient and to my ears, doesn't impact sound or power delivery. We only spared floor space for an HSU VTF-TN1 in one section of the family room and found a corner crevice for an SVS micro so we have decent low end for the big shared space where the HSU does a fantastic job for the low low and the SVS micro helps fill in the midbass area and smooth out coverage.
 

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