November 8, 2001
How would you rate the Axiom M3Tis against NHT
SuperOnes, or the new SB series (if you have heard them)? I have listened to a lot of
small speakers, and I like SuperOnes the best so far, with their great soundstage, tight
bass and clarity, but they have that slightly "metallic" sheen on the highs, and
the dynamics could be better.
Tom
Good news! Look for a review of the new
NHT SB series on the 15th. After that, we will also cover the new ST towers as well. There
is also a direct comparison to the older SuperOnes, because we knew there would be
questions as to the relative differences between the two. Stay tuned.
November 7, 2001
Crediting your website exclusively, I bought
the Axiom M3Ti and Hsu Research VTF-2 subwoofer. It took some fiddling with the volume and
crossover settings on the VTF-2, but now the combined sound is quite incredible. The
treble and midrange on the M3Ti are extremely clear as you've described, and when the
VTF-2 is properly adjusted, the bass extends seamlessly from the wonderful midrange, also
as you've described.
Now my question: Does it get much better than
this? I've read in SoundStage!
and Stereophile about $3000-$6000 speakers that I've never heard and will never
buy. I'm just curious how the M3Ti/VTF-2 combination measures up to "Class A"
full-range speakers. It's not a secret that you're big fans of both of these speakers, and
in the VTF-2 review it was mentioned that this is a great combination. Personally, I think
you should be more emphatic in recommending the combination. For less than $800 combined,
its has to represent quite phenomenal value compared to really good full-range speakers.
I'm just curious, though. How good?
Paul
Excellent question! There is no doubt a
point of diminishing returns with respect to audio equipment. The ability to get great
sound without breaking the bank is exactly why GoodSound! was started, and
continues to thrive today. People like you have discovered that through shrewd research,
proper selection, and careful setup, a system can sound quite wonderful no matter the
budget. Now it is true that as you spend more, more opportunities open up, and performance
can improve, but the fact that you have a full-range system that sounds great to you is
ample proof that you are experiencing the vast majority of what this hobby has to offer.
November 6, 2001
I've been on the hunt for some time, and I
think I've decided on a Axiom home-theater speaker package. Now it's a matter of trying to
find the perfect receiver to go with the speakers. I would very much like to capture both
the musical and theatrical potential of these speakers. Unfortunately I'm constrained to
the $500-$800 CDN price range. Which receiver would you recommend to extract the potential
of the Axioms? Thanks!
Dario
Your question involves two areas of
performance that need to be addressed equally: the processing functions of the receiver
and the sound quality/power availability of the receiver. One model that comes to mind
right off the bat is the new Marantz SR4200. With a retail of $429 USD, it has the latest
processing like Dolby Pro Logic II to cover the movie aspect, and enough power at 70W to
all five channels, to power most systems. This unit looks promising and is certainly a
good place to start -- and to measure other competitors by.
November 5, 2001
Why do loudspeaker manufacturers make low
sensitivity loudspeakers if there are so many benefits to highly sensitive ones? What are
the benefits of a loudspeaker with low sensitivity? A loudspeaker which comes to mind is
Dynaudio's Audience 52. I routinely read rave reviews of this product, which is often
described as having low sensitivity. Wouldn't this speaker be even better if it were more
sensitive, or are there benefits to it having lower sensitivity?
Brock
Specifications, whether for speakers or
electronics, tell a fair amount about the product when read in their totality. Looking at
one specification, however, at the exclusion of others will tell little. There are
numerous reasons a manufacturer may choose one design type over another, or have
priorities in one area at the expense of something else. No one aspect of a design exists
in a vacuum. Each is only relevant in the context of the product.
Now, with respect to the Dynaudio
speakers, which do have an excellent reputation, their sensitivity seems of little
consequence. Some specs are simply more reliable than others. Sensitivity is one area
typically exaggerated upon by speaker designers, which the measurements conducted for SoundStage! will show. Dynaudio's
specifications tend to be closer to reality than many others we have tested.
November 4, 2001
Congratulations for your great site. I have a
question for you regarding two speakers you have reviewed during the last few months.
Which speaker do you think is better for a tube system, the Axiom M3Ti or the Triangle
Titus XS? Currently, I have a pair of Paradigm Titans driven by a pair of Antique Sound
Labs Wave AV-8 monoblocks. The system sounds very good for any kind of music with the
exception of rock. In that case it doesn't sound lively enough; some of the energy is
lost. I guess it's the tubes, but I plan to keep them for a while. Do you think the sound
will improve with any of the two speakers I mentioned above?
Yannis
Playing rock music requires a speaker that
can play a bit louder with a bit more bass than what is typical in a small monitor. As
well, when you use tubes you must make sure your speakers are efficient enough to play at
the levels you are seeking without clipping the amplifiers. They may simply be running out
of steam. Moving to either of the speakers that you are considering may make a difference,
though I'm not convinced it will be what you are looking for. The Axioms, with their
larger woofer, may be the best choice of the two, to accommodate your needs. However, I
would look at something like the Axiom M22Ti, which is still priced below the Triangle
model, and is simply a larger design that will really crank out some good bass on rock
music.
November 3, 2001
I have been searching for quite some time for
a site like this. Your site has been a godsend.
I am fairly new to
"high-performance" home audio and have some questions. I am currently trying to
set up my home system to be used for both home theater and music, and I have many, many
questions and rumors I need dispelled. Let me begin by telling you what I currently have:
Pioneer Elite VSX-99 receiver, Pioneer Elite PD-M59 CD player, Pioneer DV-C503 DVD player,
KEF Audio Q15.2 mains and center, Velodyne C1200 subwoofer, IXOS604 biwire speaker cables
terminated with Monster Cable banana plugs, and AR signal wires.
My questions are as follows:
1. I still have yet to purchase the rear
speakers and have read that I should timbre match all of my speakers. Is this true?
2. If I buy bookshelf speakers to match my
fronts, I will not be able to aim them down towards the listening area. How will this
affect my sound?
3. I've heard that the correct speaker/signal
cables can make or break a system. Is this true?
4. Finally, I was told that the TosLink
connection is not as good as a digital coax connection.
Thank you for your help.
Bao
It sounds as if you have assembled a
high-quality system capable of excellent performance. Regarding your questions, yes, you
should make an effort to match your rear speakers to your front three. This is important
because as sounds pan from front to rear, or back to front, you want a seamless, cohesive
transfer to occur. Although I have heard excellent systems that use speakers from
different manufacturers in these positions, it is not always optimal. Regarding the
placement of the surrounds, many people prefer to place them so that the listening
position is slightly off-axis, as a number of high-quality speakers are designed for this
type of placement anyway. Of course, a THX-designed system would use a diffuse-surround
approach too, although this is not always agreed upon. I think you'll be fine as long as
you choose the speaker wisely.
Although good cables definitely make a
difference, I would not say that the rear-channel cables will "make or break" a
system. They may augment performance, but not dictate it entirely by no means. And lastly,
most people on our staff, including myself, use a coaxial cable in place of a TosLink.
November 2, 2001
As someone who knows little about hi-fi
equipment (didn't have money before now!) but appreciates good sound, I was thrilled to
run across your site today. Great job! Anyway, I recently bought a house, and I am now in
the process of deciding what to do about an audio system for my 16' x 12' living room.
After arranging our furniture, there is only one place left for speakers: inside the
bookcases that are across from our sofa. The shelves are 9" deep and can hold books
up to 10 1/2" high, so a true bookshelf speaker will be required. We primarily listen
to classical (not organ), Latin, and folk music at low to moderate volumes, so I don't
mind the idea of a bookshelf speaker. Also, we are not TV people, so we will never be
using the speakers for home theater. My main concern is that good stereo sound fills most
of the room. I don't care how good the sweet-spot is if the performance is poor off-axis.
I have many questions about my search for speakers, a few of which are:
1. Will bass-reflex enclosures with rear ports
work OK inside a bookcase? It seems like a lot of "bookshelf" speakers have such
ports. Then again, a lot of "bookshelf" speakers would never fit on a bookshelf!
2. How much clearance around the speakers is
required for good sound? I'm mainly concerned about the height and depth here, as I can
always move books around to experiment with the side clearance.
3. Would it be wise to get two sets of
speakers, one in the bookshelves and one on the same side as the sofa? I thought this
might help fill the room better.
4. Should I give up the bookshelf speaker idea
and just go with a satellite-subwoofer system instead? I realize I can use a subwoofer
with the bookshelf speakers too, but I thought I'd buy the bookshelf speakers first and
then let my ears decide if I needed a subwoofer.
5. What speakers would you suggest I audition,
primarily keeping in mind my desire for good off-axis performance?
Jason
Placing speakers in a bookshelf will
affect their sound without a doubt. Bass will be reinforced to a great degree, maybe too
much so, which would smear the midrange and possibly lead to a boomy sound. The
high-frequency performance will be altered as well, due primarily to the off-axis (in the
vertical and horizontal planes) listening position, which you note. Speakers designed at
the National Research Council in Canada have a solid reputation for excellent off-axis
performance. Models here would include those from both Paradigm and Axiom to name two.
I do think you are a prime candidate for a
subwoofer-satellite system, though, as you could accomplish a couple of goals. First, the
satellites would not be required to reproduce much bass, so therefore placing them in a
bookshelf would not be as problematic (assuming you have some flexibility for placing the
subwoofer). It might also be possible to use some sort of bracket to "aim" the
smaller speakers, thereby giving you a more desirable toe-in or listening angle. You will
also need less space using a smaller speaker within the bookshelves.
Regarding using multiple sets of speakers
in a stereo configuration, this is not advisable. Not only would you not achieve any
stereo separation, you might actually degrade the sound quality due to cancellations and
problematic room interactions.
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