Review: Axiom Loudspeakers M-80ti Speaker


Category: Speakers

These are my first pair of expensive speakers. Before, I used some nice (I thought) 3 way speakers from Sears and bestbuy, which cost in the neighborhood of $200. They were the typical 3 way rectangular box speakers with cheap crossovers and even cheaper drivers. Not worth mentioning.

The Axioms are in a completely different league. The SPL is far greater with two of these and the Counterpoint than with four of the others and a Technics 50x4 SS amp. Keep in mind that the others had 12 inch bass drivers, and these are ported 6inch I believe.
The purity of the sound is far greater. I can actually hear the full sound of an instrument now, but I did not know that earlier I was missing so much. The detail is impressive.
Power handling is amazing. Even with two compared to four speakers, the db level is greater, with no apparent distortion or muddiness. I can turn them up until my ears hurt, but nothing happens to the music except that it gets louder. Actually, I begin to hear even more of the detail, as you would expect. I believe that the drivers in this cabinet may actually want lots of power to perform best. This might be a good thing, but it might be a bad thing too. I don't believe that I hear as much detail with the speakers turned to a very low power.
Soundstaging is good, although I believe it will get better when my new speakers wires and IC and Phono IC are burned in. I just got the whole system together, and only the amp and speakers are burned in.
The looks are great, and though I have the cherry which everyone says is not the best, mine have no flaws and look great (to me).
I am using the speakers on a carpeted slab in a big room-- 22' x 20' by 10'. These have no problem filing the whole room with great sound. How they compare to others in their price range I don't know, but I feel confident that I got a very good deal (I bought mine used with 200 hours on the drivers, from someone I trust) for a few hundred less than the retail. I certainly would recommend these at the retail price, and if you can get them at the scratch and dent or used prices, well, it's a no-brainer.

Associated gear
Counterpoint SA-100 Hybrid Tube/mosfet amp, Straightwire MR-24 Spkr wire, MAD Pearl IC, Parasound PPH-100 Phono, Rega P3 with modified RB300, VdH Phono wire

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aaird
Do you have the speakers on spikes? If they are standing directly on the carpet, you can get even better sound for real cheap, by using spiked feet under them. A very effective easy improvement.
I believe these retail for $1100 directly thru Axiom. While not having heard them my understanding is that for the price you would have a difficult time finding a better speaker. Lots of very satified customers with reviews on audioreview.com.
I've seen numerous rave reviews for these speakers, but I ordered a pair and sent them back within a week. Expensive listening session, cost me almost $200 in shipping, so belive me, I tried hard to like them. It's hard to explain what I didn't like about them, as they had a pretty seamless sound, but they just didn't make me feel the music, if that makes any sense? They had a harsh lower treble even in my heavily dampened room. I just thought they sounded too thin, just not enough weight to the midrange. I bought my son a pair of Dahlquist QX-9's for Christmas for $550 shipped from Canada and they just blew these away IMO. I don't mean to knock this speaker, many really like them and their customer support is second to none, but they just wern't my cup of tea.
I don't know how much this relates, but I REALLY tried to like the Axiom M3ti, which has much in common with the M80 in the mid- to high freq range- & like jack, I found them very clear, but a bit thin and harsh especially at higher volume, I think the presence of the tweeter makes them a bit more suited to home theatre-