Hi,

I think I'm going to order a pair of axiom m60 speakers, and I'm
wondering if anyone has suggestions of amps to try out with it. (I
currently have an cambridge audio a3, which doesn't have sufficient
wattage to run these speakers well.) I'd prefer an integrated for
simplicity's sake but I'm willing to consider separates. I mostly
listen to rock, and some chamber music/acoustic pop.

I want it to be able to play fairly loud (but not earsplittingly) in my
room, which is 13x16 feet with 10.5 foot ceiling. I'd spend up to $2000
on the amp (or pre/power combo) but only if I can actually hear
convincing differences from something cheaper. I am much more of a
music lover than an audiophile.

That being said, any suggestions are welcome (including not buying the
axiom speakers and trying something else in the $1000-2000
floorstanding range, but at least on paper the axioms sound like too
good a deal not to at least order and audition.)

Thanks!

In article . com,
says...

That being said, any suggestions are welcome (including not buying the
axiom speakers and trying something else in the $1000-2000
floorstanding range, but at least on paper the axioms sound like too
good a deal not to at least order and audition.)

The Axioms do have a good rep - I'm considering buying a pair myself,
but in that price bracket it would be worth looking into offerings from
Paradigm, PSB, NHT, perhaps even B&W (though they can cost a bit more).
I'm sure there are lots of other manufacturers who compete at that
level.

Axiom also have a very active set of forums which you can access through
their web site. Lurk a bit and find out what other people are using.
Generally, I think you'll find most people are using multi-channel
receivers - but you can easily get a receiver for two channel with
plenty of power way below your budget, with enough cash left over to add
a subwoofer, or perhaps to put towards a different set of speakers.

In any case, the I do recommend checking out the Axiom forum - I think
you'll get more level-headed recommendations there than here on rao

--
Bill

If low cost is the factor an old Hafler might be okay, I don't know
about their new ones. AVA does a lovely upgrade to old Haflers and
Dynas but the price is a little high perhaps. The Brystons are pretty
good too, again perhaps the price is a little more than you were
thinking. I assume you want a solid state amplifier. You might look at
the well-constructed Hot House amps as well-they are a pro product, but
for studio monitoring and not PA use, and are reputedly one of the best
sounding solid state amplifiers at any price.

wrote:
I'd spend up to $2000
on the amp (or pre/power combo) but only if I can actually hear
convincing differences from something cheaper.

You'd probably get bigger improvements by putting more money into the
speakers. If I had a $3.5K budget for speakers and amplification, I'd
spend about $2k on the speakers and $1.5K on the amp and preamp, not
the other way around like you're doing. That is, unless you maybe had
some plan to keep the amp/preamp forever and upgrade the speakers as
budget allowed.

"Bruce C. Miller" wrote in message

wrote:
I'd spend up to $2000
on the amp (or pre/power combo) but only if I can actually hear
convincing differences from something cheaper.

You'd probably get bigger improvements by putting more money into the
speakers. If I had a $3.5K budget for speakers and amplification, I'd
spend about $2k on the speakers and $1.5K on the amp and preamp, not
the other way around like you're doing. That is, unless you maybe had
some plan to keep the amp/preamp forever and upgrade the speakers as
budget allowed.

I would go even further and spend $2,500 on my speakers and the other $1000
on _used_ pre/power equipment.

thanks for the input. I was sort of planning on doing that, but then I
came across all the great press for the axioms., I would feel silly
spending $2000 on speakers without auditioning the axioms first, esp.
because they seem well suited to my musical tastes.

But hypothetically, let's say I decide to forego the axioms. What
floorstanders in the $2000 range should I consider, esp given my medium
room size and musical tastes (rock, acoustic pop, chamber music, folk,
in about that order of importance)

"None" wrote in message

thanks for the input. I was sort of planning on doing that, but then I
came across all the great press for the axioms., I would feel silly
spending $2000 on speakers without auditioning the axioms first, esp.
because they seem well suited to my musical tastes.

But hypothetically, let's say I decide to forego the axioms. What
floorstanders in the $2000 range should I consider, esp given my medium
room size and musical tastes (rock, acoustic pop, chamber music, folk,
in about that order of importance)

I would consider floorstanders from Paradigm, Triangle, Dynaudio (going from
cheaper to more expensive). You could probably get the Dynaudio Audience 72s
for about $2500, maybe even less.

If I might make another suggestion - if your listening room is medium-sized
and your tastes range from rock to acoustic pop to folk, you might actually
be better off with a pair of good bookshelfs.

You can get some remarkably good bookshelfs for under $1000 - brands like JM
Lab, B&W and PSB.