AXIOM M2 v3 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Speaker Specifications

• Enclosure: Vortex / Reflex
• Max Amp Power: 150 Watts 
• Min Amp Power: 15 Watts
• Freq Resp +/-3dB (Hz): 70 - 22 kHz
• Freq Resp +3dB- 9dB (Hz): 60 - 22 kHz
• Impedance (Ohms): 8 Ohms 
• SPL in Room1w/1m (dB): 91 dB 
• SPL Anechoic 1w/1m (dB): 87 dB
• X-Over 2.7 kHz 
• Tweeter: Single 1"
• Woofer: Single 5.25"
• Sub Woofer:  None
• Dimensions H W D (inches): 11.5" x 7.5" x 8.5"
• Dimensions H W D (mm): 292 x 191 x 216
• Weight (lbs) each 11.2 lbs.
• Weight (kg) each 5.08 kg 

As you can see by the Frequency response, these speakers are fairly flat so it is doubtful there will be any negative coloration to our testing tracks from these speakers.

Testing Regimen

Before we get to our testing, we need to look through our reference collection for an audio source and amplification hardware to see or rather hear what these speakers have to offer us. 

Below is a list of the components we decided to use for the listening tests:

S/Pdif Source: M2tech HiFace USB to S/Pdif Converter

DAC: Beresford TC-7520 w/ Custom opamps, Auzen HTHD 7.1 w/ Custom opamps

Pre Amp: FSA Mass Preamp

Power Amp: FSA Big Joe IV 100 Watt Mono Blocks

All Cables: JPS Ultraconductor 2

Player Software: Foobar

Media: Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)

Connection layout:

Review PC->M2Tech HiFace -> JPS UC2 S/Pdif Coax cable -> Beresford TC-7520 DAC -> JPS UC2 Interconnects ->  FSA Mass Preamp ->  JPS UC2 Interconnects ->  FSA BigJoe4 Monoblocks ->  JPS UC2 Speaker cables -> AXIOM M2 v.3 speakers.