Axiom M100 Speakers, $3000 Per Pair

(47.5h, 9.25w, 17d, 81 lbs, 92dB, 4 ohms, Walnut, Black, Boston Cherry)

Bryston contracted Axiom to build its design brief of the Model T speaker in 2009. The success of that project built a fruitful relationship between the two companies and they merged. The resulting company is simply called Bryston.

Bryston decided to honor Axiom’s contribution to the success by keeping the name Axiom alive. Think Acura-Honda or Lexus-Toyota. Bryston is the banner of their high end speakers with 20 year warranty. Axiom is used for the models below which have a 5 year warranty. The full family of speakers is made in house in Canada, not jobbed out to China.

Before reading about M100 here, please take a minute to read my yellow tab, Bryston speakers. What you read about Bryston holds true for Axiom, at scaled back power levels.

Components

The consistency and QC you read about with Axiom speaker components is the same as with Bryston, just at relaxed power capabilities. Bryston drivers accommodate and deliver more power, hence the 20 year warranty. Bryston cabinets are more rigid with more intricate internal bracing. Bryston crossovers are more precise and heavy duty.

If you don’t need the high power of Bryston with 20 year warranty, Axiom is the perfect alternative. Again, Axiom is made with TLC in Canada, not vendored out from China.

M100 Runs Doubles & a Triple!

M100 is for all intents and purposes, a Bryston A1 ($5k per pair) light.

Bryston runs doubles of midrange and tweeter drivers, and triples of woofers on M100 for higher power capability, deeper bass, fuller dynamics and a more massive soundstage.

Yet the biggest advantage is that the drivers run with less excursion when used in doubled configuration. Less excursion means you have less distortion- which garners better transparency and superior power handling.

M100 runs three of the 6.5” woofs in a taller enclosure than M80. The larger enclosure buys you about 20% better bass than little brother M80 alone. Your logical question should be, is it worth the upgrade, from M80 to M100? My unambiguous answer is YES. M100 takes up the same floor space as M80. If you can afford M100, definitely spend a few bucks more to get more powerful bass and a taller/wider, deeper soundstage.

M100 Performance

Virtually all other $3k towers on the market are built in Chinese job houses. B&W, Definitive, Dynaudio China, Elac, GE, Klipsch China, JBL, Kef, Martin Logan, Monitor Audio, Polk, PSB, Q Acoustics, SVS, Wharfedale, Yamaha… are all built there. Many are very much alike because they’re built in the same production facilities. You can’t miss the family resemblance.

M100 is a totally different animal. Like all Bryston & Axiom speakers, it is built in its own house in Canada. The drivers are not generic in build or consistency. Every Bryston/Axiom driver has to pass a battery of 8 tests before it can be pronounced fit for use. The Chinese just pump out drivers and screw them into boxes as they come off the line. It is literally piece work for the Chinese.

M100 can’t go quite as deep or tight as Bryston A1. If $5k is in the budget, by all means, step up to the Bryston A1 for the improved sound and warranty.