Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • Clear, detailed, accurate, and undistorted sound is delivered, capable of filling a large room
  • Accurate, powerful, and controlled bass
  • Flawless midrange reproduction, and clear, full vocals
  • Consistent, detailed, and engaging high end
  • Impeccable build quality, and the speakers are available in various finishes (veneer and real wood)

Product Considerations

  • The size is larger than average bookshelf speakers, which could pose placement issues
  • A powerful amplifier is needed to get the most out of the speakers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Revel Performa3 F206: Both have a similar bass character, but the Revels dig deeper and sound fuller due to an additional woofer and larger cabinet
  • Vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2: The Axiom speaker has an angled front baffle that helps to improve the soundstage and reduce distortion, while ELAC has a deeper bass sound
  • Vs Q Acoustics 3020i: The M5HP produces slightly deeper bass and higher treble frequencies, but the 3020i can produce louder sounds with less power

Takeaway: The Axiom Audio M5HP is a great choice for those seeking audiophile-grade sound without needing floorstanding speakers. With its excellent build quality and sound, the M5HP provides a lifelike and neutral listening experience.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

M5HP (In-wall)

reviews

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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Enclosure: Acoustic Suspension
  • Max RMS Amp Wattage: 300 Watts
  • Max Dynamic Amp Wattage: 1200 Watts
  • Min Amp Power: 10 Watts
  • Freq Resp +/-3dB: 55 Hz - 20 kHz
  • Freq Resp +3dB- 10dB: 40 Hz - 20 kHz
  • Impedance: 8 Ohms
  • SPL in Room 1w/1m: 91 dB
  • SPL Anechoic 1w/1m: 87 dB
  • X-Over: 500 Hz & 2 kHz
  • Tweeter: 1"
  • Midrange: 5.25"
  • Woofer: 6.5" HP
  • Weight: 18 lbs (8 kg) each
  • In-wall Dimensions (HWD): 18.9 x 7.7 x 3.9 inches (480 x 195 x 98 mm)
  • On-wall Dimensions (HWD): 20.1 x 8.3 x 0.73 inches (510 x 211 x 18.5 mm)
If you're looking for floorstanding speaker-like performance in an invisible in-wall enclosure, this is your speaker. The M5 in-wall is ideal for customers who want hi-fidelity sound that doesn't take up any floor space. Featuring a 1" titanium tweeter for crystal-clear highs, the M5 separates the midrange into its own driver, a 5.25" aluminum cone mid-woofer. To round out the bottom end, Axiom's 6.5"HP (high powered) woofer brings wide dispersion and linear sound to the speaker's performance.
The M5 in-wall is ideal for customers who want hi-fidelity sound that doesn't take up any floor space. Featuring a 1" titanium tweeter for crystal-clear highs, the M5 separates the midrange into its own driver, a 5.25" aluminum cone mid-woofer. To round out the bottom end, Axiom's 6.5"HP (high powered) woofer brings wide dispersion and linear sound to the speaker's performance.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • Axiom directly applies research from Canada's National Research Council, including double-blind listening tests, to achieve demonstrably accurate loudspeaker designs.
  • They offer a multitude of customization options for finishes and aesthetics to match any decor.
  • Axiom's speakers are designed and manufactured in-house, including their drivers, which allows for greater control over quality and performance at a competitive cost.
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is used in some models to optimize the speaker's output in a way that traditional crossovers cannot match, resulting in greater linearity and dynamics.

M5 Bookshelf Speakers

  • Positioning: Compact high-powered stereo and home theater speaker.
  • Description: Offers a full-sized floorstanding speaker experience in a compact form, featuring HP 6.5-inch drivers for high power and low distortion. Unlike the M50 and M60, the 3-way design with a dedicated midrange driver provides a more linear presentation and wider dispersion, making it ideal for medium to large rooms where space is limited but sound quality is paramount.

M50 Floorstanding Speakers

  • Positioning: Entry-level floorstanding speaker for home audio and theater systems.
  • Description: Delivers clean deep bass with twin aluminum 6.5-inch woofers, making it suitable for small to medium-sized rooms. It shares drivers with the M3 bookshelf model but offers enhanced bass and dynamics in a tower form, providing a more robust soundstage than the M5 while remaining more affordable than the M60 and M80.

M60 Floorstanding Speakers

  • Positioning: Mid-range floorstanding speaker with award-winning sound.
  • Description: Features a three-way system with triple vortex porting and a dedicated midrange driver, known for its articulate mids and highs. It offers a more compact alternative to the M80 with similar sound quality.

M80 Floorstanding Speakers

  • Positioning: High-performance floorstanding speaker for audiophiles.
  • Description: Features dual woofers, midranges, and tweeters for enhanced power handling and low distortion. It provides a more immersive experience than the M60, with a wider soundstage and deeper bass.

M100 Floorstanding Speakers

  • Positioning: Flagship floorstanding speaker for ultimate audio performance.
  • Description: Features triple woofers and dual midranges and tweeters, delivering exceptional clarity and powerful bass. It surpasses the M80 in tonal range and dynamic capability.

LFR1100HP Active Omnidirectional Speakers

  • Positioning: Premium omnidirectional speaker for immersive audio experiences.
  • Description: Uses a Digital Signal Processor for precise control over each driver group, offering a 3D soundstage with pinpoint detail. Unlike the M100, these speakers provide an omnidirectional experience, making them perfect for unconventional room shapes.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
20
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
118
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
47
Founding Year
1980

Our take on the brand

Axiom Audio manufactures its own drivers and features unique design elements like rear-firing drivers with DSP processing, die-cast metal faceplates that act as heatsinks, and Vortex ports to reduce air turbulence. Their speakers, including the LFR1100 and M100 v4, are known for uncommon features at their price points, such as seven drivers per speaker for greater linearity and the ability to reach exceptionally low frequencies of 15Hz in their subwoofers.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From our interview with
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

Product image
Wisdom Audio
Insight Series P4i
2760
2760
/
1
Reviews

Compact in size, the Insight Series P4i defies traditional categorization. Sharing the design elements of its larger Insight Series sibling, it is hard to believe the musical and cinematic performance and dynamic quality of this small in-wall loudspeaker. The Insight Series P4i includes a planar magnetic driver – and four robust 3”x5” woofers for low distortion, high-resolution sound, and a superior dynamic range. The result is excellent, uniform horizontal dispersion throughout its operating range, providing superb off-axis coverage in both in-wall and in-ceiling applications.

Wisdom Audio specializes in planar magnetic drivers and line source speaker technology, which provides consistent sound coverage throughout a room and minimizes sound distortion compared to traditional point source speakers. Their speakers are designed to be integrated into walls or ceilings without compromising sound quality.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Truly outstanding sound quality, delivering a near-electrostatic, audiophile listening experience in a disappearing, in-wall package
  • Uses planar magnetic thin-film drivers (PMD) which can be highly detailed with excellent transient response
  • PMDs are quite reliable because the spread-out "voice grid" is great at dissipating heat
  • PMDs are super-easy for an amplifier to drive, as they are "an almost perfectly resistive load"

Product Considerations

  • Horizontal center channel use of the Insight P4i requires stud modifications due to its size

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Insight series squeezes most of the sound quality of the Wisdom Audio Sage Series into a less imposing, less costly package

Takeaway: The Wisdom Audio Insight P4i speakers provide excellent sound quality in an in-wall design, and are a great way to get high-end audio without large, free-standing speakers. They could be worth buying for those who want the best possible sound without compromising on interior design.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wisdom Audio specializes in planar magnetic drivers and line source speaker technology, which provides consistent sound coverage throughout a room and minimizes sound distortion compared to traditional point source speakers. Their speakers are designed to be integrated into walls or ceilings without compromising sound quality.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

Focal
300 IWLCR 6
1199
/
Released
Discreetly positioned both horizontally and vertically, this LCR (left, center, right) loudspeaker offers a pure Home Cinema experience, just as it ideally complements a classic floorstanding or bookshelf speaker system. Among its strengths: exclusive Focal technologies for hi-fi sound, discreet, easy installation, and an adjustable turntable that targets the listening point.
Check Amazon
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Tool-less design with the Easy Quick Install (EQI) system allows for quick and easy installation
  • Flax cone drivers offer light, stiff cones with good natural damping
  • The design allows for both horizontal and vertical installation by rotating the high-frequency/mid-range pod
  • Delivers impressive dynamics, a clean, neutral balance, and articulate dialogue handling
  • Easy to drive with an amplifier

Product Considerations

  • The Easy Quick Install (EQI) system may not work in all situations due to space constraints behind the wall
  • The open-back design can make the speaker's balance dependent on the installation environment, potentially requiring EQ adjustments
  • Adding the included black acoustic cloth to the grille darkens the overall color shade, which is not ideal for color matching applications
  • If a clamp breaks on the tool-less design, it is not easily replaceable
  • Requires more horizontal spacing than speakers with traditional dogears, requiring installers to be more careful about between-stud placement

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Focal Kanta No. 2: The Kanta No. 2 has a weightier midrange, superlative upper frequencies, more depth, wider soundstage, and improved imaging, though the 300IWLCR6's sound quality is satisfying
  • Vs PSB W-LCR: The PSB exhibits a very slight nasal characteristic, which is not noticed on the Focal LCRs
  • Vs Martin Logan Axis: The Martin Logan Axis has impressive imaging and upper-end frequency output due to its folded ribbon tweeter, which is very different from the Focals' inverted dome aluminum and magnesium tweeter

Takeaway: The Focal 300IWLCR6 in-wall loudspeaker is easy to install and delivers great sound for music and movies, especially when paired with a good subwoofer. The speaker can be easily installed, and it can fit into various home theater setups.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
M&K Sound
IW150A
1599
/
Released
2022
The IW150A is a versatile in-wall/in-ceiling speaker, designed for the ultimate home theater experience. Targeted primarily as a Dolby Atmos-friendly in-ceiling model, it can also be used for other in-wall cinema or multi-room music applications. Its single 15-degree angle-fixed tweeter makes the IW150A ideal for effects-based sound in multi-speaker setups.
Check Amazon
M&K Sound invented the world's first subwoofer in 1973 and is widely used in Hollywood studios for mixing and mastering film soundtracks. Their push-pull subwoofer design cancels out harmonic distortion, and their speakers deliver professional studio monitor neutrality, making them a top choice for high-end audio production.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Retains the neutrality, realism, and musicality associated with the M&K Sound design in a discreet enclosure
  • The front three IW150 models perfectly match each other in terms of tonality and are utterly transparent
  • Capable of a pleasingly open sound that fills the room with wonderful detail and clarity
  • The transient response of these speakers is incredible, viscerally delivering the scares as the soundtrack suddenly goes from relative silence to very loud

Product Considerations

  • Slightly lacking at the low-end, designed to be used with a subwoofer
  • Placement can be non-trivial and orientation moreso because of the multi-woofer/tweeter design, resulting in a weird dispersion that will sound different depending on which side of the speaker one is on
  • Putting them in the wall might change its sonic integrity

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • IW150 is an in-wall version of the M&K Sound S150

Takeaway: The IW150 delivers the detail, clarity, and transience of a professional studio monitor from a discreet, in-wall enclosure. If one is looking for in-wall speakers that vanish into their decor, then these are worth an audition.

Video review

Our take on the brand

M&K Sound invented the world's first subwoofer in 1973 and is widely used in Hollywood studios for mixing and mastering film soundtracks. Their push-pull subwoofer design cancels out harmonic distortion, and their speakers deliver professional studio monitor neutrality, making them a top choice for high-end audio production.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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