Sorry RGA but the speaker has so much more an impact on the overall sound compared to the electronics it's not even funny. Sure you can buy a tube amp that's super rolled off in the upper frequencies and then say "well speaker so and so needs top notch electronics to do the speakers justice". I've listened quite extensively to many of the B&W speakers in the entry level range and found them extremely overrated and overpriced. Yes the Axiom's can be deemed bright at times but compared to what the B&W's sound like they're nowhere near as bright. And Enjoy The Music also wrote a very favorable review of the Axiom's as well. After owning these speakers I agree with the reviewer 100%. I once brought the Axiom's to a local hifi store in Chicago called "Holm Audio" to audition some amps and the saleperson never heard of the Axiom's. I then asked him how much he thought the speakers cost based on their sound quality and he said "with that bass and midrange and level of detail I'd have to say around $900". When I told him they cost $275/pair delievered he couldn't believe it.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...mmillennia.htm





Quote Originally Posted by RGA
Just a note. be careful of people saying that Axiom is way better. Often they have never compared the two side by side with the same electronics. Hearing the B&W in a store and then comparing that to what they bought (a bias right away) is not the same things. Like it otr lump it even the good reviews of Axiom call them bright. With metal tweeters it's not a surprise.

Axiom is worht a go I suppose only if you're dissatisfied with what you can actually listen to. Instad of buying the speaker for a home trial why not go to ANY dealer and get them to lend you a speaker for a weekend with zero out of pocket concern or shipping hastles.

When reviewers who are not sponsored by advertising revenue such as Hi Fi Choice magazine or UHF reviews the speaker then I will be more convinced. Until then the reviews I take more as a grain of salt. Enjoy the music.com is a little more even handed as well.

I'm not saying don't try Axiom I have heard some good things but Ihave also read between the lines and I know a dealer carrying them in Canada.

Also it is important to have a front speaker with fuller range capabilites. Having a tiny speaker as a standmount just because you're using the sub below 80hz doesn't mean you should buy a speaker that only reaches 80hz. Chances are the small speaker won't play very loud and if Cure and Pearl jam are your main thing then I suspect it would be nice to belt it out now and again. The 602 will do a better job of that than the 600 or the 601.

You want a speaker to sound relatively FULL all by themselves...not just a tweeter like many sub satelite systems offer up. Subwoofers are not even tryue subwoofers. They are supposed to be subsonic ---below 20hz - most are basically woofers in a box. I looked a huge Velodyne that only goes to 40hz. useless. It'll play louder at 40hz than my standmounts but for $800.00 no thanks.

There is not much info below 40hz in the musical world...get a standmount that can get close to that on it's own and not sound smudged in the mid band.

The Quad mentioned earlier if it's available in your town should get you auditioning.