Quote Originally Posted by 3db
And Paradigm or B&W doesn't have a cult following?? Please!! I've read more reviews on Axiom than I care too and they are alwaysd postive with glowing remarks. The axiom Mt60's just got reviewed by the following. Besides, whats wrong with saving some hard earned money by going thru internet vs paying a middle man some dollars to demonstrate speakers for you? What about PSB? Have you tried them, as I did not see them on your list?

Here are the latest reviews on the Mt60;

http://www.goodsound.com/equipment.shtml
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...rs-3-2004.html
Yeah, but the difference is that with Paradigm or B&W, someone who wants proof that they are as good as advertised or hyped just has to go to a local dealer and listen to them. I might like the Axioms, I might not like the Axioms, the problem is that if I want to try them out, I have to either know somebody who owns them or I have to BUY them just to listen to them. And if I decide that I want to compare the Axioms, Rockets, Ascends, and Swans based on stuff that I read about them, then I'd have to buy all of them, pay shipping charges on all of them, and then pay the return shipping on the three sets that I decide to return.

And going on the basis of reviews is another area where the internet-direct brands have a built-in advantage. Why? Because nearly all of the reviews are written by people who OWN them, and owners are not exactly an unbiased source. With a Paradigm or B&W, anybody who's heard them in a store can post a review, including people who've heard them and don't like them. And it's not like reviews are going to necessarily correlate with everyone's individual tastes, since speakers preferences are so subjective.

Nothing wrong with saving money by going internet-direct, but at the same time if you're looking to try out several different models, those upfront costs can add up in a hurry. In my example, I bought an Adire Rava subwoofer. I knew going into that purchase that I was taking a risk. If I did not like it, $80 goes out the window. It's potentially rewarding, but you cannot deny that there is a higher risk with any mail order direct speaker. When I was looking for main speakers, I auditioned about 35 different models. No way I would have been able to cover that kind of territory if I had decided to go the internet-direct route.