I consider myself a lucky man. I have only a moderate budget for my audio habit, and I believe that -- by sheer good fortune and by using my ears -- I have had for the past 5 years one of the most well-balanced audio/surround systems that moderate funds can buy. That system is as follows:

A/V Amp: Marantz SR-7000
Sources: Arcam Alpha 7 CD, Toshiba SD-9200 DVD/DVD-A,
Pioneer DV-563-A for DVD/DVD-A/SACD
Mains: B&W 602 S1
Center: B&W LCR6
Surrounds: JBL S36
Sub: M&K MX 75B

My listening room is only 15 x 15, and this little system gives me a clear, well-imaged, delightfully-uncolored sound that -- to my ear -- is better than that I have heard from other systems 4 times the price. I attribute it to the excellent pairing of Marantz electronics and the B&W speakers. Lovely, well-built products.

I love music -- all kinds. Jazz, new-jazz, classical, schmaltzy pop, hard rock, drum and bass. And I REALLY love music in surround sound. The Marantz surround synthesizer does a PHENOMENAL job of creating a full, lush, believable surround sound from most non-surround sources. And the sound I get from DD, DTS, DVD-A, and SACD...let's just say that sometimes it makes me shake (and sometimes it sounds like crap, depending upon the recording!).

So here's the dilemma: I recently was able to sequester some funds (about $1000) for a possible speaker upgrade. Due to the "feng shui" of my room, I prefer NOT to have a floor-standing speaker. I prefer stand-mounters. So, being a real B&W fan, I went and listened to what seems to be the most logical upgrade -- the B&W 705's. I auditioned both the 602 S3's and the 705's. The former sounded very good and very much like my existing 602 S1's. I could hear more detail for the 705's over my current system, and it was clear they were built very, very nicely. I coveted them?

My local B&W dealer offered to give me a trade-in of $500 on some nice, older floor-standers I have. With the 705's listing at $1500, that meant I had my $1000 price, right? Wrong...I forgot that I also would need to consider upgrading my center at the same time. The upgraded B&W center is the HTM-7, which I did not audition but is one heckuva sexy piece of equipment. It retails for $750, but my dealer offered me $200 on my LCR6 in trade. The net cost to me for this upgrade idea -- $1550.

So here is where I need input from you thoughtful and intelligent people. At the prices shown above, do I need to look elsewhere? I realize fully that B&W carries a high premium, even for its quality. I did audition the Monitor Audio Gold 10 stand-mounter, but I could not hear any significant superiority to the B&W 705's. I don't have time to do a lot of auditioning, unfortunately. So I have one last proposition...what about Axiom? Would the M22ti stand-mounters and VP 150 center be an improvement over my existing system? At $750 for this package, I would have some funds left over to upgrade some other things. But am I moving backwards, instead of forwards?

So I need to hear from some Axiom fans and some B&W folks and some sensible, moderate-budget music-lovers out there. What should I do? Leave well enough alone if my system is already good to my ears? Stay with B&W, since I have loved it for so long, and go with the 705's and the HTM-7? Or take Axiom up on their "free" 30-day offer, realizing that I would probably have to pay $100+ in return shipping and brokerage fees if they did not size up?

Your comments appreciated!

P.S. Let's keep this focused on speakers. I am looking at other plans for amp upgrades!