Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Very Confused...need advice on Speaker upgrade ($600)

i am looking to upgrade my current Infinty IL10's bookshelfs with something much better, but I only have $1000 overall for both fronts and center, thus, would like to keep the fronts in the $600-$700 range max. here are some of the choices I have narrowed it down to thus far:

Swan 4.1's ($500/pr)


Axiom M40ti ($560/pr)


B&W DM602.5 S3 ($500/pr)


B&W DM603 S3 (I know, more than $600, but I heard them and sound so good)


Paradigm Monitor 7 ($600)


PSB Image T45 ($550)


Athena AS-F2 ($400)


Energy Connoisseur : C-5 ($550)


Currently, I have only listened to the B&W ones and LOVE them.... but I have heard a lot of good things from the Swan's for the price. I am also confused because the others (Paradigm, PSB, etc) have had high praise from a lot of people and they are within the range.

any help would be appreciated.

I too have heard the paradigm and B&W 603 602, they sounded very good. It apears from my research with Axiom, i am getting more speaker for the money. Not hearing the Axioms is the only thing keeping me from pressing the buy button. I heard the higher end energy bookshelf speakers and I am impressed with how clear and bright the sound is.

I posted a review of some of these speakers awhile back that you might be interested in reading. You can find it here.
I have also heard the Paradigm Monitors and B&W 603 and 703 series.
Unfortunately i have not yet heard the Axiom M50/40 models nor the Swans which seem to be rather popular.

The only comparision I can speak to directly is Paradigm/Axiom.

I used to own Paradigm Monitor 7's, now own Axiom M80's. I know it's not a direct comparison. M80's are worlds better than the M 7's. I've also heard the Monitor 11's, M80 are at least equal to and probably better, I did not A/B the 2 so I can't compare directly.

So the M40's are very likely to be a better buy than the M 7's.

so, would you guys consider the M50ti in the same category as the B&W 603's, or just a tad below? they are both around the same price, and I LOVE the BW's but have yet to hear any Axiom...

also, how are the missions? like the

m35i


or the V63

In previous, similar threads a few people have said that they found M60s to be clearly better than 603s. The 50s should have a very slightly recessed midrange relative to 60s but otherwise fairly similar.

My guess is that most people would prefer 50s to 603s but I have not seen any direct comparison to confirm that.

Between 60s and 703s it seems that a small majority prefers the 60s over the 703s (vs. a slam-dunk win for M60s over 603s).

ssabripo,
Personally i don't rank speakers. I like some over others per my own preferences.

I did not like the B&W 603s as i found them more harsh compared to other brands, like Axiom, Tannoy or Monitor Audio, let alone against their own brethren, the 703s. However the 703s are darn pricey speakers.
The Missions i heard were quite good, and quite large, for their price. I was pleasantly surprised, but they were somewhat recessed in sound and did not have the detail of the other models we were auditioning at the time. If anyone finds Axiom or {insert name here} to be bright or forward, i suggest they listen to the Mission M35s to hear just how big the difference can be. If such a person prefers a laid back or less bright sound, then the Missions are a good choice.

I picked my M60's over the 703's after demoing my brother in-law's B&W's. Personally I think the sound is better, and the cost is a whole lot better

Try to find someone in your are that you can get an audition of Axiom's by checking the Audition Thread....

Randy

i have no real input to offer here. i just want to comment on how beautiful each of these speakers are that have been posted on this thread. ALL of the individual designs have something about them that make them stand out.

it just makes me smile to see form and function intergrated so well!

bigjohn

Agree 100%. It is pretty much impossible to say "these are best" -- you need a fairly significant difference between models before you can even say that one is better than the other.

I figure the best we can do is summarize what other people have felt. As Chess says, don't read too much into other people's preferences but it a useful source of info...

>>i have no real input to offer here. i just want to comment on how beautiful each of these speakers are that have been posted on this thread. ALL of the individual designs have something about them that make them stand out.

Yeah... those Swans sure look nice don't they. I bet they sound great too...