I came to this thread late, so please indulge me.
As many know, I bought my Axioms during the time they were in their infancy, and had a retail presence. Their business model has changed, but suffice to say that I auditioned many brands in my listening room, and still made the decision to purchase them. The return policy and service teams are definitely impressive, and I would say that this helps Axiom be successfull.
With regards to auditioning, absolutely, go and listen....listent o everything he has. When you are done, find another store and listen more!!! As mentioned, it is best if you can listen in your own environment, but few dealers will allow this. I have several stores/dealers that I have good working relationships with, and built the level of trust that they will allow me this courtesy. However, some folks simply exploit the nice gesture and then buy a similar product used, or somewhere cheaper. Sometimes the extra cost can be worth it!!!
But I am rambling again.....
