Met, welcome. Forget any stuff that you may have heard about your 697 being "low-end" or that you should get more expensive amplification to "match" good speakers such as the Axioms. One of the great things about the current audio scene is the excellent receivers that are available to us at quite low cost and amplify with transparent quality. No need for the high-priced stuff that some push.

Consider getting a pair of M22s to enjoy your music more, as I've been doing with mine now for six years.

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.