Welcome to the club! As for the comparison, check out my last reply. The M60s are far superior. Mine are factory outlet and I couldn't even find a blemish on one of them. The Athenas look flashier but once you see build quality of the Axioms and hear them, they pretty much sell themselves. The bass won't be quite as hard hitting with the M60s, but it will be much cleaner. Save up, add an inexpensive sub later and you'll be in audio nirvana.