I listened to the Athenas at Best Buy yesterday. There is absolutely no comparison between Axiom and Athenas. I was particularly disappointed in the big floorstanders. Their little center channel is terrible, too! HTIB quality! (I did like the outdoor speakers though ).

Go audition some Axioms before you let some yahoos with their own agenda steer you wrong. Find out for yourself and then make your own informed decision.

I think Ajax is in your area, right? He's single and old and would probably welcome a visitor.