What's the comparison of spending $2000 on a 5:1 system from polk audio and axiom?

Basically I want to spend $9000 to $10,000 (including tax) on the Sony 60" rear projection Wega (their top end which may cost about $6000 all in with stand), with the remainder in a 5:1 system from somewhere. What do you rec I get. Assume I have 3 walls in the basement etc.

Well I can't compare Axiom's directly with Polk audio, I've found that a common theme of Axiom speakers is their bang-for-buck. Virtually every singe review that I've read has claimed that the axioms sound much better then nearly any other speaker in their price range, and quite often several that are even higher in price. I haven't been into audio for a long time, but that's what I've learned in my research before ordering up my Axioms just a few weeks ago.

Chips Welcome, Imho Axiom and Polk aren't in the same league, Polk is more your mass market retail store type speaker like Bose, where Axiom who sells direct can give you at least twice the bang and quality for the buck.
If you can give us the size of your basement we can better help you make some good decisions on what type of system to get.
Also if you do some searching, unless I'm missing something new with Sony , you should be able to pick up a 60" Wega for around $3000, and unless you plan on spending as much for a stand, you'll have a larger budget for speakers.

well last I checked at G&G's about 6 months ago, the top of line Sony 60" was $4800, now I have heard there are different Wegas, but I am interested in their top model. If it's only $3000, then they have really come down in price and that would be great. and if so, I can decrease my Home theatre budget. I have heard spend as much on a audio system as a video system.

On that note, let's say I can spend $5000 on the Sony Wega (including stand and taxes). That gives me about $4000 on audio (all in with wires and taxes). I'd need the 5:1 (with woofer) and wires and receiver and DVD player etc. What you'd you all suggest I get in an Axiom system that would fill the gaps?

You should mention that in Pickering one spends Canadian dollars...

right.....forgot how global this site is. I'm just east of Toronto, Canada.....Canadian dollars.......however, $3000 US is still a lot cheaper than $4800 CDN.

I think you can get an excellent system for $4000 CDN. Check out Monoprice.com for your cables. They're cheap but still great quality. Import duties aren't that bad either (I paid like $10 CDN for an order of $77 US + shipping). You can see my setup in my sig for what I decided on. The whole setup is gonna cost me ~$3000, so you've got a little more headroom to get some floorstanding speakers if you want. I guess it will depend on the size of your room I'd also recommend the EP500, as I've heard everyone say it's a huge step above the EP350. It's more efficient and plays lower, cleaner and louder. I couldn't stretch my budget that extra $650, otherwise I would have gone for that one.

At first glance I was thinking the EP500, I'll have to check pricing etc., a friend of mine has an axiom set up and it sounds great.

My basement is fairly large. The theatre room will be a 14 foot wide wall with side walls that are a minimum of 12 feet, then the room extends at least 30 feet, the entire basement is at least 1500 sq ft., if that helps....8 foot clearance

Thats a huge room, I would think you would need to go with something like the Epic80 500. You can also shop through the outlet and save yourself some cash.

"Polk is more your mass market retail store type speaker like Bose,"

As an owner of Polk and Axiom speakers, I have to take issue with that statement. Polk is a good company that makes very good speakers. I chose Polk/Velodyne over Axiom because I had about a $2000 budget and I wanted towers up front (RTi8) and couldn't afford the M60 combo. I have no regrets. I've not heard any M60's - but my RTi8s sound very much like my M22s only larger. In general, I think Axiom gives you a little more bang for your buck because of direct sales, but Polk is closer to Axiom than Bose.

Foghorn, Sorry I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, I also own some Polks that I use in a spare bedroom, sound for price wise Imo they can't compete with the Axioms.
When I compared Bose to Polk I wasn't comparing quality or sound, just the fact that are both available in most large retail stores and the consumer is paying for that.

Fair enough, HomeDad. No apology necessary.

"When I compared Bose to Polk I wasn't comparing quality or sound, just the fact that are both available in most large retail stores and the consumer is paying for that."

Agreed. I just get the impression that at Polk there is a commitment to making high quality products at an affordable price that is similar to Axiom ("If you get the best sound you can, and price it fairly, the product will sell" - as opposed to "How good does the sound have to be to sell a lot of these for a lot of profit?". The way they market/sell does put them at a disadvantage for any given product. I have helped several friends select speakers and I tell them that if they can get any of the good Polk products that are in the Axiom price range (RTi series, CSi center channel series) they should look for them on sale at about 25% off retail to find something comparable in terms of quality and price (compared to Axiom).