I currently have a M80/VP150/M22/EP600 ensemble on layaway, but I'm now very intriqued by
another Canadian choice:
http://www.psbspeakers.com/news/New-Imagine-Series-of-SpeakersYes, even with the typical 20% discount, the floorstanders are more than M80s, but they look sweet. So I know no one will have tried this new line, but has anyone owned other PSB products (same parent company as NAD)?
Another quality Canadian speaker company along with Paradigm that, unlike Axiom, sells through retailers, hence, they are comparatively more expensive. Other than aesthetic differences one may or may not prefer, I have mentioned in a couple of other forums that most of the Canadian speaker companies did their initial research at the National Research Council in Ottawa using their anechoic chamber(they all now have their own testing chambers on site). This was to create a sound that was as neutral and transparent as possible. Because of this, all these speakers will have a similar sound. It just boils down to your own personal preference and of course the performance/value issue. In my opinion, PSB has really nothing that will touch the M80 especially at its price point.
You won't go wrong with your choice on layaway and if you are concerned about "look' then Axiom gives you so many more choices than the others when it comes to "finish".
Sorry, I haven't done a direct comparison. But I have heard PSB's at seperate times on different systems. I have to admit that they are great speakers and were actually tied on my shopping list for top spot with Axiom, when I was looking for new speakers for my homer theater. I ended up giving the nod to Axiom for they're great value for the $$$.
beauty is only, afterall, skin deep
But such lovely skin!
If I had a LOT of extra disposable income, I would get me some skin in the form of a real wood finish. I would be tempted to get the speaker in raw wood and do an oil finish since this brings up the grain the best.
PSB's top of the line speaker has gotten some very good reviews, but its quite a step up in price from the M80, even with a custom wood finish.
I think I'm sticking with my Axiom order. A chat with Brent reminded me why so many of us are loyalists. The company and its people bend over backwards to satisfy customers. It's more than just the products. That being said, I think that Axiom's product performance and value is unmatched in floorstanders, bookshelves, and surrounds (note that I'm leaving out a couple of speaker product types here; even Axiom can't master it all!).
When are you hoping/expecting to complete the transaction and join us in total audio bliss?
I think I initiated the layaway in Jan; the timing of my order was partly to lock in the HG promo - not so much to spread out the pmts. Was and am still doing some redecorating that I thought would have me ready to pay the balance and get the products this summer. Alas, I'm still not ready. How time flies. I also had my eye on an upgrade of receiver from my Denon 3802 to the NAD T785 which my local retail shop will sell for 2400 (MSRP is 3000). HOWEVER, in conjunction w/ CEDIA, NAD has announced a T785 HD just a year after shipping the non-HD version (that's unusual for NAD). This new line may not be available until early 09; I kind of want to get all the new stuff at once, so I may go the full 12 months w/ my layaway. What can I say? I'm a patient man!
Before I purchased my Axioms I checked out some PSB Image bookshelf and tower speakers. Nice speaker, but more of a laid back sound to me and more expensive.
In the end, I preferred the detail of the M22's and with a sub it gives me the extra bass the 22's lack without them sounding muffled.
Again for the family room I was gonna go with a pair of Alpha's, but the M3's were less and after hearing them from Robb in town, the M3's were a no brainer.