Today I went into a local hi-fi shop (yes, it's still 1970 in there) just to see what they had, as I had not been in that store for over 10 years. Apparently, not many others had either as most of the stuff was used - used but high-end. So I walked around, heard a few Magnapen's and some B&W Signature Series monitors, and the Paradigm Signature 8s and some giant (10 ft tall) speakers I can't recall the name of. So far, so good. They each sound good, but I’m not calling the banker for a loan. No damage, other than thinking of getting an NAD AVR to replace my Denon, because "the NAD is much better and does not have the shrill grainy sound of Denons" as the sales Dick said. Thanks a$$h@!*.

So I'm fine. Then I see a couple of little monitors in the back room. I like the cabinets, a curved job with great visual presence in a high gloss finished natural maple, so I check it out. Then Sir DipS&!%$ turns them on...so I sit in the crappy room with speakers everywhere to hear Dire Straits "You and Your Friends" for the 1,000th time, because a I had 10 minutes to kill. Besides, monitors suck, I'm safe.

Then the damn thing bit me...the bug. These little bastards made an image (in a crappy room) that blew my mind. Knopfler's voice was so clear and distinct from the guitars that I kept looking for a third speaker. I don't want new speakers, I want a new AVR and a projector not these damn half-pint monitors - I don't like monitors. But they sound soooooo gooooooood it hurts. And they are some locally made speaker with a name I can’t even find on the internet or recall with clarity (I saw it upside down and backwards).

I keep telling myself it was the $30,000 rack of transports, DACs, Cables and tube amps that made it so great, not the potentially affordable speakers. I'm screwed...I want new speakers now.

Someone help me, I'm being sucked down. DipS^!+ said they are "very revealing, fast, accurate, and will show flaws in recordings". Crap, I have heard that line before, but where???? Just don't tell me the Axioms sound like that - I don't want new speakers!
But I must have the precious...

Zimm, I'm sorry that I'm drawing a blank, but do you already have Axioms?

QS8's only. I am was fine with PSB 5T towers.

Axioms sound just like that. Ditch the PSB's and be assimilated.

What the drunk squirrel said.

I've sat down in my crappy room with stereo only and had to get up to make sure the center wasn't on. Is that what you want?

Look for an Axiom audition, they might just surprise ya

My question is, why aren't his PSBs doing this? My 15 year old, $350, Sony two-way towers make me check to see if I'm in ProLogic making the center channel play or it if is just the phantom imaging.

No, not like that. My PSBs have a great image in general terms, and I have listened to many speakers in many price ranges. I often can't recall if my center is one, and the band is wide, and instruments detailed and distinct. I am familiar with that. I don't know how to explain, but this was just a very different experience. Reminded me of my experience with Wilson Watt Puppies (I think?) and a truck load of Krell amps. Just a level of immersion that is not the norm. It had to be the DACs and Tube Amps and...stuff, right?

The Dire Straits albums could sound good on tin cans with strings on them. Try it on yours before you go nuts.

I wish that was it. I have listed to that song many many times on many systems. If it was unfamiliar stuff I would agree, and just run to get the CD. But I knew this material well - and it was on CD, not DVD-A or SACD. Had to be the DAC 'n stuff (technical term).