My main music tastes lean towards Rock on the harder side. My wife say's I'm a 36 year old metal head but I don't think the stuff I listen to is that hard! I do however have 2 young daughters who like the funky side of things. I don't mind it when they listen to it as it gives my SVS a chance to show what it can do!

As for ratio of movies to music. I can honestly say it's about 70/30 with the high side going to movies.

It's funny that you and almost everybody else seem to really like the 60's. I would love to hear them side by side but the wife will kill me if I order the 60's and have the 80's still sitting here. Have you ever heard the 50's by chance?

I'm proud to have guessed your ratio correctly. Yes. Many do favor the M60s. That's what pulled me to them. This forum. Otherwise I'd have a pair of M80s myself. But I was mostly turned from them from a power/room size standpoint (which you seem to lack in neither).
I've never heard the 50s...but from what I've read on the forums they make a better rock music speaker. Perhaps the 50s are a good fit afterall. How much volume they produce, I'm not sure. But as far as style to perfomance they'd fit really well. I'm sure they'd do great for movies as well.
So, I suppose for you musical taste I'd go for 50s. For movies...I'm sure you'd notice a difference, but how much is uncertain. You'd lose some low end, and certainly the high end (one less tweeter per speaker)...I guess you just won't know till you try it. Hopefully somewhere out here in the great Axiom forum is a M50 user waiting to give you his thoughts...
Good luck!

I have been searching the forums for stuff on the 50's and it all seems to be rather positive. I also found a few post's from folks who are thinking like me, the 80's didn't do it and the 50's did it. Perhaps the lack of a dedicated mid-range? Maybe I don't like mid-range? Who knows but I'm leaning towards the 50's. If I like them, I will ditch my 22's and add another set of 50's in the back. I'm one of those people that in a perfect world (and money was no object) I would run all the same speakers. Everyone would be identical. 50's for the front, back etc.

I have a good buddy of mine who runs all Monitor Audio Silver 5i's for all 5 channels and it sounds amazing.

I think the most simple, sure solution would be to get yourself a pair of mains that would blend well with the rest of your Axiom set-up (assuming you're happy with the other speakers). I have M60s and have found that some rock recordings sound good and others don't. Maybe the M50s would do it for you. The Monitor Audios would be better (more forgiving) than the M60s on those bad recordings. They may also blend well with the Axioms though I have yet to verify that with my little Bronze 2s. If you send me a dollar, I'll bring 'em downstairs for a listen and let you know. JK
BTW, GoodGuys was willing to sell me MA Silver 8s for $1250 with no payments, no interest for a year. Not too bad, though I decided to stick with my M60s.

I cannot say I have ever heard a really strong sounding modern/hard rock CD or DVD-Audio. I own the Linkin Park, Staind, and Disturbd DVD-Audios, they really sound poor compared to all of my other DVD-A's. It has nothing to do with my system, but everything to do with the recording. There is usually just too much going on in the music to really appreciate the sound. Have you tried any Jazz or Accoustic rock selections to compare with? I love the sound of the Jack Johnson albums. They have simple, clean guitar and vocals, yet powerful bass.

I learned with my Axioms, just as I did with my HDTV, that when you have revealing equipment, you realize that many products are not well mastered/transferred.

That's because the bands don't sound good! Nyuk nyuk nyuk...

you beat me to it!

Check out Dio's DVD Evil or Divine. It's one of the better sounding ones I have heard. It's not the EAGLES but it's not bad.

Oh yeah, about the speakers. I have a set of 50's on order. Wife is going to lose it but I'm going to sit them side by side with the 80's and see what gives.

Never, once you get the 50's, is it at all possible to take both pairs over to your buddy's and do a comparo with his Silver 5i's? It would be awesome to hear your thoughts on the differences in sound between the 3. Plus, you may gain a new appreciation for the 80's hearing them in a new environment.