When I was auditioning speakers I directly compared the 2Bs, Mini-Monitors, Reference 2, and M3s. I was not keen on the Mini-Monitors (too boomy) but a good case could be made for any of the others. My decision came down to price, and at that time the Axioms were considerably less money, in fact they were cheaper than the 1Bs, so it was an easy decision. I am still impressed by their sound, and so is everyone who has been lucky enough to listen. Last night my sister-in-law was convinced that my copy of Nora Jones was very different than hers. I am a lot less affected by "upgrade-itis" than many on this board, and if I never change them I don't think that I will ever feel that I missed something. If you base your decision on which company has the best bulletin board and customer service, then I think it is still an easy choice.
