Chris,
glad your wife likes the new setup. I know how you feel when people don't really hear the difference. When I sent back my M1's for M3's my mom said 'they're the same thing...' So I put on a Diana Krall CD... and, no, it wasn't the same thing!
As for the Monster cable... I don't have lab data, but my friend has some Monster 16 ga that I find made my M3's sound tinny compared to the Pheonix Gold (no, they are not made with gold) I bought for less money. I just find Monster to be overpriced Radio Shack wire. Either way, if it sounds good to you, then congrats on your first Axiom setup, and I hope your wife likes it!
