darbo, I have the same setup you do minus the VP180, which wasn't out when I got my VP150 about 4 years ago. Axiom speakers are indeed the real deal. They will faithfully reproduce whatever you throw at them, so feed them well.

The EP500 rocks my small-to-middle sized HT (~1700 cubic feet). I can only turn it up about 20 or 30 % of max power before it feels like I'm riding in somebody's thumping low rider.

Relax and enjoy.

Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.