I wasn't suggesting that you didn't hear what you say you heard. I'm just saying that it may very well be something other than the speaker creating the issue you had. That's all.

With that budget, and if you decide on Axioms, would suggest the following...

M60ti mains
VP150 center or a pair of M2i's to pull center duty
QS8 surrounds
Hsu VTF-3 MKII sub
Rotel RSP-1068 processor
Rotel RB-1075 amp

That fits under your budget and would be mind blowing.