I think the M3 "different from Axiom" bit is a tad overdone... especially by people who haven't heard the M3s. Don't stress on it. In our M80/M50/M3 comparison (yes yes the M50 test was flawed, everyone, UNTIL WE FIXED IT), the M3s were actually more similar to the M80s than the M50s were or than they were to the M50s. The M3s and M50s are supposed to be similar.
In this instance it is not overdone, the OP is looking to the M3 to be a representative of the M80 sound, as he states he might buy M80s if he likes the M3's. I wouldn't want him to buy the M80s and then realize they are not as laid back as the M3. That recessed midrange playback the M3 has does not happen on the M80. This is not to say the M3 is a not a good speaker but it isn't as close in tonal SQ to the M80 as the M22 or M2.
