I compared the M3s with PSB 2b, Paradigm Mini Monitors, Reference 20, and several others. They were much more precise than the Minis and compared very well with the Reference 20s. I thought that the Reference 20s were beautiful to listen to and to look at (with the optional veneer) but the Axioms were much less than half the money at the time. I bought them a little over a year ago and haven't regretted my decision once.