In reply to:
This is not always so in the real world with limited dollars to spend.
Actually with a fixed audio budget, HT HURTS Axiom, not helps them.
Why? Because HT receivers are more expensive than stereo. With a fixed budget the customer must spend more on the receiver, leaving less money for speakers. Axiom makes less.
If you exclude the receiver and say fixed budget for speakers only, then Axiom again makes the same or less money. If you spend $x on Axiom stereo speakers, Axiom gets ALL that. If you spend $x on HT, this exposes Axiom to 3rd party subwoofer purchases, not a factor for 2-ch stereo.
Even if they buy 100% Axiom for both stereo and HT speaker configs, with a fixed budget Axiom gets the SAME $, not less.
What about being pressured to upgrade to better speakers? Same pressure exists for both stereo and HT speakers.
Embracing HT helps Axiom only in that it's a major trend and otherwise the customer base wanting HT (which is a big %) would go elsewhere.
