Hello--
I've been comparing main bookshelf speakers and I'm looking for affordable speakers in the $400 range and lower. I've heard Paradigm and B&W and liked those.

Then I came across these Axiom M3ti. How do these compare?
I am by no means an audiophile, but if the Axioms are close in sound to the Paradigm or B&W, the price can't be beat.

Thanks in advance.

I would suggest that you just go ahead and buy the M3's. You've got 30 days to return them, no questions asked. They are pretty small, so if you decide you don't like them after all, then you won't be out too much in shipping costs.

The M3's are a fantastic deal. I have a pair of M40'sm which is basically the M3s with a bigger cabinet. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Well, whatever you choose - good luck!

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.

The more I own the M3ti's and compare them to the M22ti's, the less I like them, but they are still great speakers for the size and price.

I compared them to lower end B&W and the M3's blew them out of the water. Only a pair of 900$ B&W's beat them (the 602's). That's twice the price. And even then, the Axiom tweeter gave a better sound.

I found they also beat the Paradigm bookshelves, the Atom and Titan, extremely easily.

I would love to compare them to Totem Mite's, even though the Mites are 200$/pair more expensive. I have heard the Totem's on their own, and I really liked their sound. I also heard some of their towers, they are really great speakers, but very expensive and very hard to power. Axioms are far more efficient.

Axiom has something to offer that everyone looks for and most have a hard time believing when they find it, that being "A great quality high-end speaker at an even greater price !" I know, because I own a bunch of them.. My friends know, because they come over, listen, and then won't leave ! hahaa..
Axiom offers something for everyones budget.. You really can't go wrong.. About the only negative thing I've read is some wish they had bought the next size up..
I love mine.. I bought the biggest I could afford, I have not looked back once.. They are everything I was promised they would be..
Go with Axioms, you won't be sorry you did.. But don't expect a small box to sound like a big box.. You want a bigger sound, poney up.. If you want to make smaller cabinets sound more complete, add a sub..
This is one of the easiest decisions you will ever make, because for the money, they can't be beat.. And you would have to spend wayyyyyyy more to move up to anything better..

MIKEY is right, these are real tough to beat for the price. If you can afford 3000$ for a pair of speakers, yes you will likely get something better sounding than the top Axiom speakers. However, try finding speakers for 430$ Canadian that sound better than the M3ti. It's not that easy. It's best competitors are fellow Axiom speakers, in my experience.

Personally I am opting towards the M2i, because of tonal accuracy, and detail, at least from what I've read in the reviews. I will be getting a sub so low end isn't that much of an issue. The guys here seem to love SVS subs, but I want to hear Athena AS-P400 which won the 2002 Soundstage Reviewers choice award for subwoofers.

How much can you get the Athena for, and do you know where one could audition it in Montreal?

Athena is another Canadian speaker company, based in Toronto. You can go to http://www.athenaspeakers.com to find a retail outlet. They list for $400.00 USD.

Patchwork,

Athena is carried by Future Shop and, if I'm not mistaken, DuMoulin/Audiotronic as well. You should have no trouble finding a dealer for an audition.