I've heard the Axioms and the Ascends, and I bought the Epos ELS-3s. I agree with Plinko that the Axioms were bright, but I found the Ascends to be just a little too laid back. The Epos (also a metal tweeter) were just right to my ears. I have a tube preamp, so that makes a difference too, compared to all SS gear.
Are any of them "better than speakers costing three times as much"? You can always find a much more expensive speaker that doesn't sound as good as what you have, so I think those kinds of comparisons are meaningless. At ~$300/pair, all of them are a good value, and I think the Epos is a great value. If you spend more money, you can get a better speaker. Decide on your budget, listen to some speakers, and enjoy the music!
David
Are any of them "better than speakers costing three times as much"? You can always find a much more expensive speaker that doesn't sound as good as what you have, so I think those kinds of comparisons are meaningless. At ~$300/pair, all of them are a good value, and I think the Epos is a great value. If you spend more money, you can get a better speaker. Decide on your budget, listen to some speakers, and enjoy the music!
David