Has anyone comp. Epos and Axioms? Other suggestion

Ascend Acoustics is a great buy in this price range and possibly the only >$1K speakers that feature SEAS tweeters. The 170SE monitor is ~$350.

For a good cheap surround amp the Panasonic XR series digital switching amps have great performance in the under $200 price group. I just pick up a used Panny XR25 off craigslist for a bedroom system and have been impressed.

Arni

I have tried the following combinations:

EPOS 11 with an Onkyo 434 HT receiver - very good match

EPOS ELS 3 with Onkyo 434 HT receiver, Harman Kardon 3370 receiver;
Marantz 2240 vintage receiver - good match

NHT SB2 with Outlaw RR2150 receiver; Marantz 2240 vintage receiver; and
NAD C320BEE amplifier - superb match

Wharfedale Diamond 9.2 with Outlaw RR2150 receiver - very good match

Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 with Onkyo 434 receiver and Marantz 2240 vintage
receiver - very good match

Omega Super 3 with NAD C320BEE; Outlaw RR2150 receiver; Marantz 2240
receiver - poor match

B&W 302 with Onkyo 434 HT receiver, Harman Kardon 3370 receiver; Marantz
2240 vintage receiver - poor match

I would look at the new NHT Classic 2 and Wharfedale Diamonds 9.1 or 9.2
for starters. They will grow with an improved amplifier/receiver ... even
tubes.

The NHT and Wharfedale lines offer a matched center channel.

If he wants to go with a new HT receiver, the Onkyo offerings are very solid
performers. Sensible Sound did a favorable review of several of them a few
months back. The Yamaha 657 also received excellent reviews.

Regards, Rich

Thank you Saki70 and Eldarado, that takes the Axioms of the list. I have never heard them.. so it would have been a shot in the dark anyway. But in the meantime I came up with PSB Image series (B15 or B25 and C40)... good reviews but then again, the question is how they respond to Sony receiver....

I don't know the specs for the Epos but, the Axioms would not be a good match for his Sony.

I have owned Axiom M60's with an Onkyo receiver , the speakers were terrible for music . Quite revealing shall we say . They are ok for HT . I have heard the Epo's , a small stand mount , with a NAD receiver . They were not bad at all . I will probably get a pair for my HT set-up .
Axiom used to have a money back trial period . They also had used and blem products on their web site for sale .
For the price , I would go for the Epos .
Another inexpensive option would be Soliloquy . The company is in limbo , I believe , but it is quite a nice speaker and hard to beat in that price range .
Just my 2 cents worth .
Good luck .