Help with speaker choice

I currently own an Onkyo 805 receiver and some 5 year old Onkyo speakers from an HTIB. I am looking to upgrade my speakers. I am considering either Paradigm Monitor 7's or Axiom M60ti's. I can go listen to the Pardigms, but can only order the Axiom's online and it's going to cost some $ to ship them back if I don't like them. Anyone have any preferences or recommendations? This will be about 98% movies, and 2% music. I will be replacing the fronts and center first, and then the surrounds and sub at a future date. Thanks!

I have read good things about the M60's...I have heard INCREDIBLE sound from the Monitor 7's.

Having no way to test the Axioms might be a kick in the rear but I am near certain that you will be excited about what Paradigm has to offer.

Paradigms are amazing quality for a reasonable price

Plan on matching which ever speakers you get with the same series of speakers for surrounds and subwoofer, sub not as important for timber matching.
A different speaker can degrade the sound quality of your high quality speakers.

If your room isn't too big you could go with smaller speakers and get the fronts, center and surrounds at the same time and work on the sub later. But if you use your speakers mostly for movies like I do you will want good bass

A good setup for pardigms would be
fronts- titan monitors
surrounds- mini monitors
center- cc190

or for a smaller room
fronts-mini monitors
surrounds-atom monitors
center-cc190

these setups would probably cost the same (new) as monitor 7s and a center to match

I can't say enough good things about Paradigm speakers.

Why do you think it will be difficult? The Denon 987 would severly struggle in a large room powering 7 4 ohm speakers to reference levels, while the 805 would stroll along without a hiccup. There's a lot to be said for beefy power supplies, large capacitors, and huge heat sinks. Heat kills electronics, and something as light as the 987 could not and would not stand up to a 51lb. AVR in terms of reference level play.

I owned the 3805 - probably the best of it's class in it's day. It was an average sounding AVR. It didn't compare to separates, and didn't have the power to really push demanding towers in a large room. The 987 and 2807's amp stage are a few steps down from the 3805 and 3806, so I'm doubtful they could compare. On the plus side, you can always hook up an outboard surround amp.

I can't say enough good things about Paradigm speakers.

agreed

Why do you think it will be difficult? The Denon 987 would severly struggle in a large room powering 7 4 ohm speakers to reference levels, while the 805 would stroll along without a hiccup. There's a lot to be said for beefy power supplies, large capacitors, and huge heat sinks. Heat kills electronics, and something as light as the 987 could not and would not stand up to a 51lb. AVR in terms of reference level play.

I owned the 3805 - probably the best of it's class in it's day. It was an average sounding AVR. It didn't compare to separates, and didn't have the power to really push demanding towers in a large room. The 987 and 2807's amp stage are a few steps down from the 3805 and 3806, so I'm doubtful they could compare. On the plus side, you can always hook up an outboard surround amp.

err...and then?

If the place carries Paradigms, see if they carry either KEF's of Focal's.
Both BLEW away the competition from my listening session/purchase a few weeks ago.
I went in to try out the Paradigms exclusively because of the reports and the guy went ahead and had me listen to all of the bookies he carried.
I will now call them Pair of dims after that round!!

If the place carries Paradigms, see if they carry either KEF's of Focal's.
Both BLEW away the competition from my listening session/purchase a few weeks ago.
I went in to try out the Paradigms exclusively because of the reports and the guy went ahead and had me listen to all of the bookies he carried.
I will now call them Pair of dims after that round!!I can attest to Focal's great sound. I listened to the 918s next to a pair of higher end Polk Audio and the PA sounded like they were still in the box compared to the Focal.

Im also looking for a set of speakers plus subwoofer, but not sure what to buy.... I just bought a Harmon Kardon receiver as an upgrade over my $300 surround sound system that was receiver and speakers i used to have. I dont have the money yet to go all out, so im looking for a speaker system that sounds decent for now, to go along with my receiver.... also this will be for a very small room (for about a year). Any suggestions?

Take the time saving up some bucks and TEST, TEST, TEST every speaker you can find until your satisfied with one, then buy.
You'll end up spending way more than needed playing a upgrade game and begin to teach your brain to not accept what you've done and put yourself into the Audiopile game.

Trust me on this one, it happens too often.

Take the time saving up some bucks and TEST, TEST, TEST every speaker you can find until your satisfied with one, then buy.

That's the best advice yet especially since there are so many excellent brands of speakers available today. Make sure to take a CD with you that you are very familiar with so you can hear the subtle and not so subtle differences in the speakers. Then choose what you prefer.