Used the EPOS ESL3 with a vintage Marantz 2240 receiver and felt that they sounded boxy.
In your price range and a real winner with vintage receivers are the NHT SB1 (list $300; Audio Advisor has an open box pair for about $150). The key is that the NHTs are acoustic suspension speakers, which have a more natural sounding bass than ported speakers. I used the NHT SB2 with the Marantz and a Music Hall CD 25 cd player and the sound was excellent.
Be careful of the Axiom's as they have a fairly forward sounding treble. Have heard the same about the Athenas.
Regards, Rich
In your price range and a real winner with vintage receivers are the NHT SB1 (list $300; Audio Advisor has an open box pair for about $150). The key is that the NHTs are acoustic suspension speakers, which have a more natural sounding bass than ported speakers. I used the NHT SB2 with the Marantz and a Music Hall CD 25 cd player and the sound was excellent.
Be careful of the Axiom's as they have a fairly forward sounding treble. Have heard the same about the Athenas.
Regards, Rich