Price Paid:  $300.00 from JandR

Summary:
Use them as front speakers in my surround system and I couldn't be happier. If you want some bass add a sub. I have them mounted on the wall and they match our wall color pretty close (offwhite). I'm not an adiophile so I can't speak to their clarity compared to others. But they are compact for 3ways, and they sound good to me.

Strengths:
Compact size, wall mountable, affordable, sound better than anything else I've ever owned.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Technics

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Online store

Summary:
Matched with excellent Onkyo and NAD equipment that has made maggies others sing, I unfortunately found a lot of real emotion in the speakers. They sound somewhat forced and clear emphasis of certain frequencies (probably near the crossover points) exists even when mounted on isolated stands, never mind how the wall colors the sound. Excellent for the money though so good value rating, but there are clearly better products out there. Of course I'm not getting paid by JBL and my choices are n't limited, so I have an unfettered ear. I sold them 1 month later for some real speakers for the guest room. Could have relegated them to surround duty but others are smoother there as well.

Strengths:
Straightforward sound for the money.

Weaknesses:
Colorations in multiple frequency points, limit of reality in vocals.

Similar Products Used:
Aperion, NHT, Magnepan

Price Paid:  $150.00

Summary:
I can't say enough good things about this surprising speaker. Bought it to use as rears, put it on top of my front speaker to see how it sounds, and it has stayed there since! Works a treat with my Paradigm PS1000 subwoofer. Good for both HT and stereo. Articulation, rhythm and timing of music from these speakers are very clear and enjoyable. The front speakers my S36's are now sitting on are no slouch either - Dynaudio 20's which cost more than twice as much. I've owned lots of speakers, but this one is the most impressive for the money.

Strengths:
Excellent coherent sound from upper bass to the top of the freq range. Good Dynamic contrast at low and high volumes. Clear, extended, open sound with good detail and timing.

Weaknesses:
Weak bass, but then this is by design as they were designed for use as rears in a HT setup with a sub.

Similar Products Used:
In my main stereo set, I am using a pair of Apogee Calipers, Sunfire power amp and Audio Research SP9 preamp.

Price Paid:  $135.00 from Harman Audio via Eba

Summary:
Installed the AW (all-weather) version this week in my house. Chose AW (rather than black) because they are an inconspicous off-white color and blend in very well with the living room walls. Hardly noticeable. The best instructions I have ever seen with a consumer electronics item. Speakers are mounted high in a large room with 17 foot ceilings. I am using them only for straight 2-channel stereo (running them off the "B" speaker terminals of a Sony Home Theater Receiver). They fill the room well and the bass is more than adequate. These speakers are one of the best designed products that I have ever seen.

Strengths:
Exceptionally well-designed. Solid feel. Great sound and ease of installtion. They come with a template so that you will drill the hoses properly, mounting screws, wall cushion pads, and even a level.

Weaknesses:
The mounting screws, which allow the speaker to point downward at a slight angle, are just barely long enough to go through 5/8" drywall to a the wall stud. Another 1/4" would have been comforting.

Similar Products Used:
Wharfedale Emerald 93s.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I purchased a pair of JBL S26 several months ago and love them. I use the S26's with the suberb JBL s-center channel speaker. I wanted to add another pair of JBL studio speakers for the rear surround channels and the S36's seemed like a great choice. They were! They have more detail than the front S26's. They are remarkably detailed and yet natural sounding. The version that I purchased are the indoor/outdoor S36AW. They are the same as the S36 except that this version can also be used outdoors due to weather resistant cabinets. They are wall mountable and JBL supplies template, mounting screws and even a bubble level. Much of the JBL line is medicore. Their Studio Series however, is great! These speakers use the same midrange and tweeter as the costlier S38. Recently, I audtioned the S36's against the Bose 251 which had been widely regarded as the best outdoor speaker on the market. The JBL's outshined the Bose 251's in every area with ease. It wasn't even close! They were two levels better than the Bose. I strongly recommend these terrific speakers to anyone looking for what is possibly the best and most versatile speaker available.

Strengths:
Superb sound. Compact. Versatile.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Polk