Price Paid:  $225.00 from AudioAllies.com

Summary:
I was looking for a very high quality, high performance small speaker, and like most people, I wanted it for a reasonable price. Well, these ADS speakers may not be the cheapest small speaker you can buy, but considering the engineering, build quality and performance, I think they are a very good value.

I drive them with a Pioneer VSX-55TXi receiver in a 5.1 channel set-up. (three HT400LCR's accross the front) Most use is with 2-channel CD's via Dolby Pro Logic II Music mode, but they do also see quite a bit of use with video. (sat TV and DVD)

I would characterize their performance as accurate. They are not a speaker designed to sound one way or another, or to work best with one kind of music or another. They are simply designed to faithfully reproduce what is fed into them. And they do this very well. In fact, they are rated +/- only 2 dB from 100 - 20000 Hz! So any serious deviations from neutrality you are likely to hear, you can blame on the room or something else; not the ADS HT400LCR's!

Of course, low bass is rolled off. These are quite compact speakers, after all. But if carefully placed near room boundaries, their acoustic suspension design will surprise you with their smooth, usable bass down to about 50Hz. But still, they are best used with a good sub or two. This will let you "have it all": Outstanding imaging AND solid, deep bass. I highly recommend these speakers to anyone who wants better than average quality and performance in a small package with an affordable price.

Strengths:
imaging precision and three-dimensionality, and smooth frequency response.

Weaknesses:
no deep bass.
limited ultimate output capability

Similar Products Used:
B&W 703's,
klipschorns,
klipsch cornwalls,
ESS amt-1b's,
"New" Advents
Bose 901 Series IV's

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Online Retailer

Summary:
Priced per speaker. I purchased these speakers strictly for home theater use, so I can't provide too much input on their musical capabilities. I used the Star Wars Trilogy DVD's as a reference for my review. The mids and highs on these speakers are simply astounding. You can hear every bit of detail in the dialog and soundtrack. The mid-bass is tight and precise, but they are lacking in the lower bass. You will need a subwoofer, but then again, every home theater should have a subwoofer. The speakers have a high frequency boost switch which boosts the high frequency band 3dB from 2kHz to 20kHz. I rarely use this as they are perfect with the flat setting. The THX intro to the Star Wars DVD is incredible. When the globe breaks into glass, it sounds like there is actual glass hitting the floor. Phenominal! Sometimes you have to look around the room to make sure no one else is in there with you. If you plan on wall mounting these speakers, they are probably not for you. Even thought they are only 16 inches tall, they weigh in at just a tick under 40lbs each so it may be difficult to find brackets to hold them. Speaker stands will be your best bet.

Strengths:
Clean, crisp, and precise highs and mids. Stunning detail. Excellent soundstage for movies. Nice looking speakers!

Weaknesses:
Pricey
Lacking in the low bass department. Subwoofer will be required.
Too heavy to mount on walls...may be a weakness to some, not to me.

Similar Products Used:
PSB, Energy, Klipsh