Price Paid:  $310.00 from Axiom website

Summary:
I purchased these speakers to use with Axiom M60ti mains, and an Axiom VP100 center. They are placed (as recommended by Dolby Labs) above and to the sides of the listening position. The QS4's are quadropolar speakers, with dual 4" woofers firing up and down, and dual 1" titanium teewters firing at 45 degree angles to the sides. This disperses the surround sound channels, which is how it is supposed to be. Surround channel information is supposed to form a diffuse soundfield, enveloping the listener with non directional sound. The QS4's do this very well. Though small, they are more than adequate for small to medium sized listening rooms. The QS4's come with brackets for mounting them on a wall, or they can be placed on special stands sold by Axiom. They cannot be placed on shelves, or normal stands, as this would cover up the downfiring woofer. The QS4's are also not appropriate for multi-channel music, such as DVD-Audio or SACD. The surround channel information in these formats is mixed using direct radiating speakers positioned 30 degrees behind the listener. My recommendation if you want a system for both surround sound and multi-channel audio, that you get bi/di/quad polar speakers, such as the QS4's for use as surrounds, mounted to the sides and above the listening position, and a pair of direct radiating speakers (such as Axiom M2ti's, which are my next purchase) mounted closer to ear level and behind the listening position. You will need a surround receiver or processor that has a full set of 7.1 multi-channel inputs, and plug the L and R surround outputs from your DVD-A or SACD player into the L and R rear surround inputs on your receiver/processor. The only negative is my slight regret that I didn't spend the extra $120 to get QS8's, which have larger woofers and are (reportedly) even better than the QS4's. This is what prevents me from giving them a 5 star rating overall, though they do rate 5 stars for value. My System; Onkyo TX-SR800 receiver Axiom M60ti mains Axiom VP100 center Axiom QS4 surrounds JBL Pro III rears Pioneer DV563A DVD/DVD-A/SACD Hitachi 51GWX20B RPTV

Strengths:
Ease of mounting, they look cool, and sound great.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Just a follow up to my previous review. It''s been over a week now, and I can now say that the lack of bass that I noted earlier is now, as I predicted, gone. The mids are now nice and smooth. The speakers are now mounted 60 inches from the ground, so about 30 inches above listening position. What a great surround speaker! If you want to upgrade from a HTIB system (or from a prologic system, like me), go to their website and order one pair now: their only U$310, w/ a 30 day money-back guarantee and NO SHIPPING! So you have nothing to losse by tryng them. I know that I sound like a sale rep, but their simply that GREAT!

Strengths:
as before

Weaknesses:
none for this price point and the fact that they''re bipolar surrounds

Price Paid:  $375.00 from Dumoulin

Summary:
I got those 4 days ago, and I can already say that they''r superb! It''s the best bipolar speaker I''ve ever used/listened. They completely disapear! The sound really seems to come from all over my listening room, it''s like having 4 or 5 surround speaker. The high is pretty airy and sharp, but the mid-bass is not what it could be. That could become false when I''ll break those speaker in. Or it could be the fault of the aluminum woofers (2 shooting upward and downward). I''m very impressed by those, even in the small amount of time I''ve been using them. Once again I''m amazed by the quality of their engineering: the cabinet are very well made, the sound is impressive and they cost very little:310 U$ from www.axiomaudio.com(shipping included). Another well tought, well made product from the great white country that we call home!

Strengths:
Impressive soundstage, they disapear Crisp and sharp highs

Weaknesses:
lacking in mid-bass and bass(of course, they''re surrounds...)

Similar Products Used:
sharp, jvc Listened to Athena, Paradigm, Energy and Infinity before choosing the Axiom