my current rig as of 1\/2011 : - fluance sxhtb + - jbl es250pbk 400-watt high-powered 12-inch subwoofer - Harman Kardon AVR 2600 Receiver - PlayStation 3 use 1.4 a hdmus cable from Amazon on Linear PCM setting -lrb- not MonsterRipOffs -rrb- I go from Infinity TSS-750 series satellite speaker to these Fluance speaker , and I have to say , they be simply amazing . I can not really compare to any other bookshelf speaker , only satellite speaker . however , I have hear speaker like these in the store and frankly , I could not tell you the difference between these and Polk audio . as for shipping , Fluance be a smaller company and you can only buy the speaker from they , so I be expect a long wait time . ship from Canada -lrb- I assume , since they be base there -rrb- , my speaker be there by the end of the week after order on a Monday . I consider that to be speedy delivery . before order though , I do have to wait for several month because they be out of stock , but I be not ready to buy then anyway . what be include be two bookshelf speaker , a center , and two rear\/sides -lrb- whichever you prefer -rrb- . on Fluance 's website , you can order two more speaker for complete 7.1 audio for $ 39.99 a speaker . the picture do not do they justice . I be go to actually paint the speaker black , as I hate `` wood '' look furniture , but these be a bit darker than the picture advertise they to be . they actually blend pretty well with darker furniture . this come from my wife as well , who do not want to buy these just because she hate the wood look . but she instantly like the darker color they arrive in . set these sucker up be a little new to I . again , I never have bookshelf speaker before , so I do not know I need to have two wire per speaker , but I guess I should have figure that out . after I get they setup , my receiver do all the work as far as configure they , with I tweaking they a bit . now , I buy the subwoofer mention above at the exact same time . that sucker be huge , and pack a nice punch . but after the first day , I turn it off so I could play game at night , and really , I have not use the subwoofer hardly since . my blu-ray and game manage to boom at the appropriate moment , without the subwoofer . often time , I feel like I be use my old subwoofer for bass , just from the speaker . they be not go to rattle window , and tear down the roof , but they be great if you do not want to be too loud because of neighbors\/sleeping wife . the price , the quality , and the look be perfect . if someone break in my house and rob I blind , I would not think twice about buy these again . at $ 299 -lrb- plus about $ 80 shipping -rrb- , these really feel like a steal . everyone that have hear they have be greatly impressed , and I feel if you be plan on get a Polk audio set , consider Fluance as a superior product than they since they sound the exact same and cost way less .