I agree, from someone that used to be a big fan of direct radiating speakers for surround/rears, I've done a 180 on my opinion since owning the Qs8's. I think if someone was planning on using a 5.1 or 7.1 system primarily for music listening (SACD or DVD-A) then bookshelves may be a good choice. However, the Q series also does very well for music in my opinion, and outstanding for surround applications. Again, in my opinion, I have not found another speaker manufacturer with the same design concept.
In regards to AVSforum, I spend a lot of time over there, at least I used to....I've been a member there for a couple of years and have racked up almost 1500 posts so far. As LightningJoe mentioned, there are a few sour trolls running around that like to bash Axiom every chance they can get, it is really sad. Of all the speakers talked about on AVS, I would say Axiom, B&W, and Klipsch get the worst rap, not sure why, but I can tell you most of what you read, take with a grain of salt.
I spent close to 3 months auditioning various brands:NHT, Paradigm, B&W, Infinity, and a few others. All of the auditions were done in professional home or high end dealers with custom rooms setup. It was not until I heard Axiom that I was sold. I was this >< close to getting B&W 703's for my mains since my brother inlaw is a big fan. He has since started to change his tune.
Anyway, you could check the audition thread under "Hearing Things" to see if anyone in your area is willing to let you hear these gems (Q series) or take advantage of the 30 day trial. Odds are you will not return them. You can also order from the Factory Outlet on the "Store" link above, as most of us do, this will save you 10% off the regular prices..
good luck, and hope to see ya around here more often. I'll guarantee you it is a much better group of guys. Oops, I forgot about Sonicfox, she is a gal
