hmmm...interesting. I have to confess I will be making this big investment without ever actually hearing these speakers first, which I realize may be a mistake. Axiom's 30 day policy is one of the reasons I chose them though, among the many other reasons. Really all I'm used to hearing are TV speakers and cheap PC speakers and a few HTIBs, so I have little knowledge of how much a sub can produce compared to certain fronts. I think I may start with the 5.0, then if I get no complaints for a couple weeks, I'll just add the sub then and THEN wait for the complaints hehe. Thanks.