On the switch thing, they had Athenas and Sonys.

I think I was mistaken. Sony's speaks were owned by the horrible Klipsch SF-1 anyday. Those things, next to the Athenas, sounded so horrible words cannot describe it.

I would go in front of the speaker I was using so it would be more of an equal comparison.

If I had to choose a mass market speaker, it'd be the Infinity Alpha 50. Compared to the rest in CC and BB, it compares very well. 'Real' companies should put their stuff in those stores IMO, so that the general public could audition them.