nick, I would rate them as a solid product. Not quite the umph of 901's but still pretty nice speaker. $175 might be a bit large, but if you could talk them down they might be worth it. And the direct reflecting idea really needs to be adhered to, they must be hung about 18 inches from every surface-top, side, bottom, rear. I used to have my 301's hung exactly as they recommend in the living room of a standard southern style open plan house. The sound filled up the entire house with crisp, non bass thumpy music.