Two powered subs with bookshelf speakers or two floor-standing speakers?

You can make bookshelf speakers with subs work, but it is harder to do.  Some like it if they are the type that wants way more bass than the artist put on the original recording.  I've heard one great system in this configuration using Raidho and REL, about $30k in speakers.  

Floorstanding is much easier to make sound good.

YMMV.

Jerry

it simply depends on too many factors to have an opinion on the generality

if there is a generality, it would be that well integrated subs always add to the quality of sound of most systems

in theory, you have more flexibility with bookshelf speakers and subs. In reality, it's much harder to get it right.

The easiest route is powered floorstanding speakers. But who wants it easy?