<p>Quaternary hard PZT system is a class of high power piezoelectric ceramics. Pb(Sb_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃, Pb(Ni_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃, Pb(Mg_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ and Pb(Zn_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ were selected as an end member of the Pb(B, Nb)O₃-Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃ quaternary system and the influence of different end members on the crystal structure, phase transition and electrical properties was investigated comparatively. The results showed that quaternary PZT ceramics with different end member had quite different properties. Among the four kinds of ceramics, Pb(Zn_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ - Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃ ceramics had the best Fig of merit <i>d</i>_<i>33</i><i>*Q</i>_<i>m</i> and they should be very useful materials for high power applications.</p>