RDawkins

was not included in your list of active speakers for comparison.<br /> <br /> There's no question that a pair would not turn your living room into le Louvre, but they might turn it into a place you would not want to leave - and for the same price ($4500 street), including built in tri-amplification.<br /> <br /> This is an 8" sealed 3-way (no ports) with a 3" mid dome that renders vocals like nothing else I've heard, ever. This is critically important to me as a recording engineer specializing in acoustic instruments and choir.<br /> I understand the 0410 is slightly better still, at $8500 a pair and roughly triple the power, and has been described by very particular engineers of my acquaintance as the best sounding speaker they have ever heard, and this includes all the high end pro brands such as ATC, PMC, and Westlake. I have yet to hear them - they are difficult to find - but may well buy a pair if funds permit.<br /> Once again, though, the enormous disparity between the pricing of these models and consumer hi-fi shocks me.<br /> Klein und Hummel, it should be noted, made the world's first powered studio monitor in 1967 - the OY _ and it was a three way. Here's the 0300: http://tinyurl.com/5s8j3k<br /> Here's me: http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/armenia/armenia.html

It's amazing how much more the average stereo consumer is willing to spend for looks.<br /> The SM6 Twin6 Be, a Focal pro unit aimed at the studio market, has two 6.5" drivers and the inverted dome tweeter, plus 400 watts of internal amplification - 2 X 150W (it's a 2 1/2 way) and 100 W for the tweeter and has a MSRP of £829 a piece or $2325 USD a pair. They are not as gorgeous as these, but for a studio speaker they are very good looking - and look at the difference in spec! If performance per se means anything to you, it would seem to be the proverbial no-brainer.<br /> http://www.focalprofessional.com/en/products/tween6Be.html