Price Paid:  $800.00 from Used

Summary:
Very well designed and built speaker, very inert cabinet. The best imaging and center staging that I have heard from any speaker. I also own Dunlavy IV and Dunlavy CC-2 and the Sapphires image better. I have upgraded all capacitors with MIT and Solen caps in the Sapphires and they sound much smoother, have a quieter noise floor, and are more are more dynamic. The Solen cap is so big it will not fit in the cabinet. You need stands for the Sapphires and placement is critical. See more at www.audiotweaks.com I also own their dipolar surround speakers. Both speakers are about the best you can get for the money.

Strengths:
Small, near field and high quality monitors such as the Sapphires will give some of the best imaging and center staging that you can get.

Weaknesses:
Very little bass, a sub is a must.

Similar Products Used:
Dunlavy IV, Dunlavy CC-2, Theil 2.3, Theil 3.6

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from ACI

Summary:
Very nice, if looking for a great monitor, this is an excellent choice. For the price, these are really well made. Rap on the cabinet, almost dead. Biampable as well. ACI makes great stuff. I'm a panel guy, but for box speakers these are among the better I've heard.

Strengths:
almost no cabinet resonance, accuracy, neutralness, no boxiness whatsoever.

Weaknesses:
Bass, some compression at higher levels

Similar Products Used:
Magnepans, Martin Logan