Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought these speakers in 1992 when I was 16. I recall paying something like $700, big bucks for a kid in high school. I still have them as the mains in my surround system in my basement family room. I have used these continuously since I bought them and they sound as good as the day I brought them home, matter of fact they sound better since my current amp is better than the old Sony I had in 92'. My musical tastes have changed a little since I was younger, I listen to a lot of jazz on my B&W 802's in the living room, but if I want to listen to some Megadeth, or some Public Enemy, I'm in the basement on 5 channel stereo (all Cerwin Vega including sub). I don't think I will ever part with these speakers, I will be replacing them in my surround system with a B&W cm system, but I think these will wind up in my garage driven by a pair of NAD 2200 amps. If you listen to rock, or any bass heavy music, these are incredible, work well for a surround setup too.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
What can be said that hasn't been said? I am not an audiophile, I like my music LOUD. I like to experience it. After my house was broken into and my old stereo was stolen(JBL L-100's and Carver amp), I looked into all the reviews here and after finding some re38's on Craigslist I purchased them, along with an Adcom GFA 555 II.

Let me say this the music has never felt so good. BASS!!!!!! and all around crisp sound. If you don't get the cops called then you don't like it loud. My nieghbors love me.

I would recomend these to anyone who loves music, loves to listen to and feel it. I am just a music lover, and I love these.

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Private sale

Summary:
What can I say here that other people have not said? I hate to sound like an echo but these speakers are LOUD and CLEAR. Perhaps it is the 'clear' part that makes me like them so much. I have top of the line Paradigms and while the CV's are not quite the same in terms of finese, the CV's are what I find myself listening to more often. Bass is the definite strong point, both in quantity and quality and they can reach down to 20Hz easily. Mids and highs for me at least are very nice. Again, the loud and clear part makes the difference.
The CV's also have that 'wow' factor. Both when you take the grills off and people see that trademark orange-ringed woofer, and when you turn up the volume (and who does not try and impress his/her friends by blasting their stereo!?!?).
I recommend these speakers very much. You will not be disappointed in my opinion. These speakers are the American muscle car of audio speakers. Remember, you would not drive a 69" 427ci Camero in a park full of kids all the time, so do not buy these speakers unless you want performance! That means loud.

Strengths:
BASS...Lots of it, accurate, and low frequency capable
Speakers are very forgiving to abuse...go ahead, turn it up
Definite WOW factor visually, and in absolute volume (102 db 1w/1m !!)
5-way binding posts accept banana plugs/spade lugs/bare wire etc etc
Mids and highs are nice, could embarass an audiophile or 2
Solid build quality...heavy!

Weaknesses:
None really.
Be prepared to provide at least 200 watts RMS to each speaker, preferably from a high current block amp (Yamaha, NAD, Adcom, Bryston etc etc).
The speakers are heavy, but that to me denotes build quality.

Similar Products Used:
Paradigm
Energy
JBL
Infinity
Polk Audio

Price Paid:  $300.00 from ebay

Summary:
For the short time I have owned these
RE-38's, I can already understand why they get such great reviews. Awesome sound, exceptional bass, and great looking cabinets (I have the black). Who needs a surround sound system with these ?! I am driving them with a Onkyo TX-8511 which pushes 100 w/c and can handle the 4 ohms. I also invested in a set of Monster orignal speaker cables with pin connectors for the receiver ends and twist-on banana plugs for the speaker ends (well worth the extra bucks)! If you
can find a set of RE-38's out there, I highly recommend picking them up.

Strengths:
400 watt capability, great sound, awesome
bass, very nice looking cabinet, virtually
indestructable, C-V quality all around.

Weaknesses:
Only one I can see is the weight but it comes with the territory and I can live with it !

Similar Products Used:
JVC (don't laugh)

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I originally purchased these as the first upgrade to my system that I've owned for twenty something years. Problem was my old Sansui 8080 amp wasn't up to the power requirements of these speakers. Then I purchased a Yamaha seperate system and upgraded the cables to Monster high end stuff. BIG difference in the sound quality. Now they sound like what they were designed for. If you like bass withought ruining the channel seperation with a sub-woofer these are for you. They will make you heart & soul move. Some (if not most) of the newer speakers I listened to are really poor in the bass department. I still havn't figured out why some mfg.'s use 6" or 8" speakers for their bass. And these are speakers costing $2000 to $3000 a pair! The CV's with their 15" bass speakers make them what they are. On the other hand the high & mid's are a little soft in the quality dept. But one has to remember these speakers were less than $1000 for the pair. Speakers costing 2, 3 or 4 times as much sund tighter but then again they should.
I recommend these for someone wanting a very good set of speakers without the big bucks. Sure there are a lot better, but if you have a budget, these will work just fine.
Note: If you blow fuses it could be from amp distortion. Remember the speakers can only put out so many db's. So don't over tweek the volume control.
Once I upgraded my system, viola(!) no more blown fuses in the speakers.
I am giving these five stars for what they were designed for and their value.

Strengths:
Good bass, takes alot of power, great looking, strong cabinet, great for rock & roll, fuses in speakers, self resetting tweeters.

Weaknesses:
No allowance for bi-amping, fuse holder cheap, not the best for detailed music.

Similar Products Used:
Off brand junk.