This speakers is flawed in the areas that in my opinion are the most vital in accurately delivering the music:
1.they sound" boxy"...staging and imaging were almost non-existant.
2 inner detail and the all important midrange detail were smeared
3. Leading edge transients were very dull or just simply not there!
4.the overall sound of the music presentation was slooooow
Now having said all of the above I will tell you that I spent 4plus hrs. trying different tube combinations in the amps(mono blocks)and pre-amp to see if that could help...and it did.HOWEVER still nothing that came close enough to "real "or "accurate" reproduction. To be honest the best thing about this speaker is it's LOOKS...IT GOT CREAMED BY the Gallo CL-3($3000)!

Natural, dynamic, transparent, holographic and harmonically rich and full-bodied presentation. Lot's of "presence".

Need some serious muscle to sound their best, however they will work great with moderately powered tube amps (great match with Berning ZH-270).

Amazing speakers! A very balanced, REFINED and NATURAL sound, transparent and gorgeously three-dimensional. Great extension on both frequency extremes (the bass goes much lower and has much more of an impact than one could expect from a single 10” woofer). I liked the original GAP 520-X, but the evolutionary changes implemented in the 828’s resulted in an even more refined and sophisticated sound. The changes made to the cabinet and crossover are evident throughout the whole frequency range, but are particularly evident in the bass which is now even tighter and more “alive” and in the treble, which is now luxuriously smooth and polished, at the same time offering a plethora of details and nuances that is simply breathtaking. I think this is the best implementation of the famous Dynaudio Esotar tweeter I’ve heard to date (and I’m very familiar with Sonus Faber Extremas, VSM’s and the mighty Andra II's). Compared to the old GAPs, everything right now seems to be perfectly coherent, more relaxed and easy flowing, simply more "real". Interestingly, I prefer the GAP’s to Gershman’s top of the line Opera Sauvage. The Operas are good, but they just don’t have quite as open, box free and naturally flowing sound as the GAP’s. The 828 are really something special.

Similar Products Used:

Eggleston Andra II, Merlin VSM, Verity Parsifal Encore and many others. I particularly liked the Parsifals, however compared to the GAPs, they don't have the same lifelike presence and dynamics.