Quote Originally Posted by RGA
for $14k people should not have to fiddle with after market crossovers - charge $16k and get ti right....

...if it was between the two I'd take the Cremona as well.

...The OTO PP is something like $2k and the CDP $2500 - the front end driving the Magnepan was well over $15k. Factoring in the front end costs the Quad looks even better.
I think the bass integration is really the problem for panels. Panel bass drivers are just not feasible in most homes. The same argument can be made for horn-based bass drivers. While I'm sure there are fans who have the room and funds for this kind of setup, it does not work for most folks. I think technologically, there needs to be another solution, & one that doesn't cost in the tens of thousands.

That is also why I brought the digital switching amps into the discussion. With hard-to-drive speakers, you need monster amps, especially if you want to do tubes. So there too, a better technology is needed. John Ulrich, Paul McGowan, and the folks at Rowland seem to think that digital is the only real solution, there. Now granted, this isn't always a good synergy. In my own experience (mostly with inexpensive gear - hey, I'm not made of money either), it's been extremely difficult to find speakers that gel well with my PS Audio and Spectron amps. With my other solid state amps, it was much easier.

Anyhow, I'm just wondering why there aren't more people who use digital switching amps with panels. I know it takes some trial and error to get the right match, but after a few auditions, there should be something that works for these kinds of speakers. My experience with panels is still limited, but I am very curious and will continue to audition panel speakers that come my way. Maybe I will find that one speaker to hold onto for life.