jumping in very late to this discussion.

First: I love Soundlabs as well. A friend has U1's with PX technology. An amazing speaker I would love to own, but too large for me and my significant other, (who hated the Crosby/Quad 63's I used to own due to their size.)

The other thing I wanted to mention is that a number of times a year a friend has a great bluegrass jam in his apartment, I have listened to the variety of acoustic intruments up very close (3-4 feet) and from further back, say 10-15 feet.

I do this sometimes with my eyes closed to remove the visual identification with real instruments, in an effort to imagine I am in my home listening room, and to remember the sound of the real thing.

I did notice a very similar room coloration when I was further back, similar to what I hear when further back in the room from a speaker system.

Yes they were still totally identifiable as the same instrument, but it was interesting to hear the room acoustic wreak the same havok it does with electronically reproduced music,