Some Axpona thoughts

CSMgolf are you sure having owned ten sets of Legacy speakers isn't a slight exaggeration !:-)
I spoke to Doug Brown from Legacy and they can't figure out what you were listening to unless you entered during Bill's little seminar/demos on how versatile the processor is with regard to room correction.
They were doing these throughout the show.
During demos Legacy may go from end of the spectrum to the other to demonstrate this versatility and yes without the room correction it might sound off.
I spent three days with the Aeris in Vegas and I didn't experience anything remotely close to what you described.
The four incidents were they a duck and dash?
I thought the Kings were good also but not that much better than the Aeris if at all.
What speaker were they showing for 12K?
I would urge you to talk to the guys at the next show and they'll welcome the opportunity to set you straight on the Aeris.

Tobb, here is my list.

1. Original Focus
2. Silverscreen II
3. Mist
4. Original Whisper
5. Original Marquis
6. LF Xtreme
7. Original Studio
8. Mini monitor (still have)
9. Victoria LE
10. Gallery
11. Escort
12. Classic HD
13. Focus SE
14. Empire (still own)

Looks like ten was an underestimation! :-) The number in my first post was just a guess without really taking the time to count them all.

My trips to there room were not flash and dash. I really, really wanted to be blown away and was not. I am just stating what I heard. To my ears, the Whisper XD was much better. Believe me, I don't want to bash them as they have been nothing but great to me over the years. My impression was very good, but not the game changer I've come to expect from them.

I am not sure which 12k comment you are talking about. The OP quoted the price of the Aeris as 12k when they are actually 17k. My original post may have been confusing in this regard. The Kingsound King 3 list at 12k. Those were the 12k speakers I was referring to.

I responded to this a day and a half ago and the post never showed up for whatever reason, so here it goes again. Tobb, here is the list of Legacy speakers I have owned over the years:

1. Original Focus
2. Silverscreen II
3. Mist
4. Original Whisper
5. Original Marquis
6. Gallery
7. Escort (Still own- in my work shop)
8. Original Studio
9. LF Xtreme
10. Victoria LE
11. Mini monitor (still own)
12. Classic HD
13. Focus SE
14. Empire (still own)

The number 10 was just a guess without really counting all I've owned. I guess it was an underestimation. :-)
I am not here to bash Legacy, they have treated me great and I have really enjoyed their products. My trips to their room were not duck and dash. I spent more time in that room than any other over the weekend. I never said they sounded bad, in fact they did many things very well. I was however expecting to be blown away and was not. I heard what I heard and reported it. I went back multiple times to see if the issues were resolved and they were not. The Whisper XD sounded much more coherent to me. I found the Aeris treble to be out of balance with the midrange and occasionally calling too much attention to itself. As I said in my first post, the lower midrange problem was likely a room issue and could be corrected with the processor. I would be willing to give them another listen, but could not bring myself to spend that kind of money on them based on what I heard in Chicago. I really don't feel like I need to be "set straight" about that. I trust my own ears.

As far as the 12k comments go, the OP stated that the Aeris retailed for 12k. The Aeris in fact sell for 17k as I stated. The Kingsound King III retail for 12k and they were the 12k speaker I was referring to. IMO the Kings sounded better and were 5k less to boot. This is coming from a person that has never been a big fan of panel speakers. Just remember that all of these observations were under show conditions. YMMV

CSM your last response is little different in the fact you acknowledge they were very good just not your cup of tea.
It's all about personal preference.
I spent several intimate hours with them and they are very impressive however even without the AMTs I still have a preference for the Whisper XDs, its all about the volume of air moved.It's hard to replace 4-15"drivers.
I have read what others are saying about the Aeris too but from my standpoint the pairing of the XDs with the Coda 15.0 and the 7X in a completely balanced system is my reference point.

The Aeris will however do very well for Legacy coming in 4200.00 under the Whisper XD's base.
As for the Kings it was their flagship they had in Vegas so I was curious what they were showing in Chicago when you mentioned 12K was all.

Charles,
The Alura was being driven by Quicksilver Mid-Mono blocks, EL34, 40 W per channel - really, much more power than they need. As to disappearing - if seated in the proper sweet spot, like most great speakers, they will not draw attention to themselves as the source. I know - I own a pair.
Tonality is wonderful and true - I AM biased of course.
AXPONA favorites IMHO:
Hornning in the High Water room.
Sound Lab Millenium with Clarity Cable.
Sonus Faber Aida w/ ARC in Quintessence room.
Venture Reference w/ Thrax amplification
amoung others....