RMAF 2016................Boenicke W5

My reaction was the same as Mapman’s...I can’t believe we’ve gotten to the point, even here on AG, where $3600 for speakers this size is now considered paltry. If one lights their cigars with $100 bills or is the leader of an OPEC country, $3600 is probably lunch money but it still seems like a healthy amount of money to me.

Gawdbless, specifically which brands and models of speakers that cost many times more than these at $3600 did you feel were not in the same league? To me, "many times more" has to mean a multiple of at least 3x, which means you’re talking about $11,000 speakers at minimum not being in the same league and it would help to know what these reference points are for you.

Agree, $3600 is not a "paltry" sum of money. 

Most of the systems I listened to were bright, edgy, and forward; whether due to the room, speakers or electronics I couldn't say. 

Sounds like a "passive brag"! The guy probably just accepted a Golden Parachute deal from his employer and now jet sets around the world listening to overprice audiophile gear. 🤑✈️🍾

They look like very nice speakers for the size. But perhaps the most expensive that size I know of. Certainly not paltry. Sounds like marketing. I’d have to have a very small room to consider anything that size. Maybe with subs. Or for low level listening only. But lots of competition at that price.  Can't find any frequency response specs. 

In in general the trend is for most vendors to offer smaller speakers for higher price than in past. It’s easy for speakers to sound good when they simply punt on the low end. That is where the work is involved to reproduce well and costs are expected to be greater accordingly.

The list below is a list of speakers who I think (to my ears) the W5 sounded better on the day at RMAF..........
Classic Audio Speakers not sure of the price around $16000?
The Sony speakers $27,000 a pair.
Vos Loudspeakers $135,000 Oh lordy..........
JBL's $90000 (ear bleed).........
Austin Acoustic SP-3R $348,000 OMG!!!
Happy Mr Gator?

Mapman- I don't know why you could not find the specs, just google 'Boenicke'.................The standard version is tuned to 65Hz, and the SE version to 50hz, although you would not have thought so by the depth of sound they play.
Check out the youtube clip with headphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9owcgCitemA

Paltry price? Indeed, compared to the above in purely Hi Fi sound v price terms.

I was glad to see this year rooms with complete systems, starting at $250/$500'$1000/$2500.