Acoustic Zen Crescendo


I'm pretty interested in these transmission-line, full-range speakers. Has anyone spent serious time with them? How do they compare to other contenders around $16K?

Unfortunately, I'd have to fly to SoCal for an audition, so I'd like to vet them as thoroughly as possible before committing the time and expense. Press has been very positive but also very limited, and user impressions are scarce on the web.

Thanks in advance,

Bill
wrm57
Seeing as there are a few Line Magnetic 508ia cognoscenti on here, I have a question regarding your 300B driver tube experience. Has anyone used one of either the Elrog 300B or the EML 300B XLS as their driver. I know they do not meet standard 300B spec, and am concerned about using them with the Line Magnetic. I just need reassurance that they will work. 
adamaley,

Roger recommended the standard EML 300B in my LM508IA and those are the ones I used as well as the Sophia 300B Mesh Plates; the EMLs are more transparent/dynamic but the Sophia's are more organic sounding and musical...

Wig
Any new Crescendo owners love to share their experience with this speaker? I'm considering upgrading to it this year. It's between these and the Coincident Total Victory Vs for me. Are the long-term owners still loving their Crescendos?
Thanks wig for the feedback. I ordered a pair of the EML XLS and should have them tomorrow.
I've had the Crescendo 2's for about 8 months and love them.  My Ayre V-5xe amp was a real mismatch - glare, over detailed harmonies and light bass.  I was scratching my head on where to look first, cables or amp (It turned out to be both).  I then home auditioned a Pass Labs XA25 (as in 25 wpc) and never looked back.  It's a terrific amp with this speaker.  Stereophile recently reviewed the XA25 and bench measurements show clipping occurs at 80 wpc @  8 Ohms and 130 wpc @ 4 Ohms.  !  Their definition of clipping is when THD + noise equals 1% distortion.  
Changing out the tonearm cable was the icing on the cake.