Building the Audio Note Kit 1 SET amp...

Smctigue1,
Hi, some may feel as you do as well. Once I've live with an amp or any component you know its sound and character quite
well. Playing familiar music and comparing it to what you heard previously(in the same system) has been very effective and truthful for me. Rebbi is hearing so much more that having the Manley there side by side won't change the outcome IMO.

I have done comparisons using both methods(direct and recent memory) and either is effective. I understand if it's different for you.
Charles,

Test pilot,
I think the direct discount is factored in the price. I believe this speaker would be more money via the typical dealer network approach. For 3K you're getting an exceptional speaker just as Brownsfan described.

Smctigue,
I don't take your skepticism at all personally but I wanted to comment on your post.
I've drawn most of my observations based upon music that I've listened to over and over again. I had the Shrimp and Mahi's in my system (and was quite happy with them) for the better part of 4 years, if memory serves, and during that time, I became very accustomed to how they played my favorite music. I mean, if I had a dollar for every time I played "Chan Chan" from Buena Vista Social Club and "All I Wanna Do" from Sheryl Crow's Greatest Hits... well, I'd be able to afford the Coincident Triumph Extreme Mk II's.

:-P

So, when you plug a new amp into the system, and suddenly it's, "Wow, I've never heard that before," it's a pretty good indicator that something is very different and that new information has been revealed.

Just saying.

Rebbi,
LOL! You must have posted a few seconds after me, We made the same point. Your method is fine believe me.

Reb,

One thing worth noting is that often when a significant change is made we focus on what we hear that we did not before. how about what we heard before that we no longer hear? I suspect that once one hits a certain level of sound performance the differences may be largely what is emphasized now whereas other things were before.

Just something worth thinking about.

Regarding Coincident speakers, I will say that most of what I read about their design and specs comes from teh vendor, not an independant source doing measurements, etc. So that is another fact worth considering that in the end may or may not mean anything.

In the end, after considering all the facts, you just have to go with your gut on these things and make a call.

Its likely going to sound really good no matter what at this point.