Tmsorosk, you won't get any flack from me. While I have been hooked on the Alon/Nola sound ever since I auditioned the original I's and II's back in the early 90's, I realize their cost to performance ratio is nowhere near what it used to be. And While I would not spend the money for them new, they are extremely hard to beat for performance on the used market.
For example, a pair of used references for about $6K will knock the socks off anything close to it in price, new or used. Another example, I bought my Viper IIa's for $1,200 off the 'gon a year ago, and if there is something out there for $1,200 that can top them, I haven't heard them.