Montana speakers?

I just offered my impressions concerning the Esotar versus the Revelator in two different designs over extended listening. I don't know what two speaker designs you are drawing your conclusions from. The execution of a particular design is every bit as important as the sum of its parts. In another design maybe the Esotar sounded as you described. The Esotar in the Merlins is well excecuted and is the only frame of reference I have. And I certainly would agree that the Merlins are not the world's best speaker it there is such a speaker for everyman. We're still waiting for that one.

I have heard the ML(s),Wilson(s),Whisper and Dunlavy(s). If room size/volume and wide/toed-in placement is possible, the Dunlavy(s) are really worth serious consideration. They also like alot of current to realize the significant potential for low detailed bass. I have heard good things about the Montana(s) and appear to be an exellent value.

Thank you, all of you, for your responses. They are helpful. Acuujim: I have carefully listend to the Talon Khorus (in the company president's home -- with a fortune in Jeff Roland electonics). And I hesitate to say this about them . . . but I feel in honesty that I must. I have seldom been so underwhelmed (and disappointed, frankly, because I like their size and look and wanted to love them)by any $10K speaker in my life. The bottom end was tight and completely in control. But the midrange and high end left much to be desired. No sound stage. No dynamics. No detailed low level information. No life. Not music. I'd readily choose even the ReQuest, and especially the Dunlavy V or Wilson WP6 over the Talon. In fact, but for the bass, I'd choose either of the 2 top models of RBH speakers over the Talon and they sell for around $3K and $2K respectively. So, if that is my take on the Khorus, where does that put Montana's speakers? Carl: I would like to hear the Pipedreams and plan to this year at CES. Are you building some like them? Is it possible to build something like their $80K models for around $10K? Tubegroover: I've not heard the Merlins. Nor anything from Coincident, which I have the impression sound somewhat like them (is that true?). Brauser: Do I understand that you prefer the Dunlavy to either the ML, Wilson or Whisper? Can you elaborate? Catman: Have you heard the larger SoundLab speakers, such as the A1 or M1, or the Ultimate? Would you prefer them to your Monties?

Bookner, the midwoofers in the Pipedreams are around $50 a piece, so unless you are talking some radically high cost for cabinet construction (and of course getting world class finishing with veneer is nothing to smirk at either), then yes indeed you can build the Pipedreams top model for under $10,000 (not sure how much you could do the subs and their amps/crossovers for, that would definitely add to the cost, and you wouldn't have the time and efforts put into it, that Nearfield has already...which is what you're paying for buying them retail, besides the "necessary" dealer markup.) My project will be similar to their smallest model, and I'll just use whatever powered subs I have on hand, and run the "satellites" full range, most likely. I'll be using different tweeters, and a different version of the midwoofer, also...besides radically different cabinet construction and bass loading.