I fully agree with you, they cover the cost some how for sure. Again though, taking shipping cost into the equation (included or additional) it just moves the Ascends into a higher price class. The shipping alone doesn't add all that much, but in the case of the center it makes it ~$300 more than the Aperion. It breaks down like this
Ascend
Towers
Standard $1,994.00
Standard with RAAL $2,694.00
Piano gloss black $2,094.00
Piano gloss black with RAAL $2,794.00
Center
Standard $1,098.00
Standard with RAAL $1,448.00
Piano gloss black $1,123.00 (estimated)
Piano gloss black with RAAL $1,473.00 (estimated)
Aperion
Towers $1998.00
Center $799.00
To be honest, I am not considering the piano gloss finish on the Ascends, but to be fair the Aperion come standard in that finish already. So now to total up the differences.
Towers
Standard $4.00 cheaper
Standard with RAAL $696.00 MORE
Piano gloss black $96.00 MORE
Piano gloss black with RAAL $796.00 MORE
Center
Standard $299.00 MORE
Standard with RAAL $649.00 MORE
Piano gloss black $324.00 MORE (estimated)
Piano gloss black with RAAL $674.00 MORE (estimated)
So that means I could be spending anywhere from $295.00 to $1,345.00 more for standard finish, or $420.00 to $1,470.00 for piano gloss black finish for the entire LCR system shipped. I would think I could get away with what was recommended to both of you which is the standard NrT tweeter in the towers, and the RAAL tweeter in the center, and that means spending an extra $645 for just the LCR's. However, I think I would do exactly what you guys did and go with the RAAL tweeters across the board and that means spending and additional $1,345 which could almost buy me a second SVS SB13-Ultra
I think the more I look at the cost (and the sheer size of the center), the more I am leaning to the Aperions. I may still change my mind a few dozen times before I buy, but I think they will be such a huge jump up in performance over my current set up that I will be happy for a long time to come with them. The same could be said about the Ascends, but I would HAVE to get the RAAL tweeters to not be second guessing the difference constantly, and that moves it so far up in price its hard for me to justify them.
Sean