<font color='#000000'>Duff;
The Limited Special Edition Series (LSE) of RBH Signature Series product became a reality about 3 years ago when I noticed the similarities of cabinet and driver topologies between their ultra high end
Status Acoustics products and their flagship RBH Signature Series products. I asked if RBH would custom build me a version of the 1266-SE, 661-SE, and 61-SE with upgraded Status drivers and crossovers. Both them and I were so pleased with the results that they began offering them to the public in limited production with great success.
While the normal Signature stuff is great, the upgrades make them exceptional!
The reasons why:
1) Upgrade to Scan Speak 950000 tweeter (one of the best soft dome tweeters on the market IMO, and many loudspeaker designers agree) Results, less compression.
2) Upgrade to Phase Plug drivers, allow the midranges to play up a little higher in frequency, while also helping to reducing beaming by replacing the dust cap with a phase plug, reducing cone mass, and heat dissipation. Thus less compression.
3) Crossover upgrades: Better quality parts include Air Core inductors, low ESR, poly bypass caps, etc.
The very fact that this system remained in my primary reference system for 3 years speaks volumes IMO. I really enjoyed the very open, uncompressed soundstage and imaging of the LSE stuff, so much so that I still haven't found a better sounding bookshelf speaker to date as the Status Acoustics Decimo's remain in my bedroom system.
As with anything, the user must decide if the improved fidelity is worth the added investiment. I personally think it is, especially after hearing both side by side, but hey, I am an Audioholic so what can you expect
Incidentally, I am offering my 1266-LSE's and 1010-SEP for sale at a substantial discount since I upgraded to a new Tsystem. I would be willing to sell the 1266-LSE separately for $3500/pr, but I only have about a week left to sell before I trade it back to RBH.
http://www.audioholics.com/cgi-bin....;t=1724
If you are interested, feel free to drop me an email.</font>