Before I settled on the Veritas V2.3i I listened multiple times to the Paradigm Studio series, Signature S2, S8, KEF (IQ series only), Polk LSi 15, RTi10,12, Energy C-9 (no RC at the time), Klipsch, PSB, NHT, B&W 803S, 802D, and a few others including a pair of big Def Tech. Among all those speakers I auditioned in those days, I preferred the sound quality of the B&W and the Paradigm Signature series. The B&W and the S8 were too expensive for me and the S2 did not sound better than the Veritas overall. I did not like the Def Tech at all for lack of transparency. I have since read good reviews on the Def Tech so some day I am going to give them another listen.
$3,400 for a pair of 2.4i is a great price. I paid only slightly less for the much smaller 2.3i. Even the 2.3i can handle a lot of power but can sound good with a decent receiver. My 2.3i was demoed with a 7X100 WPC Arcam AVR300 in the show room. I made my decision right there.