[jasonc]

To get a better understanding of how good these speakers are I think this is a fun question to ask.  Curious to see also if some have made the jump from full range to the Sapphires.
Jason

[Photon46]

My previous speakers were Magnepan 1.6qrs with a Sunfire Jr. subwoofer. I went from those to the ACI Talisman SE.  The Maggies were a great speaker for the money, I just wanted a change after living with Magenpans for 10+ years. I very much enjoy the Talismans, they're a real joy every time I listen to them. So far the only thing I've heard that I'd trade the Talismans for is a pair of Nola Reference Vipers at more than $10k retail.

[tomagardner]

I can't remember. No seriously.

3 of us got together and made 3 kits together - interesting to see how they looked with different veneers - mine's Walnut. We made a 3-way ACI kit in the mid 80's. It was called the Titan sound familiar? A floorstander with a 10 degree tilt to the front. They are still in use in the basement. I think I had a Radio Shack system before that.

Now 3 Sapphires across the front with 2 in-ceilings in the rear from ACI and a subwoofer. 2 on-wall Emeralds in the basement system with the original 3-way Titans.

Tom

[Night_Train]

My previous speakers were Magnepan 1.6qrs with a Sunfire Jr. subwoofer. I went from those to the ACI Talisman SE.  The Maggies were a great speaker for the money, I just wanted a change after living with Magenpans for 10+ years. I very much enjoy the Talismans, they're a real joy every time I listen to them. So far the only thing I've heard that I'd trade the Talismans for is a pair of Nola Reference Vipers at more than $10k retail.

Greetings Will...I have "Panhead 250's" too. Except, I'm still experiencing separation anxiety.

[Joe_K]

I still have my Allison Ones I purchased soon after college in the late 70s, along with some other Allison's I picked up over the years. If my Sapphires last as long, I'll be the envy of the retirement castle!  

[Rich Carlson]

I went from B&W Matrix 804's to Sapphire III's, and never regretted it.  My HT setup is all ACI now.

[sabes]

haven't owned them, but did hear them in a fine setup at goldman audio (bat electronics, michell tt). the purpose of the visit was to audition the highly rated devores, but jeff suggested we also listen to the sapphires, which blew away the devores. their dimensions weren't right for my setup, so had to pass...

[Mike Dzurko]

Great thread idea. Thanks to all who've contributed and will contribute. If you haven't already done so, you'll want to read the published reviews. Some of the reviewers make direct comparisons. Example; John Potis' 6Moons review compares the XLs to Krell Resolution 3s, and Thiel PCS.

http://www.audioc.com/products1/reviews/reviews.htm

[Eric]

I had:

Paradigm Ref 100.v2
Monitor Audio 9i silver

[griller]

Can't say I've owned all that many great speakers. Last ones were Accoustats.  A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to put together a serious music system. Spent many hours auditioning a lot of gear. Some of the speakers getting on my short list included Sonus Faber, Cremona, Auditor,  a number of Aerial Acoustics models, various Thiels,  Magnepan 1.6 and 3.6, too many B&Ws to count,  Dynaudio Contuurs,  Totem Hawks. The ACI Sapphire XLs kept popping up in a lot of threads. I can't tell you how glad I am that I heard about them!

[jrebman]

Acoustic Zen Adagios.  Never looked back.  In fact, I have to say that the Sapphires were probably the first pieces of audio gear that I didn't have at least some initial buyer's remorse with.  And, they just keep getting better and better -- can't wait to hear them once I've hooked up the Force XL -- that's right, all these impressions are with the Sapphires alone with no bottom end reinforcement.  A truly amazing speaker.

-- Jim