I decided that with advancing age I needed to downsize to smaller speakers than my VMPS RM-30/ ACI force sub combo. With a touch of arthritis it just isn't as much fun to move big boxes around, and gets less so each year.
I wanted speakers that were under 75 lbs. or so. I would give up a half octave or so of bottom end to get that, but otherwise I wanted no major compromises. And they needed gorgeous cabinets to please the wife.
None of the dozens of smaller speakers I've tried could do all the things that the VMPS combo did in my living room. The room has an unusual sonic signature, as I live in a highrise with two walls of glass, concrete floor and ceiling, with no wood anywhere in the structure. It is a very dry sounding room, and most smaller speakers sound very thin in there. My Volent VL-2s come the closest to fitting the bill. They are very transparent, punchy and musical, with great bass, but they still suffer some from the "miniature musician" problem. In my office, though, they are magic.
After a good deal of searching and reflection I decided to see what Rick was up to. When I saw the Tempesta standmounts, I got pretty excited. The size and weight were perfect, as well as his comments on the bass extension (-10 db at 26 hz.). But it is the driver complement that got to me. Getting SOTA ribbons, Accuton mids and a woofer as good as the Illuminator takes you into the $15k and up retail world, where I don't want to go. I couldn't even find a used speaker with drivers of this quality at Rick's price.
I've never heard one of Rick's speakers, but am well aware of his design skill, as well as his cabinetry. So when he said this was his best monitor ever, I pulled the trigger and ordered a pair in pau ferro. Dealings with Rick have been excellent. I look forward to hearing what he cooks up!
Here's the skinny on them:
http://www.selahaudio.com/id237.html
