I had a pair of Alons (partial OB?) with the tweeter and midrange on top of the cabinet that held the woofer in the box and I really liked their openness and non-directionality as I normally sit off to the side and in other seats in an open area that includes the kitchen seating area. Pretty big (about 15x35) with 8 ft ceilings.
After 25 years, it was time for a change and I went with a pair of KEF 500s. Same non-directionality unless I am standing even, in between them changing a record where the Alons still sounded good! Otherwise the KEFs are a better sounding speaker in terms of detail and bass especially, as they are much more current technology. The thinness of the cabinet makes them have that openness and non-directionality so there is not as much reverb within the cabinet, and I put them on top of Symposium Segue platforms (changed out the KEF spikes/discs) which kept the speaker at the exact same height, and they sound even better - more detail and clearer with less internal vibration and isolation from the floor. You can add even more bass putting styrofoam inserts KEF provides into ports on the back of the speakers, but I don't need any more bass. I think for the price of these speakers or their replacement, the R5, you can't come close to the value. Now, part of that is because they are made in China (designed in the UK) which lowers their manufacturing cost significantly. I have to say though that the cabinetry is flawless and looks as high a quality as anything I've seen.
It is not a listening room, and the speakers are very well matched to a Plinius 200 watt AB amp with tons of headroom to spare. If I turn it up past 10:30 or 11:00 it is uncomfortably loud.
After 25 years, it was time for a change and I went with a pair of KEF 500s. Same non-directionality unless I am standing even, in between them changing a record where the Alons still sounded good! Otherwise the KEFs are a better sounding speaker in terms of detail and bass especially, as they are much more current technology. The thinness of the cabinet makes them have that openness and non-directionality so there is not as much reverb within the cabinet, and I put them on top of Symposium Segue platforms (changed out the KEF spikes/discs) which kept the speaker at the exact same height, and they sound even better - more detail and clearer with less internal vibration and isolation from the floor. You can add even more bass putting styrofoam inserts KEF provides into ports on the back of the speakers, but I don't need any more bass. I think for the price of these speakers or their replacement, the R5, you can't come close to the value. Now, part of that is because they are made in China (designed in the UK) which lowers their manufacturing cost significantly. I have to say though that the cabinetry is flawless and looks as high a quality as anything I've seen.
It is not a listening room, and the speakers are very well matched to a Plinius 200 watt AB amp with tons of headroom to spare. If I turn it up past 10:30 or 11:00 it is uncomfortably loud.