Ref 3a mm decapo...best in price range ?

Tubegroover, your point about break in is well taken.  I have only heard them at the shows, and cannot say whether they were properly broken in or not - - they certainly had a little too much zing for me.  I'm guessing you must be right about the break in.

I do still have some silk domed de Capo's in my second system, and I admire what they do well - - musical message, like you say, and almost an "electrostatic-like" sense of speed and coherence.  Ref 3A's are magical!

My main system sports TAD CR-1's, so I can be cool with beryllium...;-)   They certainly needed the time to break in, but once there, oh my!

Jbrrp1 I hear you concerning the BE, UNTIL it is fully broken which takes some time. I have heard both, there is no comparison to me, that tweeter is just beautifully integrated and transparent with zero strdency or brightness. Then again you may just be used to the silk tweeter. My initial impression was brightness along with the things I liked, the communication of the musical message that is so special with the Decapos. 

I have long been a fan of Reference 3A speaker designs, loving the very minimalist crossover implementations.  I have owned their Master Reference, Dulcets, and still own original de Capo's and L'Integrales.  I think the de Capo's are great in their price range.  I also am of the school that prefers the original silk tweeter to the new BE tweeter - - I think it integrates better with the woofer for a more coherent, natural timbre on instruments.  Their BE tweeter seems to draw too much attention to itself (but I have only heard it in show conditions, so......).

Yeah I think they are absolutely perfect in many ways. Joseph audio 7700.00...de Capps can be bought for 2600. 

I’d read the reviews and check the archives AND do a Google search, there is plenty of info and useful insight on this design, it’s a classic (over 30 years in different guises)and at the price point and beyond worth a listen if you can. The latest BE model is just superb in every manner,.

The de Capos are great.  At that price range for those characteristics I'd also look at Joseph Audio Prisms or, better yet, used Pulsars.  Best of luck.