We had a pair of Carmel 2s in at our Oct. 2017 Classic Album Sundays listening session here in Colorado Springs. They were provided by a true gentleman of the audio world, Jim Haubenschild of Aberdeen Audio from the Denver area. Our other gear is indeed modest by comparison and the sound was fantastic, rich musical and detailed...not harsh or etched in any way....As you go up the range of YG, you get more bass and impact, but the quality is consistent for all YG speakers. Yes, very expensive, and with the right partnering gear, very engaging.