Last fall I picked up a pair of Presonus Sceptre 6 monitors after comparing them to a number of others. Among other things I probably should have waited till the prices dropped<G>, they seem to sell now for under $1K for a pair. My space is relatively small, so the 8" version seemed like overkill.
There is some marketing nonsense with which I wish they would dispense, I think it reduces credibility. But that's the only complaint I can come up with.
- They sound great, which is to say I like the way my favorite albums (and mixes) sound.
- The stereo image is remarkable. (My current mains are also co-axial, but a very old design, and mounted as mains, so there will be a difference).
- The lower octaves are there, but as one might expect from a 6" driver, it could extend a little further for some of the things I do. I will be adding their matching sub-woofer this spring.
- They are among the least fatiguing monitors I've ever used. I can work with them for hours without feeling like I'm starting to miss things.
- They get loud - not loud enough to hurt, but certainly loud enough to get the idea.
I also have a pair of first generation JBL LSR305's, which I also enjoy, and they make a nice counterpoint to the Sceptres. For the most part (there are exceptions of course) I always feel like the Sceptres are a little more "honest". The JBL's sound pretty, which is cool, and always a good test, but sometimes it feels like they are masking things a little bit.
I know I could do even better, there are some outstanding monitors out there these days. But I'll really need to pinch pennies because the next upgrade for me would probably be Bluesky or Barefoot, and they are in another price category! And while it would be nice, there is no justification for such a purchase right now.