"Acoustics delivers 55% of S.Q."
I don't know where that figure came from or whether it's accurate, but I do know the geometry of the listening room is absolutely critical from at least 500Hz on down. To that end the Kii speakers are pretty special. The ability to process not only EQ but phase information in order to control dispersion at low frequencies allows them to accommodate the quirks of different listening rooms better than almost any other speaker. Dutch&Dutch use similar technology to do the same thing, but I'm not aware of many others who are taking advantage of new DSP technology to alter they way sounds emanate from an enclosure *after* that sound has left the box. If the Kii Three are the "best in the world" it's because they are employing brand new technology. The same technology will undoubtedly be improved upon by other manufacturers in the near future. I wouldn't spend that much money on something that will invariably be dated by the time the credit card bill is paid down. I do enjoy seeing people write about how ugly they are, as though visual aesthetics are somehow universal or matter to the performance of a speaker. Give me spartan, utilitarian gear that is designed to perform. Money and effort spent on making audio gear pretty is money spent to appeal to senses other than hearing. Pretty speakers appeal to the optophile. There's nothing wrong with wanting something pretty, but visual aesthetics don't play a role in how something actually sounds.
I don't know where that figure came from or whether it's accurate, but I do know the geometry of the listening room is absolutely critical from at least 500Hz on down. To that end the Kii speakers are pretty special. The ability to process not only EQ but phase information in order to control dispersion at low frequencies allows them to accommodate the quirks of different listening rooms better than almost any other speaker. Dutch&Dutch use similar technology to do the same thing, but I'm not aware of many others who are taking advantage of new DSP technology to alter they way sounds emanate from an enclosure *after* that sound has left the box. If the Kii Three are the "best in the world" it's because they are employing brand new technology. The same technology will undoubtedly be improved upon by other manufacturers in the near future. I wouldn't spend that much money on something that will invariably be dated by the time the credit card bill is paid down. I do enjoy seeing people write about how ugly they are, as though visual aesthetics are somehow universal or matter to the performance of a speaker. Give me spartan, utilitarian gear that is designed to perform. Money and effort spent on making audio gear pretty is money spent to appeal to senses other than hearing. Pretty speakers appeal to the optophile. There's nothing wrong with wanting something pretty, but visual aesthetics don't play a role in how something actually sounds.