Preference for speakers that are half the price. Has this ever happened to you?

i prefered my low cost speakers after optimization to a way better speakers which they replaced  (  Tannoy dual gold monitor which i  owned for 40 years were way better design  than my Mission speakers but i was then ignorant of acoustics and optimization process).

Then speakers comparison is not only about price which does not matter as much as most could think but about the necessary optimization of the speakers in the system/room ...

I even prefered my Mission to a far superior Magnepan set but which was not as my Mission well optimized...The Magnepan can be worst than an inferior but well optimized speakers design if not well optimized...

Mechanical,electrical and acoustical optimization tell the tale not pricing ...

It is why i learned that brand name and price means not much if you dont know what to do with them and for them...

Yes. But not within a company like Sonus Faber. Certainly between different manufacturers. But when I have walked up the product lines, I have never found the lower levels superior to upper levels if properly fed. 

@audiozx 

I heard the Aida (probably not 2) at Listen Up in Boulder Colo maybe 5  years ago. Not sure if they had rear firing drivers. They sounded fantastic and I think they had McIntosh or Simaudio electronics driving them. I’m guessing the room is 20’x30’. 

Il Cremonese are stupendous and if you like them better it should come as no surprise. More than enough is not always better!

Using price alone as the determining factor in a purchase is a recipe for disaster. 
 

For the consumer that is.   The vendor will be very happy!