I purchased these speakers a few months after they were released. I auditioned them along with the CM9 s1 (the S2 had not yet been released) and the Martin Logan Motion 40s. I had auditioned the 683 s1 a few years back. The speaker has been completely redesigned with respect to the S1 with the new double dome tweeter, aluminum composite woofers, and more compact cabinet. It retains the FST midrange driver but with some modifications similar to the fantastic PM1 standmount speaker. The S2 cabinets are very solid and the speaker weighs in at just under 60 lbs (which might reduce unwanted cabinet resonances). One of the things I enjoyed most about the S1 was the fantastic midrange performance provided by the incorporation of the FST driver. However, the S1 lacked some clarity regarding the higher frequencies and ultimately that's what kept me from purchasing a pair. When auditioning the S2 I immediately noticed the improvement in clarity largely due to the new tweeter. During auditioning I realized this improvement brought the performance very close to the CM9 s1. However, I felt that the CM9 s1 tweeter was still slightly better than the 683 s2. But, for about 50% of the cost the 683 S2 brings you to about 90-95% of the performance of the CM9 S1 (the CM9 S2 is of course a different matter altogether). Aesthetically, it's not as pleasing with the black ash veneer compared to the gloss black of the CM9 but this wasn't a major factor in my purchase decision. Next, I listened to the Martin Logan Motion 40s. The Motion 40s are a very nice looking speaker but more expensive at $2000 for the pair. They feature a folded motion tweeter (similar to ribbon tweeter technology) and are also 3-way. I immediately noticed the superior low end performance. However, this wasn't really a factor for me considering that I would be using a subwoofer in my setup at home. The higher frequency performance was great but I felt that it wasn't quite as neutral as the 683 S2. I "ABed" back and forth between both speakers and was torn between the two but ultimately I preferred the 683S2. To my ears, the 683 S2 was simply more neutral but not fatiguing. Sure, it's not as nice to look at with a slightly more utilitarian appearance (it looks like a speaker) but this was a secondary consideration (and much less important) for me anyway. Final thoughts: The redesigned 683 is a winner. After getting them home I realized that they performed best in a medium to large room and placement was important for bass response. They do like a little power (3 ohm dips) but this isn't a problem for a quality AVR or dedicated 2-channel preamp/amp setup (what I'm currently using). Pleased with the purchase. There are definitely some competitors in this price range especially with internet direct brands.