The Cicadas really are awesome for their $695 price in 2002. They sound very good connected to the amp without any EQ at all. Some rough patch(es) in the treble, which is to be expected. Very good air to the point where I felt a supertweeter was not necessary and would only result in integration issues for minimal gain (maybe 1/2 octave of air). The treble extension was rather surprising to me. Being 8" drivers, they beam like crazy, so you move your head a few inches and treble response drops.
Given the price, the cabinets are 5/8" MDF with veneer. Some of it is peeling off. I wish the baffle and back sides were doubled with another 5/8" plank with "heroic" internal bracing, but that would have increased the price of the speaker to well over $2k. The drivers are certainly good enough where such a construction would have been warranted. As it is, it's a little boxy sounding in the bass.
As with other high-efficiency speakers, it's very dynamic sounding. Bass is surprisingly deep and conservatively rated down to 60Hz. It goes way lower, but Craig being Craig doesn't BS about stuff like that.
I have these on loan, otherwise they would have been suffocating in his outdoor storage shed continuing to rot in the Calabasas heat. He lent to them me knowing I was interested in wide-range speakers. I wish I would still get these drivers.
