Actually, now that I think about it, those were the S8s that I was listening to in the store - $1499/pr US. They had the Golds as well, but in a different room. The veneer on the Golds DID turn my cookie. Very nice. The room they were in was made to simulate a typical dry-walled family room with a couple of door-sized holes cut out in back. As such, I can't say they sounded particularly better than the S8s. Seemed a little harder, a little brighter, but that could have been the room. Also twice as much money.