I haven't heard the 248, but I have listened to several of their bookshelf speakers, and they have a very smooth natural sound. Voices are especially well reporduced. But yes you pay for it. I'd put them in the same class as Dynaudio.

Raspberry Pi running Squeezelite->IQAudio Pi-DAC->NAD C320BEE amp->Usher S-520 bookshelf speakers