The Sierras are an excellent speaker - the Actives are, to most listeners, a bit more neutral and much more capable in macro dynamics. I have had the Sierras, and they are a very intimate speaker. My current intimate speakers are the new Magnepan LRS - similar dynamics to the Sierra's, with the Sierra's have better bass depth but losing a bit in soundstage depth.
The actives just plain present a HUGE soundstage and seem to have no dynamic limits. I originally ran mine with the ADA-1000's and could never clip the amps.
Word has it that Ian might have a pair of semi/low gloss Rosewoods that might be a deal, too.
