I was really close to buying a used pair of CGRG's a couple of months ago.
But as negotiations progressed i came to realise that i did not want to have an ongoing business relationship with that particular vendor. I know we're not supposed to be influenced by the personalities involved, but we're only human, these are large sums of money and as i get older i have learned to trust my instincts about people.
However I may yet buy a new pair direct from Carl
I'm not sure who you were negotiating with but I am assuming those were mine?? Mine are up for sale on Audiogon although I am not the one selling them direct although they are still in my house in perfect condition.
Reason for my sale? I am going to be retiring very soon, moving to a condo with limited space and nowhere for these speakers to go. I am in need of "downscaling" in terms of space. My current room is large and whether I use the CGR in near-field or elsewhere, they are terrific. I love to call them the best full range monitor speakers there are as they do what monitors do better are as cohesive and yet scale to any type of music genre, large or small.
I can tell you they are the most engaging speakers I have ever owned or listened to. I am very familiar with Nola line as I owned the MicroGrands, then the Baby Grands, Baby Grand Golds and now the Concert Grand Golds. As good as the BG were, the Concert Grands actually blew them away as well as all other speakers I have ever heard or owned. I have had people to my house, speaker designers included, who despite their personal biases felt my system was one of the best they every heard.
Feel free to PM me and I can give you more info if you are interested. I am not trying to give you a sales pitch as if I wind up keeping them until my full retirement "I will just have to SUFFER".
Also, while they are very easy to drive and Carl recommends tubes and at the time recommended the REF75(SE), I can tell you the better the source/amp, the better they are. I upgraded from the REF75 to the GS150 and it was awesome. I never expected Solid State to sound so good, but I gave many of the new ones a try on the CGR and I am now using the CH Precison M1 and it is an amazing combination and I am enjoying it even more than my tubes.
Howie