My son and I finished the Oriole project. If I had to sum them up in a single word it would be "silky".

Two things are quite obvious compared the Polk Audio TSi100's we have been using :
1) I can hear kick drums
2) complete lack of harshness

I'm using a home-brew gainclone based on the LM3886. My first listening test was R.O.C.K. in the USA. The bass is awesomely clear, and accurate, without boominess. Kick drums are in the mix as they should be, along with beautiful piano-like bass tones. I like to test systems with pre-digital recordings, so I cranked up Edgar Winter's Frankenstein, and Golden Earing's Radar Love, both circa 1973. Marvelous reproduction the way analog was intended. Next, some electronic music of Annie Lenox : Sweet Dreams. Perfect blend of her beautiful voice and all the synthoid-electro-zinger stuff, like the "glass bells". Next, Ensemble Alcatraz, a.k.a., Susan Rode Morris, soprano + traditional instruments made from gut and skins and real wood. Perfect reproduction of all the delicate tones. The tone of gut strings and skin drums is unmistakable and perfectly produced by the Orioles.

All this before a full break-in period...

Dude, your design is freaking awesome! Thank you so very much for sharing it with the world !

Andrew