the two things that most high end speakers tend to struggle with...even the ones with the biggest price tags....are big rock and big orchestra. especially those recordings that are less than optimum. avalons do this as well as any, or better than most 'big boxes'. i mean this as a compliment....they are a more refined, more balanced 'hales' style loudspeaker.....an evergreen, and a keeper.....they also match well with a very wide variety of good components...another trait of a well thought out product.