Agree with Porschecab. The MSRP was $2500 for the 2-channel and $3K for the 3-channel. Large quantites of them won't move fast at that price, hence the liquidation-style selloff. I got mine (2-channel) about a year ago off eBay, and now you can get a new 3-channel one for about $200 less than mine was (it was also BNIB).
As far as sound comparisons, I don't have any refrence to compare it to, but one thing I can say is that it will probably drive almost anything out there with ease.