The Constellation Audio Centaur II + Virgo III left some hours ago. Listening during the last five days was a really a new discovery.
Since long I knew that the XLF's had great bass - but the CA's have shown them to have unbelievable bass. Extremely deep, fast, articulated. It feels like the the extremely solid and rigid floor of my room is moving - but only in the proper moments with a control that makes you feel in a life market listening to the local marching band big drum. Mercedes Sosa "Missa Criola" was an unique experience with the Centaur + Virgo. Playing it now a few minutes ago with an unnamed preamplfier and amplifier made me stop listening and come posting. The bass is now "rounded" and misses the supreme articulation and depth of CA's.
The CA's were almost new and have been burning-in at high power when not playing using the Purist Audio CD enhancer with the speaker replaced by power resistors. It was very interesting following the burn-in, mainly the feeling of ease and filling the space that progressively developed. The recent addition of Transparent Audio XL power cables also helped the system. It was still improving daily, I hope to re-listen after full break-in.
I also re-listened to the Metronome's using the CA's - a very interesting combination, perhaps more lively, more colored but missing the unbelievable bass of the DCS Vivaldi. Fortunately time and good new music will soon dilute the memory of the CA's bass. The CA's are really interesting - they do not sound like tube or solid state.
For a short time I tried the REF40 - good sounding, nice voices, detail and air, but misses the great bass.
BTW, a little bird from the UK whispered that the new Centaur II 500 sounds even better!