After several comparisons in various stores (including Chrono SL 580, Vento 880, 770.2 carats of the same house and Kef Q700, iQ70, Elac FS 248, Magnat Quantum 657 and a few other boxes whose names I now forget displaced or successfully ;-) have) I am stuck with this speaker. And it was by no means favorable price decisive!
Conclusion: It is not always sound the new versions better. I had after comparing listening to the Chrono SL 580 with the Vento 880 practically set me on the Chrono (because I could not hear any differences that would have been worth 200.- price difference) when I in by a happy coincidence, a few days later xy -Markt came to a very friendly seller who gave me a longer undisturbed Preview of the SL580. By coincidence, the slightly larger 509 next to it. An hour later, I left completely confused the store because the older and cheaper 509 had really sounded better in every respect, which was contrary to all my known tests in the relevant journals. For me, from then on, however, clear that there is no way at the Chrono 509 led past.
I then still Q700 conducted a multi-day comparative test of Chrono 509 with the Kef home whose personal results I have set in Kef, if someone is interested for it.
Supplement 20.11.2011: After about 8 months of experience with the Chronos I can in good conscience say that these boxes are more than worth its price, and I would buy them again at any time! In addition to the sound, it gave me the sleek design done va (with or without cover). The slight deficit in the deep bass range I better now through the use of a digital sound processor (s. My review when Behringer DEQ2496), also with the acoustic characteristics of the listening room may be very well compensated. Overall I am very satisfied!