The ART array is a budget array with a $350 target price, while the Needles is a high end speaker for which no compromises are made in the choice of drivers. I haven't heard the Needles array, but based on my knowledge of the drivers I would expect the ribbon in the Needles to be much better than the dome in the ART array. I would have preferred to use a ribbon in the ART array, but the least expensive one that would have worked properly would have been a $117 Fountek or an even more expensive Aurum Cantus, versus the $27 Vifa dome. I would also expect the midwoofers in the Needles to have better midrange than the very inexpensive Dayton midwoofers in the ART array. The other obvious difference is that the ART array is ported, with response down into the high 40's, while the Needles is sealed and requires a subwoofer. This means some more expense but it also means the Needles will have better sounding low- and mid-bass.

The Needles should have been a very popular speaker, but I suspect it's design is so different from what most people expect that it never achieved the popularity it deserved. I'm sure if a mainstream speaker manufacturer had created it and promoted it with ads in Stereophile and TAS, and the reviewers had done their obligatory positive review, it would have become a best seller. Of course under that marketing model it would have included the manufacturer's dedicated subwoofer, and the sat/sub "system" would have been priced at $10K or more.

I seem to recall that Jim took the Needles to a DIY speaker event a few years ago it was regarded by many as the best sounding speaker there. Maybe he can refresh our memories.