well, i used to have a pair of the RL-i 8s, i wanted to know how the orphan 8's compared to the RL-i's, i was thinking about getting 3 of them, but not sure if they would get as low, pound as hard, get as loud and sound as clean as the RL-i's.

They are a very comparable product. Powered and housed appropriately, I'd bet most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Yes, there are differences - such as slightly greater efficiency on the RL-i8's as well as the use of a shorting ring - nevertheless, the Orphan 8 is highly unlikely to disappoint. Quite a few of the people who have jumped on the $145 sale have come back for seconds, and in one case even a third purchase!