I owned a pair of the original SE's ... 15" of course.
I don't think I could have been happier. They matched what I was looking for that the time. I mean, back there there was no 'entry-level' line of subs from RE, and of course now there is the RE series. And they were far from entry-level, in my opinion.
Then I sold them. Drove down into the US and delivered them. Shouldn't have done that. Oh well. Love live those two boob cones. Worst day ever. I regret that now.
As far as the new ones, I still like them as well. I haven't owned one (yet?) ... but hear one almost daily.
- Steve