Assistance in selecting new speakers…

As far as multichannel amps go, some good speakers are going to eat up most of your 15k to 20k budget and you may be hitting the budget limit.

Hence, you could go with the meaty monolith amps (manufacturer direct), especially since this series was designed by ATI and sound quite good for the affordable price tag.

5 channel

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15593

9 channel

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33306

As you go higher up the price tag, this fat Rotel sounds quite good.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_440B15852S/Rotel-RMB-1585-MKII-Silver.html

and so on....

If the budget is expanded, there are some kickass multichannel amps out there.

I would like to see the list. I’ll admit, I’ve been a “KEF” guy, and I need to explore other options. In this context, architectural is Built in wall and/or ceiling speakers.

@johnmcnaughton . "Architectural" speakers get compromised because the drivers, crossover, etc need to be compromised to fit inside a shallow in-wall box (lack of sheer physical space for good components).

If you want to also put some "architectural" speakers in your room to boost WAF and not compromise on sonics, you should go with a combination of Perlisten floorstanding and architectural speakers or go full architectural. They have very innovative/advanced speaker designs, makes KEF look less enginerdy.

If you can overcome some of the negatives of "architectural" speakers, as is the case with Perlisten, such speakers can also offer some advantages over conventional boxes.

Scroll down to the in-walls on this page. These are all THX dominus rated as well and obliterate the KEFs with explosive dynamics, etc.

https://www.audioadvice.com/shop-by-brand?brand=7236

Room.  Plan to spend 1/3 of your speaker budget on room treatment, at least.

My theater room is 15 X 23 with cathedral ceiling.  It has the full Cinematech sound treatment.  Speakers are Focal 1000 series architectural, I think you have to get them through an "installer" because of Be tweeter.  The space features 4 - JL Audio eSub 112's.  The sound is stunning, in order of importance I'd rank multiple subs first, sound treatment second and speakers third.  For the kind of money your talking I think the space deserves consideration of all three "elements".  I did not have enough experience or knowledge to do this on my own, at the time I couldn't figure out why I had to have 4 subs!

here is a better list, sorry for my previous "speaker salad"

https://speakerchoices.com/

For HT I recently replaced KEF Reference 1s and LS50s driven by Ayre gear and a Bryston SP3 processor with Sony HT A9 & SW5.  For music I'm using KEF LS60 and a pair of KC62s.  I think the sound of both setups is superb in their own ways, and so convenient I use them dailey.  

My previous favorite was KEF Reference 107/s and 204/2C driven by 3 JC-1s monoblocks, a setup worth repeating.

@johnmcnaughton 

Are you asking for matching surround speaker brands?

Thanks to all of you who responded to my post.  Looks like my 2024 will be spent exploring a lot of other options - including KEF.  
 

best regards,

JRM

We are a Kef dealer for 20 years we also design and build movie theaters

check out the kef thx theater r we designed for rev run

rev runs renovation season 2 secret cinema

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect nj

kef dealer

nj

I love KEF. I like companies that have a big research budget and make their own drivers. Not just buy drivers and put it in a box.

I wanted to buy the KEF Blade 2 Meta. But did not due to concerns that they would not be safe in my Livingroom (no grills and easy to knock over). A great choice in hindsight seeing as what goes on in that room.

I had the following 2nd choices that I was considers for my Livingroom:

• KEF Reference 3 Meta
• Vivid Kaya 90
• Magico A5
• Magnepan
• Yamaha NS5000

I went with the NS5000 since it was the most coherent sounding speaker of the bunch. The Magnepan’s are similar. The NS5000 has a 12 inch woofer made of the same material as used in the tweeter and mid-range. The material named Zylon is supposed to be lighter and faster than BE. Now that is called research. Good luck getting box fillers to do research like that. KEF and a few others do research like that.

KEF is a great value, good design, components, R&D, subs, resale value, etc. I am not a big fan of their sound but it's all personal.

@johnmcnaughton

Hi, This is the list of manufacturers who make speakers in a range that includes 15K

Grislybutter,

thanks for your response.  I would like to see the list. I’ll admit, I’ve been a “KEF” guy, and I need to explore other options.  In this context, architectural is Built in wall and/or ceiling speakers. 
 

best regards,

JRM

there are about 50 great manufacturers that sell speakers over 10K. (I can send you the list if you are interested)
KEF is giant ($wise) brand in the audiophile world with nearly a 100 million in revenue. 

What is architectural in this context?

Thanks for your responses and advice.  Soix I’ll contact you later this week.

The Joseph Audio Perspective 2s are worth a serious look, or if you’re open to used these Pearl 3s could be your end-game speakers and no sub really required.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650017479-joseph-audio-pearl-3-speakers/

My suggestion is to discover the whole world of speakers outside of KEF.... not slamming KEF, but they’re one speaker manufacturer amongst dozens and dozens. It’s ironic, but there are no loyalty obligations in the world of high "fidelity" . 😂

Vandersteen, Sonus Faber, Focal, Fyne, Salk, Revel, etc