Best for Classic/Progressive Rock and Blues

you are correct, the thiel 1.6 cannot do what you need, and especially in that size space.

In your budget, you need to buy used, and close enough to avoid shipping, close enough to meet the seller half-way, or you go and audition them, yay or nay ...

where do you live?

Audiophile respect? probably not, I’ve never heard them, but check out reviews of these. I am a BIG fan of level controls to adjust them for your space, and these drivers are large enough for your space.

yamaha ns1000

review just popped up

another one

list for sale certainly shows some respect for them

hifishark, sorted high to low price

seems the 500 is similar 3 way, 12", level controls: except the 1000 have beryllium tweet/mid. replacing berylilium drivers could be hard and expensive, the ns-500m with conventional materials might be the better choice.

1000 is 8 ohms, sensitivity 90 db.

500 is 6 ohms, sensitivity 91 db

yamaha ns-500m spec sheet

no joke, they weigh 51 lbs

I see some small protrusions in the left cloth to ask about

ergo 900 dc specs, two 8" woofers

pair in mesa az

rajugsw

thanks for the invite. 

I cannot come, I live in New Jersey, and know absolutely nothing about streaming except YouTube via my PC

grislybutter

such a great link to speaker choices

you can sort various ways, I start by sorting sensitivity

reduce power needs, and easiest way to try tubes. saves cost/weight/heat; increases competition, availability and placement options (remote signals)

speaker choices sort by sensitivity, highest at top