Best Speakers to Audition in the $5-10k range?

This is scarry!!! I just listened to a pair of 1978 Ohm C2 speakers that had details a Paradigm Signature S8 didn't reveal. To say I was floored is an understatement....

I sold my Paradigm Signature S-8 speakers because, in my room, I could not live with the harshness. The replacements, Vandersteen 3a Signatures have all the detail (and more)of the S-8, but without the harshness. Since I listen for the music, a fancy cabinet may look cool, but I'd rather get the bang for the buck sound improvement.

(associated compoments: McIntosh C22, MC275, MR71, Rega Planet 2K, Music Hall MMF-7)

Bottom line: NEVER go by what reviewers say, but your own ears!! Like finger prints, no 2 pairs of ears have the exact same "response".

One last thing: Phase and time alignment are very important speaker design parameters and should not be overlooked.