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Boutique or Big Brand?

Good evening everyone! I am looking at new speakers in the $5k, maybe $6k range. My electronics and room dimensions are on "my system" posted on my profile so I won't repeat them here. I currently have Tekton Impact Monitors, but feel they do not have a good low end (I posted my review on another post so won't bore everyone here). That said, they were the best I could afford at the time and above 40Hz sound good to me.

Now I am ready to upgrade and am faced with a decision... Do I go boutique with a bigger pair of Tektons, or maybe the Salk Song3 A or BeAts; or something from Zu or Devore? Or do I go with a Big Brand like the Sonus faber Sonetto V, B&W 702, or Focal Arias?

I have heard the Tekton, Sonetto V, and B&W 8-series (not the 7 in my price range). I want a slim tower because I feel a lot of them have the same footprint as a pair of standmounters and have better bass extension.

So, what are the benefits of boutique over big brand and vice-versa? It seems in my price range boutique may be the way to go? Thoughts? Any other recommendations?

Because of the pandemic I had to move to a place that doesn't have the audio stores that N.Y.C. and Columbus, Oh. did when I lived there, so I am asking your opinions. Please keep it positive and constructive, thank you.

l1975r

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12many
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Good post OP.  I am quietly shopping but with a wider price range and instead just focusing on what appeals to my ear in relation to cost.  There are many brands online but hard to find them local to listen to, and ordering and return shipping is too much work for me if I don't like them since the speakers can weigh over 60 lbs each.  I am trying to focus on the brands that I can listen to before I buy, which is hugely important for speakers.  I seem to be leaning to the known brands for resale and repair, but those are less of a concern.  Sound is the most important consideration and hearing is knowing. IMO, once you verify something is well made and will last, just focus on what sounds good to you regardless of if it is a large brand or boutique based listening.  I think the bottle neck will be what you can find to listen to.  When we/I go on vacation, I always try to visit a store or two to expand what I can listen to.  

To the other posters, great input and made me think of a few new things and reinforce some others.  

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