Forever speakers around $5000


Hi Audiogon! Your help has been invaluable in the past so I’m back yet again. I think I’m close to purchasing my forever speakers and am looking for recommendations of what to consider. Here are some qualities I’m looking for, in order of importance:

  1. Amazing soundstage. I really enjoy a speaker that can throw a BIG soundstage.
  2. Fun, slightly U-shaped frequency response.
  3. Tight, punchy, musical bass.
  4. Airy and clear high end, think Magnepan.
  5. Good R&D and technology. If I’m paying this much for a speaker, it better not just be a damn box with some bargain paper cone drivers in it.
  6. Nice looking. This is a speaker, first and foremost, but it is also a piece of furniture. It really does have to look nice (I hate to say it, but this probably disqualifies offerings from GoldenEar).
  7. Semi-compact. I like a speaker that has a good physical presence in the room (not too small) but not something massive like a Magnepan (been there already) or Wilson. I like units no more than 45" x 10" x 16" or so. Also cant weight a million pounds as we are still in a rental and will have to move these.

I currently own a pair of LSA 2.1 Signature floorstanders, which have certain qualities I like (soundstage/imaging due to rear firing tweeter, size/weight, U-shaped). But things I feel are missing (bass feels a bit loose, build quality could be better, feels very low tech with paper woofers and unbraced MDF cabinet). I listen to a wide range of music, mostly a lot of intimate jazz combos, some experimental electronic and IDM, funk, some rock, black metal, and a bit of classical.

Here are some speakers I have heard and liked:

  1. Magnepan MMG - amazing detail, imaging, mids and highs
  2. LSA 2.1 - for all their shortcomings, they check a lot of boxes
  3. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD - awesome balance and great bass for a standmount
  4. B&W CM10 - I really like this speaker, though I’ve seen some measurements that have turned me off
Speakers I have heard and were disappointed in:

  1. KEF LS50 - honestly seemed very shrill and shouty to me
  2. Martin Logan ESL - weirdly didnt get a great impression of these
  3. GoldenEar Triton 3 - not only ugly, but I found these a bit boring to listen to
So, any ideas? I'm willing to consider new or used (if it can be found somewhat easily) speakers around $5000. I can give more info if you have questions, thanks!
primarist
The Dutch & Dutch 8 could be worth a listen, they are fun and small. Costs twice of your budget but includes amp and dac.
OP - $5,000 is a lot of money - here is my vote for a ‘forever’ speaker system. I have built this over the last years and it’s ability to satisfy my Listening Requirement is amazing - Maggie 1.7i ($2,200)with the Maggie Base Panel. ($800) I bi amp these speakers - Maggie’s need lots of current / class A wattage to do their best. The Base panel eliminates the biggest ‘complaint’ about Maggie’s - bass slam. If one bass panel is not enough go with a second panel or a sub array to add the bass to your taste. I push my Maggie’s with Krell integrated amps and I cannot be happier. Imaging and midrange vocal accuracy goes beyond what I thought possible. Your sources need to be clean and you will not get any ‘harshness’ on the high end. Happy Listening!!
Either go panel ( Martin Logan, Magnapan) or Vandersteen, Aerial, B&W, Tekton, KEF, Monitor Audio, Sonus Faber. Lol. The point is it's all good. Pick what YOUR ear likes. 
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Sonus Faber Sonetto II or III.

the II and III are in my two forever rig’s  Also all Simaudio 330 and 390 along with Roon Nucleus and Rega RP8
How about looking into a pair of new Elac Vela FS407 or FS409 speakers? Beautiful compact to semi-compact towers. Nice big wide soundstage and wonderful jet tweeter for that airy sound. Nice tight musical bass. Nothing over bloated. Flexible placement with downward firing port and seem so far to handle a variety of musical genres well. I have mine paired with a Lyngdorf TDAI 2170.  

The FS407’s retail for $5k and the larger FS409’s for $6,400. 
Bache Audio Tribeca. $5200. Best speakers I ever had including ProAc, Verity, and Quad.