High value, giant killer speakers?

I'll pile on the Maggie train here.  Used Thiels can be awesome and can be had for 25% of their original price and there's a whole cult of Thiel users out there.  I would also say that your choice may also depend on the type of music you listen to.  Maggie and Thiels both are capable of great delicacy and are highly resolving speakers -- great classical and jazz speakers.  Don't let anyone tell you Maggie's can't generate high SPLs because they very much CAN and will but require as has already been stated, large amounts of current to deliver.

Talked to Ron at Marigo Labs the other day. He has the Tekton Encore ($8000). He thinks they are better than his King Sound Electrostats. He is going to mod them. The Tekton Moab has the same mids and highs with "merely’ two 12 inch woofs for bass.....$4500 the pair delivered...with in home trial. There is a guy on the Moab thread who replaced his 20.1 or 20.5 Maggies with them.....he is really happy. Modified, the Moab would be better than most $50K speakers....that is my guess.

Ricevs - what mods is he going to do on the Moab?

Everyone's favorite is a "giant killer".

I agree somewhat with this. That said one new favourite is Dutch & Dutch 8. About $10k with amps and dac built in. I hope I can save money for those.

Talked to Ron at Marigo Labs the other day. He has the Tekton Encore ($8000). He thinks they are better than his King Sound Electrostats. He is going to mod them. The Tekton Moab has the same mids and highs with "merely’ two 12 inch woofs for bass.....$4500 the pair delivered...with in home trial. There is a guy on the Moab thread who replaced his 20.1 or 20.5 Maggies with them.....he is really happy. Modified, the Moab would be better than most $50K speakers....that is my guess.

What kind of mod ?

I would add Yamaha NS5000. Extremely impressive speaker and although pricey I think it can take on speakers that are more expensive.

Back from the grave Ricky?

MAGICO A3s jump on a pair ASAP!!

Dznutz lollll yup I'm in the market.

I was auditioning speakers for a couple years; the Ryan R630 made me really question spending more for the something else. Without doubt they regular cones-in-a-wood-box type of speakers, but wow, they are really well executed. Didn't find much improvement up to ~$10K efforts from other manufacturers. 

Lots of definitions for giant killers, I suppose, but here’s my experience and what shook out as giant killers for me and the reasons I’m willing to suggest them as such.

I went thru a 6 month speaker search where I auditioned a large number of speakers, probably over 30 but for sure over 20 (didn’t keep detailed notes).

In the end for me Spendor D7 were my giant killers because they, for me-let me stress that, bettered a long list of comparatively priced speakers (giant here in beating quantity) and bettered for me a small group costing well more (804d3, persona, kaanta), (giant here in beating well known popular speakers costing nearly double).

Your results may vary but that was my experience. I’ve written extensively on the search in other threads so if anyone wants more detail just see my past posts.

Another one would be t+a s300 talis. Speaker is extremely impressive. Heard it yesterday. 

Mid 90’s BIC Venturi speakers always sounded great!
 Alter Lansing m-508’s/510’s
most of the Energy line made in the great white north, not China.

I’ll put my hat in the ring here. I find in 43 years of listening, that my fav is RBH Sound. I’ve owned systems in the  TK, MC, Signature Classic, SX and SV series. For AV, my SX-T2/Reference has little competition. But for two channel listening, my new pair of SV-61 that use the beryllium 6.5” woofer and AMT tweeter may be the finest speakers I’ve ever heard. They are a “poor man’s” Voca Fina. Incredible. 

Doesn't the SV-61 use an aluminum cone and a silk dome tweeter??

Any thoughts on Usher audio's newer TD series? Looks really interesting with their diamond-metal-diamond tweeter and midrange units. Some of their entry floor standers can be had for under $5k.