I should start with speakers. This I know. I’d like to establish a new system.

this rare model 4 with 1 damaged tweeter might still be available

seller says local pickup in Florida

pair of dynaudio d28 tweeters

Model II’s started with D21 tweeters, most were blown/replaced, several options exist, the D28 above was the tweeter for the Model 1.8

Model II Bass is a 10" and a 12" with the Bass Phase Shift Patent

Model 4, their last product: Bass is two 10" (in more cu. ft. cabinet), with the Bass Phase Shift Patent. I never saw or heard a Model 4, the Model II has more than enough bass IMO, and I prefer it’s appearance,

@toontrader Having owned both Harbeth 40.2 Anniversary's and horn speakers, I prefer horns.  I'm currently using Cary SLI 80 HS with factory cap and hexfred rectifier upgrades. Pairing this integrated with upgraded EL34's and NOS tubes is a sneaky good combo with horn speakers.  So based upon first hand experience, I'd pick the Volit / Cary combo over the much more expensive Harbeth 40.2's.

If you are considering speakers other than a Volti or Harbeth 40.2, you should here a range of types—conventional box speakers, panel speakers like Magnepans, open baffle speakers like PureAudioProject. speakers meant for placement in the corners of the room, like Audio Note speakers, and other speaker types that you can see at shows.  The brands I mentioned above consistently deliver good sound, in my opinion.

Also, don’t stretch to get a speaker out of your price range if it means going cheap on the amp.  The right amp is very important to getting the right sound.

I still own/have owned 1/2 of the speakers that somebody listed above.

If you post you want opinions on a speaker, 100 people will reply with a 100 different recommendations. IMO, start going to audio shows like the Tampa Show this weekend and you will see maybe 100 different speakers.

There are many speakers that are better than the kef blades for quite a bit less money. If you want some great sounding speakers for your room, used, you can pick up a pair of Revel Salon 2’s for $10k and would never need another speaker, then you will need a very good amp to power them. Look at the Usher BE10’s used for $7k, Usher BE20’s for $10k used, or the Totem Winds for $5k-$8k.

If you want something very close to the Kef Blades for 1/5 the cost, look at the Kef LS60’s that are active meaning they have the amps/dacs built in to the speakers. I’ve auditioned both speakers in the same largish room and I would buy the LS60’s. All you need is an Ethernet cable (or WiFi) and power to each speaker and you are done. Because you have a large room, I would also add 2 of the Kef subs which are easy to add to the LS60’s via the Kef app on your iPhone. 

I used to own the Revel Salon1 for 5 years and have heard the Salon2 a few times. For my ears the Salons are not as fun as the Blades. The thing with the Blades is that the soundstage on that thing is incredible. The aluminum Blade drivers are not my favorite but that soundstage, especially on a long wall placement is the best I have heard. I always have fun listening to the Blades.

In terms of cone drivers, I have not heard anything better than the Zylon drivers in the Yamaha NS5000. The Zylon is similar to Beryllium (BE) in the tweeter of the Salon2. However, while companies like Paradigm can make a BE tweeter and midrange in the Persona lineup, Yamaha is the only company to make tweeter, mid, and woofer from the SAME material. What that means is an incredibly coherent sound, especially when the cone material maybe the best around. Yamaha actually had the first BE tweeter and mid in the 1970’s in the NS1000.

I love the soundstage on the Blades and love the sound of the NS5000. My ideal speaker is a Blade with Zylon drivers. Even the Paradigm Persona 9H with Zylon (instead of BE and the woofer material) would be something special.

Saying all of this, the Blades are great, the NS5000 is great, and the Persona can be made great with some work. I take the NS5000 from this cohort.