Legacy Audio Focus SE vs. Canton Reference 5K

I have had Legacy Signature IIIs for 18 years in my second system easily driven with a 35 watt EL34 tube amp.  Superior deep and punchy bass.  Open throughout 1,600' of floor space (emanates from my 400' living room).  Excellent dispersion within the 400' from every corner.  Not as resolving as Wilson's (thanks for that).  I had them for two months in my main listening room and they were somewhat smaller sounding than the Focuses but so much more enjoyable with their rear tweeter providing so much great ambiance (replaced by Von Schweikert VR9 SE MK2 upgraded).  I intend to repaint the black oak finishes for $5k into pearlescent white to match my pink and white living room that's how much I enjoy the Signature IIIs rather than purchase another speaker (Canton Reference 5Ks are for sale right now for about $6K). Certainly don't want any untoward brightness in the highs (I still hear up to 16K per testing last year).   I haven't auditioned the newer Signatures which looks fundamentally different (no rear ambiance tweeter, a pair of ribbon tweeter/mid-ranges).     

For $5K buy a nice used pair of Vandersteen 5As.

In that price range you might want to consider the Spatial Audio X3. Huge SS and plenty of bottom end from two onboard powered 15" subs.

http://www.spatialaudio.us/pagex3

I've never owned either, I have heard them.

Canton will give you a slightly larger soundstage, but will be brighter and not quite have the ooomph in the low end that those Legacy will have.  Legacy makes a nice speaker, the dealer I heard them at said they are a bit harder to set up (and futzed around with them for a while) to get a bigger soundstage.  I thought they were nice sounding, lots of bass (a little one noteish but not bad), and certainly not too bright.

Lots of speakers in that pricerange new/used.  

GoldenEar Triton's
Monitor Audio - I heard their Platinum PL 300's, good bass similar to canton.  Might be worth an audition.
Those new Polks (haven't heard), first review seems like set-up is finnicky.
DynAudio Contour Series
Smaller guys - Tekton, Salk, Ohm, Selah, VonSchweikerts
Some older Wilsons can be found used, Focal...
Definitive Techology

Just a lot in that space.

If a larger soundstage with bass is what you crave, something bi-polar, open backed, omni-polar or similar might fit the bill.  Tekton and Ohm seem to have a lot of bass and a big sound for the $$$.

Salk and Selah will do custom or semi-custom stuff.

Better sound stage is the main thing I’m after. And, I can buy the Canton’s for a couple grand less.

Have you heard the Cantons?

Sounds like you are familiar with the Legacy, and to some extent like it.  What do you wish that it did better?  If the answer is nothing, than I wouldn't worry about the Canton one would think.

If there are things you wish the Legacy did better, what might those be?

Both speakers have good low end performance but I'm sure you're correct that the Legacy has more slam. This could be my last set of speakers so resale is not as critical as performance. I do agree that the Legacy is a tough speaker to beat. But I haven't heard the Cantons, hence my inquiry.

What are you looking for in a speaker?

Canton's (that I have heard) can get a little bright.  Cantons are a tough resale in the USA.  Legacy's move all the time.

5k I heard was a solid speaker, I don't think it puts out the bass that the Legacy Focus SE does.  

Don't worry, I'm sure AudioTroll will post here soon enough.