Mellow speakers


I'm on the hunt for a mellower sound.  I've traced my dissatisfaction to my speakers (I think).  I've got PMC TB2i monitors on good stands.  Occasionally they provide sonic bliss...letting me peer in to the music, great sound stage, etc.  But other times they are just too piercing (for lack of a better adjective).  I also find myself concentrating more on the gear rather than the music.  I'm blaming my speakers.

So, I'd like to put a mellow pair of floorstanders next to them.  I want full, warm, mellow speakers...something I can swim in and just enjoy the music.  My local shop has a super clean pair of KEF 104.2.  And, they're going to redo the woofers while they have them in the shop.  I understand the woofers can be a bit of a bear and that they have an odd proprietary KEF technology that makes them a little difficult to repair (what's with the rod between the woofers?).  With that said, I heard them, and I thought they sounded like anti-PMCs.  Perfect, no?  Why not bring home some old school, rolled off, mellow speakers as a foil to my PMCs.  So...my question...are there modern speakers that have a mellower sound, or other older speakers that I should consider?  Any consensus on the KEFs? 

My gear:
VPI Classic TT
Digital via Mac and Mytek DAC
Ayre pre
Prima Luna tube power amp or Primare solid state

Thanks.

Ag insider logo xs@2xeduceus
You feeding your equipment with clean power? Balanced Power really took the harshness off the sound for me. Also, do you have any room treatments?.
The Vandersteens are on my radar screen.  And thanks for all the brand recommendations.  Anyone have any direct experience with the KEF 104/2s?

Vandersteens are a mellow speaker. BTW,Harbeth does not make any floorstanders!
Older generation Sonus Faber speakers fit the "mellowness" bill, but  I'm not sure that there were any floorstanders in their line back in that day.   You could also look at the Verity Parsifal/Encore, if your budget allows.  I use Ohms as my main loudspeakers these days (and highly recommend them), but they're pretty neutral in tonal balance IMO, while I'd say that both older SF and Verity definitely lean warm, FWIW.
If you want to swim in it, a pair of Ohm floorstanders might fit the bill. I believe you could also audition a pair in your home and return them to Ohm if you are not delighted. I don't own a pair, but there are plenty of Ohm fans on AgoN who might be able to offer an opinion.
You should look into Audio Note (uk), ProAc, Harbeth, Reference, or JM Reynaud and classic Spendor.  These brands offer musical, warmish speakers.