Watkins Stereo Generation 4. I did not see a budget listed, but these are around $2,500. Watkins Stereo Store is in my hometown of Kingsport, TN, and have been building speakers since 1974. Bill Watkins, Sr., founded the company and developed and patented the Dual Bass Driver that was leased and sold to Infinity. The original WS-1 bookshelf speakers are Holy Grail discoveries in East TN, Western NC, SW Virginia, etc. The Gen 4 punch WAY ABOVE their price -- blow speakers that are $10,000 out of the room.
Moving on a sailboat - bookshelf speakers?
I've decided to spend a year on a sailboat. I'm loath to give up my home system as it's about as good as you can get before spending silly money. (LX521s, ATI/Parasound, maxed-out Linn LP12 with Blackbird arm and VdH Frog) All of it is going in storage except for my Ayre QB-9 Twenty powered by my M1 Mac Mini.
I am interested in opinions on great bookshelf speakers that actually need to live in a bookshelf. (No room for stand-mounted speakers in a 40' monohull sailboat.) I also need a good integrated amp to power the speakers. (I'm leaning towards the Audio by Van Alstine Vision SET 120 Control Amplifier.)
I think I've got about 18" tall by 12" deep as limitations. Maybe less. (I'll update when I know for sure.)
What speakers should I be looking at? Various reviews like the KEF but declare that it needs stands. Others declare the sub-$1000 B&W anniversary speakers and don't mention stands. I wish I could fit a pair of LX Minis, but the associated mid/bass tube knocks it out of the running.