yeeesh... too many good/great choices $1.5-$5k used or new, you can even choose a used Klipschorn!
Choosing a high-end speaker without listening first is pretty tough, like buying toilet paper during COVID. So I'll try to stick to "safe" choices:
ELAC - designed by speaker designer Andrew Jones (TAD, Pioneer). Best bang/buck reputation. Consistently positive reviews. Frequently puts out new speaker models. The ELAC Adante AF-61 got good reviews and is now half price at $2.5k - I suspect to make room for newer models.
KEF - I listened to the KEF-LS50, which a very large number of positive reviews, and compared it to the R700. To my attentive untrained ears they generally sounded/voiced the same with the exception of more bass for the floorstander R700. You can get the R700 for $3.6k, the newer model R7 for $4k.
GoldenEar - Triton series got great reviews. Designed by industry great Sandy Grossman (just retired). Great bang/buck reputation.
Monitor Audio - Gold 300 $7k. Although I've never demoed these speakers, I did demo their upper tier Platinum 300 series and I was very impressed with the sound and the solid build quality which punches significantly above it's price point. I know that the Gold 300 has garnered multiple positive reviews including Stereophile. For me, the Gold 300 is one of a handful of speakers I can purchase without demoing but confident it would meet my satisfaction and beyond.
Choosing a high-end speaker without listening first is pretty tough, like buying toilet paper during COVID. So I'll try to stick to "safe" choices:
ELAC - designed by speaker designer Andrew Jones (TAD, Pioneer). Best bang/buck reputation. Consistently positive reviews. Frequently puts out new speaker models. The ELAC Adante AF-61 got good reviews and is now half price at $2.5k - I suspect to make room for newer models.
KEF - I listened to the KEF-LS50, which a very large number of positive reviews, and compared it to the R700. To my attentive untrained ears they generally sounded/voiced the same with the exception of more bass for the floorstander R700. You can get the R700 for $3.6k, the newer model R7 for $4k.
GoldenEar - Triton series got great reviews. Designed by industry great Sandy Grossman (just retired). Great bang/buck reputation.
Monitor Audio - Gold 300 $7k. Although I've never demoed these speakers, I did demo their upper tier Platinum 300 series and I was very impressed with the sound and the solid build quality which punches significantly above it's price point. I know that the Gold 300 has garnered multiple positive reviews including Stereophile. For me, the Gold 300 is one of a handful of speakers I can purchase without demoing but confident it would meet my satisfaction and beyond.