Speakers for leading edge, transients, speed and big sound

Rockport 

Fischer & Fischer

Add Vivid Giya G3 or G2 to your audition list.  I recommend looking no further.  True timbre, balanced frequency response, fast, dynamic, excellent leading edge and decay, holographic sound stage.  Get past their eccentric form, the lack of horns, and give them the front end and amplification they deserve and they will provide musical bliss.  Read professional reviews.  Used they will be in your price range.  Contact the importer…GTT Audio in NJ (www.gttaudio.com).  They may have some used on their site.  No vested interest.  Just a great dealer.  

Rockports or Wilson’s.

Fast, great transient response, very coherent, and don’t have the coloration of horn drivers. With your price range you owe it to yourself to take your time, use your ears, not ours. 

Horns are for PA systems.

Ok folks, you heard this genius. Sell your horns.

Have you looked at GR-Research? You could get their NX-Otica, or even the NX-Tremes if you have a high ceiling, and a pair of triple-threat open baffle subs. All that for under $10k. They are kits, so you would have to build them or find someone to put them together for you. They may not look as sexy as some of these high dollar speakers, but properly set up my guess is they would sound phenomenal.