Standmount speaker suggestion

I wouldn't sell your pass gear to go down the Dutch & Dutch path.  Granted I heard them at a show but, I wasn't that impressed with their total tonal character.  Fritz always gets good reviews and I wish I could hear them.  The Buchardt E50 seems to be getting positive feedback, but then again I haven't heard them.

@ullogu1 Did you / can you place the speakers along the long wall and create a near field listening situation (of course this depends on the room configuration). I have preference for this setup as side walls have always been terrible (given your room). This would, ime, tame the treble down, eliminate the bass boost, and help create a much larger soundstage. I prefer near field listening, always, to get less of the room involved (even with room tweaks). I am interested if anyone has done this and agrees with my assertion? I am not suggesting there are speakers you might prefer, but again, if I had your room, I would set it up this way. My best, MrD.

I've had Reference 3A Reflectors for a few years now after downsizing from Legacy Focus and have no inclination to change.  They are within your budget if you don't mind used.

I own a pair of the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4, and I know what you mean about the brightness.
I think the sound you're looking for is British. I'd look at Harbeth or Spendor. However I've got a pair of Tannoy Eaton's I absolutely love that might work for you, and Upscale Audio has a sale on Tannoy.

The PS Audio looks interesting but CA taxes add another 10% :-(

PS Audio Aspen FR5 speakers are amazing. I heard them at their Sound Lab listening room. Imaging, dynamics, wide soundstage, and clarity. I kept looking for the subwoofer because bass was incredible.

Right now they are having an Axpona special, $1000 off (25%, $2,999) if you buy with their stands, which I recommend because they look great and are engineered to work with the speakers.

They will match or beat anything else on this post.

Another plug for the Joseph Audio Pulsars.  Great speakers that I drove with my Pass Labs 250.8.  You can't go wrong with the Pulsars, great sounding speakers with surprising bass for their size.  A great deal.

I think the three you’ve focused on are all excellent and think you’ll get significant improvements and be very happy with any of them.  Keep us posted. 

It occurs to me that I am looking for something that is less bright than the B&W's. In other words, I am not necessarily looking for a warm speaker but perhaps more neutral as that will shift the current presentation of my speakers

ullogu1

Please get back to us when you've made a purchase, I'd like to hear more when you do

If you don’t mind a little DIY, the Satori Ara Textreme kit from Madisound will outperform many of the aforementioned options and for a lot less dough.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/satori-ara-textreme-2-way-speaker-kit-pair-with-cabinets/

Otherwise, I would highly consider the new Buchardt E50.  

ATC which has better midrange than Harbeth and much better dynamics. It’s the latter that makes music exciting. 

I'm leaning towards Fritz, JA Pulsar, and Revival Atalante 3. The Dutch&Dutch seem like they are super good, but I'd have to sell the Pass and use my Aesthetix Pandora DAC as a preamp.

Having just bought new speakers (Audel) I had a shortlist.  I wouldn't recommend the new replacement speaker that I had bought on closeout as it took a huge price hike when there are still the others I considered were as stated above from others' choices as well: Speakers from the Fritz brand, Atalante 3, Xavians, perhaps Fischer and Fischer.  Some of which can be had used/closeout, etc. for less money if one can find them.

There are more speaker options but those I mentioned would be my targets.  Fritz has a long history of success.  Atalante 3 may become a rare classic that performs if the Company fails to move on from the death of the owner/designer and I got a thing for wood cabinets when done right (Xavian). 

Someone had mentioned the new PS Audio Aspen FR5 speakers.  They are now 25% off, (Axpona Special) and have a 30 day trial period.  I've heard them and was very impressed.  

Might be worth it to get a pair and try them...

Biased Harbeth SLH5+ owner here. Not bright at all but great detail. Need some power but not a ton. Bet they would be lovely with that amp.

That's the order I put them in as well, but I'm biased from owning the Atalante 3. If I had a bigger space, I'd get the Atalante 5 and if I ever won the lottery, their new Atalante 7. Here's a shot of it:

That's a 15" woofer with a -6db @ 23 Hz, weighing in at 147.71 # each. They go for $10K a pair. I can dream, can't I? 

All the best,
Nonoise

Maybe we need to learn Tai first.  To me, Atalante3 > Evoke20 > Totem Sig. One.

I know that You Tube is not the last word in fidelity but with a decent computer setup you can discern differences between models in a controlled setting. Here is a video comparing the Atalante 3, the Dynaudio Evoke 20 and the Totem Signature. Give it a listen and see if there's difference enough to account for the price differences. That, and remember that Daniel Emonts, who designed the Atalante 3 was lead speaker designer for Dynaduio for 7 years and about half a dozen of their award winning designs were his creations. Skip to the 1:54 mark as it's not in English. They used a Moonriver integrated to power all three makes as well as a Rockna DAC fed from what looks like an older CDP.

All the best,
Nonoise

Used D&D 8c, around $8-9k. It comes with fully customizable DSP for specific room / listening space. Close to wall design.

@ullogu1 the Joseph Audio Pulsar, maybe Joseph Audio in general, are musical speakers and one of the few that seem universally liked. Many find B&W too bright. 

I’ve had great success with Dynaudio special 40, PS Audio Fr5, and Buchardts. I have a Pass 250. 

I have a pair of Fritz carbon 7SE Mk2 bookshelf's  that I will never sell. In a smaller secondary set up, with a SVS SB 3000 sub, Meitner DAC  ATI 6000 2 channel AMP. Streaming Qobus     Strictly Rock and Roll, mid 80's to low 90's spl. You have to hear them shine.   Robert TN

Throwing in my suggestion for Legacy Audio "Studio HD" stand mount speakers.
I haven't heard the more expensive Calibre, but the Studio's I have are amazing for the size. 

Legacy Audio Studio HD Bookshelf

I have a Pass Labs XA25. Had it paired with Harbeth 30.2 40th anniversary mounted on TonTrager for the past 5 years. Just changed to Dynaudio Contour Legacy. The Harbeth were absolutely fantastic. The midrange and voices in l’articula are second to none. I was really hesitant to let them go. 
another option could be the Dynaudio Heritage special, which are raved by many. A bit more dynamic speaker but not as good on the mid-range I found.

good luck and keep us posted

I really wonder if you people recommending absolutely obscure brands have ever heard these brands and more importantly, heard them in your own rooms or at a dealer who has attempted to optimize the setup?! Should the OP just take your word for it?! How can he possibly audition some of these WAY out-there brands without wasting his $8K?!….

A DIY Kit is the best bang for the buck especially in a Standmount! 

@motown-l plus one ... you cannot go wrong w Revel!!

Do not doubt ...

Yeah, Accordo Goldberg are $15K... not in the OPs budget although the most visually striking speaker ever produced, in my eyes anyway

@OP. As others have said, the B&Ws are forward sounding. For Sonus Faber, you could start with the Minima Amator. The Franco Serblin Accordo Goldberg is in a similar vein - both lovely sounding speakers. ProAc tend to fly a bit under the radar these days but are still excellent speakers.

Preowned all the way: KEF Reference 1, Totem Element Fire II, Focal Sopra 1, SF Guarneri Homage or even the Cremona Auditor M not in any particular order.

Just my opinion...

My universal recommendation for excellent stand mounts is Fritz.  Bargain prices and just really musical and natural.

@ullogu1 they are very similar.  They both use the same Scanspeak Revelator woofer but the Rev 7 I have uses a ring radiator tweeter where the Carrera uses a beryllium tweeter.  I believe the latest Carrera uses a soft dome tweeter.  As far as presentation they are very similar with similar specs regarding sensitivity and frequency range.  IMO one of the best price for performance deals in speakers.

ullogu, first thank you for giving your price range!

Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene, Alta Alyssa, Fyne Audio F1.8, Sonus Faber.....but my first choice would be the Joseph Audios. I've heard them many times, and they've been brilliant each time.

I just got the chance to hear a pair of Arendal 1528s, and was very impressed....but need to hear them a few more times and with gear closer to mine

Revels are great and a little less forward than most B&W’s.

Best check these, 30 day return.  $3500

https://www.psaudio.com/products/aspen-fr5-loudspeaker

GR Research has a variety of fantastic speakers well within your price range.

It's been a while since I heard Joseph speakers. But over the years I have been super impressed that EVERY time I heard them(usually at shows where there are often room problems) I have always found them to sound smooth and yet detailed if you listen for it. I have NEVER been disappointed and that's totally absurd. That kind of consistency can only come from exceptional speakers.

MBL 126 stand mount ,a Classic Great true omni directional  Loudspeaker.

You're right about the brightness of B&Ws. KEFs and Spendors to my classical and jazz music tastes sound well. Piano with Spendors are their high hard one.

Another vote for Fischer & Fischer SN 70's

Fischer & Fischer SN 70's. 

What's the difference between the Carerra and the Rev 7?

Fritz.  I have Rev 7s that I love.  The Carrera is outstanding as well.  I would say they are neutral to warm but have very good detail.

I tried the same B&Ws with the matching stands.  Beautiful and well made but too bright for me too.  After trying several different brands I went with Revel M126Be with beryllium tweeters.  Smooth top end.  Not harsh at all.  Good mid bass and kick drums have a great snap.  Best standmounts I’ve heard.  Retail for $4400 a pair but often on sale or you can buy used.  I have a pair in gloss black and a pair in walnut.  Highly recommend. 

Many are recommending Pulsars. What kind of sound do they produce? Or better asked, what would the Pass + Pulsar produce?

They are neutral and very natural sounding where nothing in particular sticks out and everything is very refined and balanced. They provide more bass than you’d think given their size with an expressive midrange, and their imaging, 3D soundstage, and ability to disappear as a sound source are among the best. As they’re very transparent and pretty much a blank canvass, sonically I’d expect them to pass through the natural warmth and musicality you probably value with your amp without adding anything of its own while allowing all your amp’s other formidable capabilities to shine to their fullest. There’s a reason the Pulsars are so highly regarded. Incidentally, although the Graphene version does seem to offer some marginal improvements they’re nowhere near as significant as with the Perspectives (and some even seem to prefer the original Pulsars), so if I’m you I’d happily buy the original version knowing you’re not missing much if anything and save $$$ — you should be able to find a nice pair in the $3500 - $4000 range.  Hope this helps.

The best I have heard in your price range are:

1. Vivid S12.  Clear, natural, but not fatiguing.  Fast.  Meat on bones imaging and excellent depth.  
2. Sonus Farber Olympics Nova 1:  Relaxed but detailed.  Sweet but natural timbre.  Natural staging.  More forgiving of poor masters while still being neutral and detailed.  Notice how many times I used the descriptive “neutral”. 
3. Vimberg Ames:  Fast and clear like the Vivid.  Probably flatter treble response than Vivid and Sonus, but that will lit you know when you play a poorly mastered recording more than the first two.  Hard to find and over budget.  

My ears like the Vivid.  Yours may differ.  Any of the three near world class bookshelf/stand mounts sound quality at or near your budget.  They all have a different palette.  Add them to your audition list.  

Jay's Magico A-1s sound really awesome but he has insane gear and room correction so there's that. 

Thanks for your replies. 

Room is treated.

Room is skinny 11ft. Long side is more than 20'. Speakers point the long way.

I sit about 7ft from speaker and the speaker is 3ft from wall.

I have tried Alyssas. Sound great but bass overpowered the space.

Had Dynaudio Confidence C1- may be a bit dark but that was with a different amp

Many are recommending Pulsars. What kind of sound do they produce? Or better asked, what would the Pass + Pulsar produce?