You know I'm not sure. My Carver amazings (2200.00 new in 94) are definitely not the best speaker now or ever. But I have not heard anything else under say 10K or so that I think blows them out of the water. I listened extensively to maggie 3.6 and I liked some things better but in many ways I liked my Carvers. I have also listened to Avalon, Wilson, Mcintosh (all very pricey!) and Analysis Audio (look like Apogee rip off) and they just don't justify the difference in dough....
I just installed New Peerless 10" very massive woofers to replace the carver orig.and had the xover done with new caps etc. by parts connexion and now they are even more amazing.(pun) But, I'm also buying Quad 989's because I think that they may do it for me. who knows? The mind of an addict is not very predictable