the big one: how do you choose speakers? By what features, data?

@cey great pointers!

@mijostyn dead serious! 

budget 2K - used?

room is 15x12 one corner is open but seems to be ok

I like sweet vocals, not a lot of bass, clarity, details but not too analytical, warm sound

Imaging is preferable, my current speakers are 4 feet from back wall, 3 feet from the side, I am sitting 5 feet from the speakers. I am wearing a yellow T-shirt :)

@mijostyn

I am very impressed. I 100% agree with you, the P3ESR XD might just work its magic. You are a genius. (Now, about the 911, I question your color choice... but I will let it slide)

My favored brands, in addition to Harbeth, in the 2K used price range:

• KHL
• Buchardt
• Amphion
• Q
• Revival (no used, yet)

I wonder about Zu, may be too big for my small space.

I have to say: Harbeths are so ugly, they are almost pretty.

Hawthorne has a pair of Harbeth Compact 7ES3 for $2500

thanks @audiojan and @ja_kub_sz 

sensitivity, ​​​​​​placement, looks are high on my list. I am learning to read the impedance curve! :)

@drrsutliff the Vienna Acoustics are superb value. Not too many on the market here. I see a few in the US at any given time. 

@kokakolia looks cool but no OGY distributors in the US

that is not to say I don't want (to try) another amp but it's definitely not my bottleneck. My current speakers are very musical, but a bit muddy and have too much bass at the expense of the midrange. Which is probably by design, for this price range and components, it's giving the listener a lot of bang - literally

Hi @dwest1023 how does the Dynaudio special 40’s compare to the Buchardt 400? Looks like you have a lot of similar speakers (but may sound very unique each)

@jeffseight it was not my intention to hold back my location. Apologies if I gave that impression. San Diego, CA

@kennyc the 8 is on my radar. I have a small-ish room, it would be perfect.

@jdougs I love the KHLs. I am a die-hard collector of any Henry Kloss product.

@kennyc I don't know what I want, I do know what I don't, based on what I have heard.

No KEF, B&W or Klipsch (never heard the Heritage series, so I mean the other Klipsch) and then a bunch of other brands that start at 3K.

I also prefer a bookshelf speaker, from where I sit. To me the KLH 5 is more of a bookshelf.

@kennyc  I had a horrible experience with LSA speakers. They sounded the worst of any speakers I tested and the resale value was less than 50% new. I took me 4 months to sell them at a giant discount - paid $1400, sold at $650.

@kennyc not at all. It was good learning experience in many ways, and could have been synergy issues as far as the sound.. 

@kennyc totally, the 10 would be too big for my room!

yes, that's a good list @kennyc 

Totem, Harbeth, ATC, Revel are good options!

@ct10 If one has $8900, yes :)

I think there is a lot of great value around 3 and 7K