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

Sound quality… then price… to determine which in the series I can affford.

After over twenty five years owning planar… electrostatic, ribbon and Heil based speakers I heard Sonus Faber. They possess a very distinct natural sound that distinguished them from all the other speakers I have heard. All the speakers in most lines have a similar sound with greater fidelity and precision as one moves to higher priced versions. I am on my third set… the first two based on how much I can afford, the last based on the appropriate size for my listening area. It has been a tremendous benefit they also happen to be really beautiful after in incredibly ugly speakers I previously owned.

OP,  …”size of speaker”.

Good question. I don’t know of any rule of thumb. My dealer has been to my house many times and we discussed extensively. But, while I can identify many speakers ridiculously large for the room they are in, and many insufficient… I don’t have a good enough knowledge to make up a rule. 

@monkeys_on_the_moon 

For 99.99% of the time no.
 

There were some amazing speakers like the Quad 57 that truly have a unique sound. But that is always followed by, but of course there is no bass and the high frequency is attenuated… but that midrange is so sweet. 

By and large and nearly categorically no. Each decade has produced substantial improvements in sound. But you’ll find some JBL fans… because they were in love with the time they passed around the joint in college… or fell in love with the idea of Voice of the Theater speakers. But, then, that is nostalgia.

@kennyc 

if this is your budget… great place to start!