What are the best speakers for 80's hard rock?

Conceptually, it's hard to argue with Atmasphere.  As a practical matter, I completely disagree with his point.  At a given budget, I'd almost certainly choose different speakers were my listening preference 100% chamber music as opposed to 100% Van Halen.

In the former case, even at Unlimited budget, I might choose a great 'stat, like SoundLab. In the latter case, I'd be more inclined towards something like the MBL 101.  The speakers have different strengths and the different program materials play to/away from those strengths.

I don't need the last word in timbal accuracy, inner detail, octave to octave balance, etc to maximally enjoy Van Halen - I need huge dynamic range, bass impact, and the illusion of 3D space - that guitar needs to be palpable.  The 101s deliver that in a way the SoundLabs don't - at least in my experience with auditioning both.  The MBLs have a few issues that make me pause, but they are KILLER choices if your only need is the illusion of a rock band in your listening room.

Not only is no speaker (IMO) perfect, but speakers that are really SOTA in one particular area do two things -

1). They tend to point out that other very good speakers come up short in (at least) the narrow area that the standard excels in.

2). They tend to have one (or more) weaknesses that become evident when A-B tested vs the best competition.

There's no perfect speaker.  Some are more versatile than others, with no meaningful flaws but no SOTA areas, either.  Others make a different trade-off, kill it in one or two areas, but live with flaws on other fronts.  

My my own listening habits are Catholic enough that I'd probably spend my money on an all-around performer.  However, were my tastes really narrow (as implied by the OP) I'd make my decision in a different way.

To clarify,

In my example contrasting MBL vs Soundlab, it was not my intention to suggest that Soundlab would fo a poor job with Van Halen.   It WAS my intention to suggest that the big MBLs would do a better job (at least to my taste).  The delta is probably more significant on the flip side - The MBL wouldn't be my first choice for chamber music, while the Soundllab might well be.  Both speakers sound good with a variety of source material, but the MBL (in particular) shines with loud rock music IMO.

BDP used his car analogy, and I think there's some merit there, tho I might go with a different variation on that.   Some performance cars are designer around higher output motors and live with higher weight.  Others prioritize low weight and might trade away horsepower to keep the whole thing light.  The design starting point influences the end point.

I do think the designers of the Soundlab and MBL started in very different places.  'Stats and omnis inherently offer different potential and I believe that the respective designers look to optimize the basics that they're working with.  In any event, they do sound very different from one another.  I prefer the MBLs to the Sounlabs (and probably anything else) on electric rock at high volume.  For a real-world variety of source material, I'd probably choose Soundlab.

That statement is based on my auditioning both speakers, not the observations re: design.

Atma,

This was a million miles from a controlled A-B; different systems, different rooms, different source material - tho each has been auditioned on multiple ocassions.  However, the two speaker systems sounded consistent in character over time despite the differences.  

The MBL is "in your face" at high volume with chest thump bass impact and an electric guitar that hangs in the air.  Along with varying degrees of bottom heavy octave to octave balance and not insignificant bass overhang.

The SoundLabs were much tidier for better and for worse.  None of the tonal  issues that bugged me but not nearly the visceral impact, either.

Im pretty confident (tho I can't be 100% certain) that amps, rooms, etc aren't the root cause here.  These are very different speaker systems and, for me, the MBLs are uniquely strong in the bass impact, macro dynamics, and 3D imaging that suit high SPL Rock n roll.

Just IME.