Looking for New Speakers - Suggestions


I am finally actively looking for a new speaker setup for use primarily as 2 channel but will also be used for HT. I prefer to build the system around my front to channels.

Here is my story. I have been in the AV biz for 12 years. I have heard 100's of speakers and never really fell in love with them. I have owned the following

B&W 805's
B&W CM4's
Paradigm Atoms
Paradigm Studio 60's
Energy Take 5 (college)
KEF KHT 6000
Monsooon FPF600's
Martin Logan Clarity's

I have actively sold Monitor Audio, Krell, McIntosh, Paradigm, B&W, Sonance, Def Tech, KEF, Vienna Acoustics, JBL Synthesis, Polk, Velodyne.

I really enjoy music loud. Like U2 360 concert loud. I just can't get enough of a dynamic system. I blew the drivers out of our floor model Krell LAT-2's one day demoing them when we first got them in. I listen to jazz, classical, etc. quite a bit but for the most part I listen to indie rock and electronic music.

I really have never found a home speaker that was dynamic and exciting but could also quiet down and let me enjoy some old jazz vinyl I picked up from my father.

I was thinking about going to line array based speakers or Maggies but wondering what other products might be out there.
skent12
Amps - Bryston SST, Lexicon LX-7, Anthem MCA-20, Krell KAV-300i

You may have lots of gear, but it's all solid state, all muscle amps. I would definitely not pair any of those with Khorns or Lascalas so if your impressions were with those kinds of amps I can understand your reaction. Even if not, I do get that horns are not everyone's cup-o-joe. No need to explain the preference further. There are very few SS amps I've heard making music I'd like to listen to with Khorns (McIntosh does a fine job though for some reason, and I'm sure there are some others, but in general it is a challenging match-up IMO, and more often than not tends to sound harsh or shouty to my ears).

Have you thought of putting tubes in the mix somewhere? Perhaps a tube pre with HT bypass? Or perhaps using SS amps known more for their finesse with music than for their muscle (Pass, Ayre, Plinius, etc)? It may be something worth considering if you want to put any kind of stress on 2-channel music listening. That's not to harsh your amp selection...but I could certainly think of better choices for music. That said, I've heard some older Krell amps sounding really great with Martin Logan speakers. I can't recall the combination as this was many years ago. The only amp I have any exposure to that you own is the Bryston (I think I've heard their 3 and 7). It's fine, but not something that particularly would float my boat for music.
Jax2,

Funny enough I have heard the Klipsch speakers on McIntosh amps. I believe they were the Heresy's or Cornwalls. Can't remember. Sounded better but to be honest that was a long time ago and was pretty green in the biz. I might end up going to listen to some again just to confirm.

Buconero117, Heard about the JBL Everest but I believe those start at $30k per pair. $2k for the pair is my budget.
I have a pair of Monitor Audio Studio 6 Loudspeakers with a matching Monitor Audio Studio Centre speaker for sale on Audiogon, that has very little use.Less then 300 hours and I am the original owner.
I am selling because I don't have room for a home theatre. Do a search on the Monitor Audio Studio series.

Abill
How about Dynaudio Audience 82? There is (was?) a brand new black pair here for 1500. I picked up a pair on Craigslist locally for 1 K and they have dynamics out the wazoo but also sound nice at lower volume levels with any kind of music. I think quite non fatiguing sound and close to full range as most of us need. They'll take the power and I like to listen loud too. I think they'd go great with your Bryston amp. I run them with Bel Canto Ref 1000 mk ii amps and Adcom GFP 750 pre in active mode. I can listen to rock, jazz, bluegrass/acoustic, classical and it all sounds good.