Do you want the best system you can get for the money and intend to live with it for many years? Or would you find enjoyment (as many do) in continuously rotating equipment in and out of your system? If the former then I have advice for you.
I've gone through a fair amount of gear in the 25 years since I put together my first serious system. I strongly recommend this path:
I understand that this advice is counter to the conventional wisdom of the home-audio community. I don't think there's much info on active monitors here. You can check out pro-audio forums such as gearslutz (which has its own issues) for a different perspective.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to audition active monitors, although that's starting to change with high-end active speakers such as the Kii (around your budget) targeted at the home music listener. More reason to wait the two years.
If you decide to go the conventional route of passive speakers, I recommend Audio Vision SF in your hometown. They have an amazing inventory. Not sure how flexible they are on in-home trials.
I've gone through a fair amount of gear in the 25 years since I put together my first serious system. I strongly recommend this path:
- Live with your current system for two years while you save the $10K. Use the time to research and look for deals.
- Spend as much of your $10K as needed on a pair of the best active monitors you can find. Spend the remainder ($500 should do) on a DAC with balanced outputs and ideally a headphone jack. Sell your Jolida amp and Energy speakers. Keep your Sonos.
- (OPTIONAL) If/when you get the upgrade bug, upgrade your DAC. Or get some headphones.
I understand that this advice is counter to the conventional wisdom of the home-audio community. I don't think there's much info on active monitors here. You can check out pro-audio forums such as gearslutz (which has its own issues) for a different perspective.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to audition active monitors, although that's starting to change with high-end active speakers such as the Kii (around your budget) targeted at the home music listener. More reason to wait the two years.
If you decide to go the conventional route of passive speakers, I recommend Audio Vision SF in your hometown. They have an amazing inventory. Not sure how flexible they are on in-home trials.