Speakers in the 5-6K$ region & their components


Hi all,

This is my 1st post here.
I'm a long time audio enthusiast and even worked in high-end audio sales for a few years a while back, but I've been out of the loop for a few years now. I'm looking now for a new pair of speakers in the 5-6K$ range to replace my current Merlin TSM. The type I'm looking for is a 2 way 6-6.5'' speaker, preferably a floorstander. I know many brands and models and went through a lot of speakers in the past, so my question is a technical one:

I'm looking only for speakers in this range which use high end componenets. which ones are there?

I've already done some research, so here are a few examples of what I mean:

Proac in its response range is using Scanspeak D2604 tweeter (48$/unit).
PMC in its "i" series - Seas 27TFFC (45$/unit).
Spendor, "A" series - Seas 29TFF/W (52$/unit).

I can go on and also bring examples of the woofers used and more speaker brands, but I think the picture is clear. These are all quality units of well acclaimed manufacturers, but are by no means high-end units. Which are?
My research brought me this far to the following (All in my price range):

Kudos audio Super 10/Super20: Seas T29CF-002 tweeter (330$/unit) + a version of Seas W18NX (196$/unit)

Marten Form Floor: Accuton C173-6-095 woofer (over 300$/unit) + a ribbon tweeter I was unable to recognize (anyone?)

Merlin VSM (as second hand only): Dynaudio D330/A tweeter (over 400$ per unit) + Scanspeak 18W/8545-01 (173$/unit).

BTW, my current Merlin TSM is using Morel MDT30 tweeter (80$/unit) + Morel MW166 woofer (124$/unit) and sounds wonderful to my taste, despite a considerable lack of bass (being a sealed- box design). 

So, given all that, does anyone have any more ideas for speakers I should consider?
roylindenfeld
Best thing to do is go out and audition loudspeakers you feel fit your needs as your needs will be quite different to others just like my needs are different to yours. My only word of caution which if you say you have knowledge of driver manufacturers you will be very aware of; expensive drivers can often mean either custom made or limited run models so any repair/replacement needs further down the line will leave you with nothing more than silent boxes!
BTW I have just restored and modified a pair of Swedish concrete speakers with the E J Jordan Eikona full range drive units, stunning drive unit and I would recommend anyone to try to listen to these.
Anybody want to comment on the original Joachim Gerhard designed audio physic speakers? I believe they fall into camp of (I wouldn't say dirt cheap), but relatively inexpensive drivers (no diamond or berriliuyn tweeters here), and always achieved amazing sound outright, let alone for the price. Perhaps a good example of the whole being FAR MORE than the sum of the parts?
I have owned a pair of Golden Ear Triton 1's for @ a year now. I believe for the money they are a great value! You owe it to yourself to listen to them. I love the staging. They also are very revealing. Vocals,piano,sax and cymbals all sounded wonderful to me. I don't have expensive equipment and the Triton1's sound blows me away. It's like all new music.
Important to note here, the cost of a driver does not indicate how good it sounds. In many/most cases the technology they use is suspect. Example what are the sonic benefits of diamond coated diaphragms. What is so great sounding about ribbon tweeters, plasma tweeters?

So expensive drivers don't necessarily sound great or even better. I think to many speakers today are forward and lean. The audio industry is trying to convince us that is what we should fall in love with. Count my out.