$3000 Speaker Search


I'm celebrating my 20th year working for the same company this coming spring (knock on wood). I decided to treat myself to some new speakers to celebrate. My budget is about $3k. I generally purchase used/demo gear only, but I'm open to something new since this is a special purchase for me. I stream music only and my current system is a Primaluna Dialogue One integrated, Eastern Electric MiniMax Dac Plus and Totem Acoustic Hawks. I like the Hawks a lot but I think the highs are a bit "etchy" and sometimes a bit bright. I'd prefer a 3 way speaker and something more efficient that the Hawks since I'm pretty committed to the tube integrated. I generally listen to indie rock, jazz, and acoustic rock. I listen to a lot of other music, but these are the genres most important so the speaker must excel with string and percussion instruments as well as vocals. I'm also more interested in a speaker with excellent imaging and soundstage over detail, but I also want a natural and dynamic sound. My listening space is a nook off the main living space. It's supposed to be a dining area I think. It's about 11x12, but open on one side to about 1000-1200 sq ft living space. You can watch this youtube video to see my system and room. Since the speaker is in my main living room it will have to be a good looking speaker, preferably in a wood finish, and it can't be huge.

I'm looking for any suggestions given my equipment, music tastes, room, and preferred genres. My current favroite is the Salk Song3 or maybe Song3-A, even though I haven't listened to them. I had Songtowers before and loved them so I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with these, but not sure if going the Song3-A is worth the extra money for me. If you have any other suggestions let me know. I'm in Portland, OR so I have a lot of good brands to listen to around here but its not a huge audiophile town. Thanks!
abd1
These may be the "best speakers in the World" - certainly for their price and size - read the reviews, and you'll understand.

 I’ve got 2 pair - and... I’ve not heard anything to challenge them at many times their price. Though, they do have exceptional resolution of detail - if you’re not a fan of that.

http://www.wavetouchaudio.com/products.html

http://www.wavetouchaudio.com/reviews.html

Otherwise... I’d 2nd the recommendations of the Spatial Audio OB’s and the Magnestand’s (which I also have).

Nothing else mentioned comes close to any of these.


@bassdude2

I don't doubt that these speakers are excellent, but when you say that "nothing else mentioned comes close to any of these," is this conclusion based upon extensive listening comparisons you have done with ALL of these speakers? I am just wondering how you arrived at this fairly startling conclusion.

That list of possibilities listed above is pretty extensive. It would be impressive indeed if you had heard them all.

Most of them... and... yes, I can say this without reservation.

Read the reviews - not just my opinion, but those of many, many others.

If you don’t believe them... try these speakers and see for yourself... it will cost you nothing, but the price of the shipping.

By the way... my ideal choice of speakers would be the Legacy Audio Aeris, or some of the upper end Gamut’s, or Focal’s, or Magico’s, or Tannoy’s... but the WaveTouch Audio speakers with a very similar sound will do fine... at a much, much lower price.
bassdude2 - Not for nothing, but "most" is not "all".  As JGH used to say, if you haven't heard it, you don't have an opinion.
Though... I should mention... that if you're sensitive about the appearance of your speakers... the WaveTouch Audio speakers have a bit of an "other worldly" appearance, and do not rival the "finish" of many others.  

My priorities, however, are the sound quality... not the appearance.  And... in that regard... there are few which compare.