What are the best loudspeakers under $4000 to re-create lifelike piano


Over the past 4 months I've spent time with five loudspeakers.  On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate them as follows in their ability (with my equipment in my room) to recreate a lifelike piano.  Tekton Lore - 6.5 (great scale but tonal accuracy and clarity somewhat lacking),    Kef LS50 - 7.0 (moderate scale but slightly better clarity and tonal accuracy)  Kef R500 - 8.0  (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy), Spatial Audio M3TurboS -8.1 (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy and very smooth)  Magnepan 1.7i - 9.0 (very good scale with excellent clarity and tonal accuracy - very lifelike).

In your room with your equipment, what loudspeakers are you listening too and how would you rate them for their ability to recreate a lifelife piano and if possible a few comments as to why?
snapsc
(as in your commentary to snapsc re speakers Walsh...)

A pair: Nice....
Add a sub: Improves..
But, if one adds a 2nd pair.... 5.1, that sort of thing....
Amazing is just a word....;)


ASVJerry.  Ok, this is a little off subject but it looks like you built your own style of walshes. What kind of transducers (paper, titanium, etc) did you use and why. 

It it seems strange that so few loudspeaker companies have adopted then marketed a Walsh based product???

snapsc - If I can chime in while we wait for ASVJerry, Ohm does not use Walsh drivers these days, but they do use the Walsh principle of bending wave propagation, in which the back of a cone driver radiates sound in a quasi-omni pattern.  Getting this type of speaker voiced right requires, IMO, a different skill set than voicing other speaker types.  A few are really good at it, including John Strohbeen at Ohm and German Physiks (which does use a Dicks Dipole Driver). 


Part of the reason so few do this is, perhaps, marketing.  Many consumers expect a bunch of forward facing drivers in a box.  Many assume omni's can't image well (which is false, IME).  And in the early days, true Walsh designs were, um, finicky about associated gear and had some reliability issues.  And then there is the price.  Ohm Walsh speakers are not expensive, and since Ohm doesn't sell a $75,000 Reference model, they don't get a lot of love from the audio press or high-end folks.  Selling factory direct is a two-edged sword, too, which keeps prices low, but means there is no dealer network to talk up the brand.  Just my 2 cents.

Nobody seems to include the "lowly" Snell Type B speaker to this list. I have a pair. I picked them up used for the ridiculous price of $675.00!!! I needed to replace four of the midwoofers which added $300.00 to the cost. They sound like new. The Type B's are unique because they are five sided. The side that fires into the sound stage has a tweeter that adds significantly to the soundstage. Look for a pair or at least a chance to hear them. They compete with speakers that cost tens of thousands of dollars. I'm happy with mine! Joe