I have a pair of Goldenear Triton 2+, which now run just under 4K. They keep going up in price. I think last I heard they were $3695. As all the reviewers will tell you, they're damned good. Very relaxed. They don't feel like they're trying to be good, they just are. An example of the opposite in my mind is Dynaudio. To me, they try too hard. Their bass is very tight--too tight to my ears--and their treble the same.
I wouldn't say the Goldenears romanticise the music. Some recordings I have, especially SACD or DSD discs can have a very tight sound, and the Goldenears pick that up, but make it sound musical.
Of course, as with all speakers, the source is very important. I have older Audio Research equipment. A Ref Preamp V. 2 Mk., and a PH7 phono amp. I've had some not-so-good ARC pieces, but I love these. My amp is a McCormack DNA-1, upgraded so many times it has an SMC logos on front. With the tubes, it's magical. I play vinyl on an old VPI TNT-3, which I keep in good condition, and records sound wonderful.
There are less expensive Goldenears that have also gotten fabulous reviews. I wouldn't let the fact that they take out two-page ads in every stereo magazine scare you. They make the speakers in Hong Kong and Sandy Gross (famous for other speaker lines) has become a good business man. I like the idea of in-house, hand manufactured as much as the next guy, but I couldn't afford more than a $3K speaker. And equivalent hand-made speaker would probably be at least triple.
Anyway, if I were in the market for a speaker with a $3K or less budget, I would listen to Goldenear. Often, though, the dealer shows them as surround sound speakers. Tell him to hook the Goldenears to some decent front end equipment. No speaker sounds good hooked to cheap solid state, high-watt surround sound equipment
