used dunlavy athenas or cantata...from 2500 to 3500 from what i've seen. I though i stole my athenas at 4300, still do. those models are not really big, are easier to place than the dunlavy IVa's which are the closest in the running and some folks like the highs and overall speaker integration of the athenas better than the IVs. if you blow a driver the replacement won't be matched to the level they were at the shop but 1) how often to speakers cut loose and 2) your room conditions probably contribute more difference to the way each speaker reacts in your room than the speaker matching would. they are the best i've heard well into the $15k range.
I heard some wilson max speakers the other day that were much better but the room was probably a $50k room, the speakers were $40k. transparent top of the line $26k for ten feet of wire speaker cables, $27k worth of halcos, $15 k worth of vtl pre and some $30k three piece cd contraption. It was the first system that made me sence something was lacking in mine but after a day i'd re-adjusted to reality and went back to diggin my system. i'll stick with the athenas and buy my kids an education. try em you'll love em
I heard some wilson max speakers the other day that were much better but the room was probably a $50k room, the speakers were $40k. transparent top of the line $26k for ten feet of wire speaker cables, $27k worth of halcos, $15 k worth of vtl pre and some $30k three piece cd contraption. It was the first system that made me sence something was lacking in mine but after a day i'd re-adjusted to reality and went back to diggin my system. i'll stick with the athenas and buy my kids an education. try em you'll love em