Best Kept Speaker Secret?


OK all you speaker experts out there here goes. There are always "sleepers" or "exceptions to every rule or cost" in high end audio equipment. In your opinion what is the best kept secret or exception to the cost for the very best speaker you can buy for $4000 or less (Used). Your feedback will be greatly appreciated toward building my short list. Thank you.
golfnut
Thorty thats probably true. But those electros really drink the juice!! Powerholics!! True they sound great except the low end is soft. They are QUITE BIG. I prefer a great small AFFORDABLE quality intregrated to drive efficent speakers as opposed to BIG POWER amps driving nice sounding electros. But like i say if you have the large room and have a big amp say like the Electrocompaniet NEMO or their 160 watt class A monos WOW!!!!! Maybe the ML CLS2Z or the SL.
I have to say that of all the speakers I have had and critically listened, the Paradigm Reference Studio 100s are my favorite. I was truly surprised when I first heard them. I ditched my expensive B&W N804s and got a pair of 100s. I love them! I want to hear the new McIntosh Academy speakers however.
Tweekerman, with the right amp even 70W can be enough for Soundlabs. I am using a Berning 270 with mine with excellent results and have very good BASS; (no softy bass either) no extra sub required in this room let me assure you :)
I agree that electrostats in general need a fair amount of quality power and my Soundlabs are no exception but 70 killer watts from the Berning, believe it or not, does the job very well in my modestly sized room.

True, I wish the esl's did not require so much juice to do a moderately large size listening area justice but fortunately my present room (27'x12'x7') is small enough to be happy with 70 high quality OTL watts. Now, wouldn't it be great if you could get bass from a smaller esl panel? What a dreamer I am :)

Chris

Thorty now thats a new one for me. just went to their web the beautiful photo of the inside electronics is awesome! even the name -ZERO HYSTERESIS ZH270- lets me know its a departure from tradition. however at $4500, it better be great. as well there are others to consider at this price range. I'm getting Cabasse today, if they don't do it for me i'll more than likely follow your trail and get used SL's. yes you are very correct. 1 QUALITY watt = 2 to 4 generic watts. i have a little 40 watt tube amp and it delivers FAR MORE (ie. more than TWICE) the power of my supposingly 100 watt ss amp. i will not mention names gets irrate some owners of their beloved.