Best MONITORS availables

Interesting Speedo, I was unaware Jtinn was from South Carolina. I somehow was under the impression he was Oregonian. Nonetheless, he did speak of direct experience with 3 of the 4 speakers asked about, whereas you spoke directly of none, mention the JM Labs, and think one looks killer. Is thinking a speaker looks "killer" considered gaining experience as to what is truly musical? Or is it "enhanced" BS ? Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily. I could be wrong here, but I'm not so sure the original poster got the full 2 cents worth from you.

I do not know about absolute Best but for $2500, the Avalon Studio Pro provide all that I expect from a monitor. They are amazing in their ability to portrait recordings, ultimate transparency and down to 34 Hz or less in an exemplary way...a bargain IMHO...look is a different story for some though! I would put them against any monitor at any price and would not expect them to be within more than 5% of the absolute best - if it exists.

I got the Focus FS688 recently and couldn't be happier

Behame, did you consider Avalon's mixing monitor?

No I did not, afraid that the even higher level of resolution could be "too much of a good thing" and dissect music a bit too much for domestic use..not to mention a pricing that gets closer to the Ascendant I believe. Did you audition them?