Best new/demo/used value for $7.5K range


Hello all!

I will be buying new speakers at the end of September.

My budget is roughly $7.5K (can flex some if a steal is found).

I am currently looking at:
-B&W 802N (5000K used and 7K demo)
-JM lab Mezzo Utopia (7k used)
-Revel Studio (7.5K used)
-Dynaudio Confidence 5 (5k used)
-Wilson Sophia Used (8.5K? used)
-Wilson Watt/Puppy6 (8.5K? used)

I like all of these speakers for different reasons. I would be happy with any of them, but wish I could afford the wilsons - my favorite.

Any thoughts? At this price I want to know I considered everything.

My gear: EAD 8000pro preamp, Levinson No.27, Classe CAV150, SACD XA-777es, Pioneer Elite DV-47 DVDm, Transparent Audio and Audioquest interconnects...
jtee
I disagree with Ritteri and find the Sophias much more musical than the Revels (maybe just a 1st order vs 4th order thing). They also don't require a mega amp making cost savings a big issue. Give them a 50 watt tube amp and be prepared for great sound.

I know Ritteri has issues with Wilson construction--read the latest TAS/Soundstage and make your own decision. Many people have issue with Revel as in to the overall speaker design if you search as well.

Of course, I have never heard Revels in any setup that sound great to me. Personal preference is key here, so I strongly urge auditioning everything before buying. I will admit my strong preference to not buying equipment that is inefficent or has strong dips. Just not friendly for amplifier selection.

The mezzos are a great speaker, and are at ridiculous prices today used (ie. superb value). I am curious to hear the new Alto soon. JM Labs also don't require tons of current which is nice.

Cheers,

KeithR
Coincidence speaker technologies Total Eclipse

Joseph Audio RM33si Reference Standard

These are full-range mindblowing values. Bye, Bye Dunlavy, Wilson etc. At this price point they have very few peers. IMHO
Sonus Faber Cremonas, right at $7.5k new. Magical, musical midrange--nothing else can compare!
If the speakers dont sound musical, look to your source,amps and other equipment. A truely transparant speaker will bring out the flaws in the rest of the equipment chain. As for Revel's needing big power amplifiers, completely untrue. I have heard Salons and Studio's with tube amps in the 50-75wpc range that sounded great at rather high volumes too.

KeithR: Sorry Ive never been into TAS or Stereophile all that much or their take on build quality. I take breaking down one physically in person over any magazine article any day. WIlson uses alot of fancy words and marketing for something unremarkeable at best. Other than the structural cabinet(its decking material folks!)they are pretty basic speakers at best. Gotta love that "high grade" velcro they use for the grilles.........