Curious what people think is the best "value" high end speaker (~5K to 15K)


I am on a long search for speakers and just curious what people think is the best value both new or used in speakers ranging from around $5000 to $15000? I have a set of Paradigm S8's (V1) and love them but looking for another set for another set in a different listening area (25 x 20?, maybe larger).  I love the full sound of JBL's and looking for something in that range (it also helps that JBL's seem to hold their value better than most, which will be a consideration). The only drawback to JBL is footprint.  I prefer a smaller footprint which is why after reading I hope to listen to several B&W 800 series but open to suggestions across the board.  used Watt Puppies? Revels?  I am curious about peoples experience with McIntosh XR100's. 
gene3x
@russbutton , thanks for your feedback on the Linkwitz speakers. I'm totally in agreement with you that the Orion is by far the more elegant looking speaker. The LX521 might be one of the best loudspeakers ever built, it sure has a huge amount of science backing it up, but it looks like it belongs in a church. Maybe you could grow to like it, I don't know.

I beginning to suspect, as richier31 mentioned, that open baffle designs are inherently superior to any box designs.

The problems of cabinet resonances are well known and other than the Harbeth thin-walled approach it is difficult to see what else can be done. I remember Alan Shaw pointing out the difficulty of controlling the complex internal cabinet pressures and resonances especially once you consider that the thinnest and weakest part of a loudspeaker cabinet is the cone material itself.

Open baffle designs, on the other hand, appear to cut that Gordian knot in one go.
I  absolutely love my GoldenEar Triton 1’s. There is a reason they have won just about every major award. I auditioned them, and completely agree. And they are at the very low end of your price range. 

The GoldenEar Reference is even better - audition them in your listening space.

Good luck,  because as you know there is no real answer! :-) Because it’s what you like, not what everyone else likes. 

Kinda like sports cars...

 
At CAF today I heard the TAD ME1 speakers and they were incredible. Right at 15K.
At CAF today I heard the TAD ME1 speakers and they were incredible.
@lancelock what were they using to drive them? I’ve heard the TADs a couple times but I don’t think they had the right gear, the sound was very dry.