Must Hear Speakers in $10K range


Looking for ideas, but imaging and soundstaging is important to me as well as good low end response.
128x128wig
A third strong recommendation for Daedalus!

You'll have to stretch your budget a little, though, for the top of the line Ulysses model, especially if you opt for the upgraded all-poly crossover, which by all accounts significantly improves an already outstanding speaker.

Also, if by "good low end response" you mean frequency response flatness that extends to the low 20's, you won't get that. But if you mean bass that is accurate and well defined, and extends low enough to encompass the frequency range of the great majority of recordings, you will certainly get that, as well as pretty much anything else you might ask for in that price range, including exceptional versatility with respect to amplifier selection.

Regards,
-- Al
When I did the speaker shopping thing a couple years ago, the most impressive to me were Aerial, Vandersteen, and the PSB Synchrony Ones, though admittedly, the Synchronys didn't really impress me until they were hooked up to a really good amp (a BAT VK-600, though I doubt they need something quite that monstrous to wake them up.)

I was not impressed with any of the under $10k B&Ws.

I ended up with Vandersteen Quatros (cloth).

Another vote for Daedalus speakers. They're great with either quality solid state or tube amps, and they are almost as beautiful to look at as they are to listen to--almost. They do come up used once in a great while. I bought mine used about a year ago, but I haven't seen a single pair for sale since. Most people that get them tend to keep and enjoy them!

Good luck with your search.
Since no-one mentioned them I will. You might also want to consider big Soundlabs. They can be had used for well under $10k and can sound incredible with the right amplification. Need enough room though to sound their best.
Some really like Atma-Sphere amps with them, and Viva. Others use big Rowlands or something like that.