Thank you all for such thoughtful, engaged responses. It means a lot to me that so many took the time to consider the question with such care. I'd especially like to thank @verdantaudio, @phusis, and @prof for their meditations.
I hear a few of you circling @prof's remark: "Can a stand mounted monitor be satisfying to listen to? Hell yes! Can it be satisfying in the long run as the only speaker to own? Not so sure, for me."
That's where I get stuck. For a number of reasons including my budget, I can't set up multiple systems. So at least for now it comes down to purchasing "the only speaker I'll own." Of course, the problem is existential at the moment: auditioning any speaker is difficult for me, let alone doing a home trial. My real concern, as I think I've stated, is that I don't want to upgrade to "better" speakers, I don't just want good sound. I want to fall in love when I listen to music, an experience I've had in the past but not with my current speakers. I fully understand that stand mounted speakers can be wonderful. I'm just worried that I'll get that "itch" for "more." Many of you have talked about bass, so perhaps I should be thinking more intently about that, especially with stand mounts. My original question--which posters here took seriously--is about "the long run," the question of critical listening, the deep pleasure of music. I know that no one can answer that *for me*, but I appreciate hearing what other people think.
I do understand that it comes down to trying out a lot of speakers and working with the room. Once the world rights itself, I look forward to that. I can hear some of the speakers mentioned here by traveling 5-6 hours (to NYC and Boston). It does feel to me, perhaps naively, that I'm trying to decide between two different approaches, two ways of narrowing the search: stand mounts (and a sub?) or floor-standing. But perhaps this is too simplistic.
I hear a few of you circling @prof's remark: "Can a stand mounted monitor be satisfying to listen to? Hell yes! Can it be satisfying in the long run as the only speaker to own? Not so sure, for me."
That's where I get stuck. For a number of reasons including my budget, I can't set up multiple systems. So at least for now it comes down to purchasing "the only speaker I'll own." Of course, the problem is existential at the moment: auditioning any speaker is difficult for me, let alone doing a home trial. My real concern, as I think I've stated, is that I don't want to upgrade to "better" speakers, I don't just want good sound. I want to fall in love when I listen to music, an experience I've had in the past but not with my current speakers. I fully understand that stand mounted speakers can be wonderful. I'm just worried that I'll get that "itch" for "more." Many of you have talked about bass, so perhaps I should be thinking more intently about that, especially with stand mounts. My original question--which posters here took seriously--is about "the long run," the question of critical listening, the deep pleasure of music. I know that no one can answer that *for me*, but I appreciate hearing what other people think.
I do understand that it comes down to trying out a lot of speakers and working with the room. Once the world rights itself, I look forward to that. I can hear some of the speakers mentioned here by traveling 5-6 hours (to NYC and Boston). It does feel to me, perhaps naively, that I'm trying to decide between two different approaches, two ways of narrowing the search: stand mounts (and a sub?) or floor-standing. But perhaps this is too simplistic.