Speaker List narrowed down…

Go listen to a bunch of speakers, then make a decision.

Here's what I can add....  The Estalon Aura uses a down firing woofer so it should play better closer to a wall behind it then a rear ported design.  I've heard the Estalon Forza at a friends house and they are special.  I'm sure the Aura will have some meaningful trickle down benefits from higher up in the line.

The Sopra No3 might be a great fit.  They are known to really shine when given space to work and you have the room for that to happen.  The Sopra's are front ported so while they do best with space to work, the space they need is more side to side and behind the listening position--they will work well closer to the front wall than most.  If you take a look at a pic of the Sopra's they have a large midrange driver that has a separate cabinet enclosure that doesn't get clouded from the bass drivers.  Good luck and cheers

You have some excellent speakers on your list! I went through a similar process/decision recently. Take your time, try to listen to as many on your list as possible and go with the pair that sings best to you. Putting reviews, opinions, specs and objective data aside, what sound will make you smile ear to ear when the music starts. You’ll have a few where you’ll try to justify they’re as good as your favorite. Cheers and enjoy the music! 

If you are near Philadelphia you can come over and hear the Perlisten any time.  Bring the music you enjoy.

Contact Bob Neill at Amherst Audio (MA) regarding the JMR's. He's a dealer and familiar with them. Could be helpful.

@aj523 

Since you have the Sopra 3 on your list which I wouldn’t really consider a narrow baffle I would highly recommend the Rockport Atria ii (used if you can find a pair) in your price range. Or stretch for a new pair. Amazing speakers and worth an audition. Good luck ! 

I have never heard of Amherst Audio.   Are they former Spearit Sound guys?  

In terms of esthetics I think it comes down to the YG, Estelon and PS Audio. if you think the PS Audio are too big, they probably are. I listened to both YG and Estelon at AXPONA this year, YG in two different rooms, YG was a clear winner, and no bass port, making placement more flexible. I would go listen to them somewhere, guessing you will like them. 

I heard a pair of yg acoustics at CAF powered by a Bermeister integrated and it was my favorite room of the show for a normal home size room. 

YG Acoustics. The Carmel 3 retails for $30k USD. Not sure if the electronics have the synergy or refinement for any YG Acoustic loudspeaker?

PS Audios are Fantastic and the Borresen's in White are very easy on the ears .

no idea how to post

• upload image to a free image hosting site
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@grislybutter 

thanks - what free image hosting site are people here using? I’m not familiar with this. 

@aj523 

I have used https://imgbb.com/  and it seemed painless, I know there are a few easy ones and some that may or may not want your email address and sell you a new roof. 

Aside from that, I usually use google drive or aws but that's outside "free"/public

I really like ProAc reference towers (if you can listen to them) given the following:

• down-firing port for flexible placement
• slim design, yet very good bass response plus nice wood options to pick from
• multiple tweeter configurations
• they look good with the grills on, even better with the grills off
• even better with soundocity or similar outriggers

I purchased Monitor Audio’s Platinum 200 3G speakers last year. I am still smiling at their presentation. Complicated classical passages remain defined, varried and spacious. Solo piano is amazing. Yet they can rock with the best.  Beautifully made, esthetically pleasing I’m proud to have them displayed in our listening room.  You will need to know if the 200 or 300 3G suits your space. I wish you all the best on your speaker selection.  But again for me, partnered with Pass equipment, I am totally satisfied with their musical offering……

Paradigm Persona 3F or 5F (well below your price limit), available in piano white and many other colors. Slim, gorgeous, high WAF, and sound beautiful. They are made in Canada by a very well respected and long standing speaker company. I have the 3F and am very happy with them.

If you decide to go with the Fynes, PM me. F1-8 walnut.

The PMC fact.12 Signatures meet your specs: Small footprint, available in gloss white, transmission line with "ports" in front so distance from wall isn't so critical, $25k list. 

The sound: Dead-on imaging, sweet midrange and supremely neutral with very linear frequency response. I own these in the metallic graphite color.  As @rpeluso did, I extend to you an invitation to listen if you're ever in the Rochester, NY area.

An interesting challenge - to make a "gathering room" sound as great as a "listening room" (AV Room) - by choice of speakers... no matter the cost (up to $25,000). Not a challenge most would take on - since it’s so difficult to achieve - at any price. Especially... when the final judge is... my wife!

That challenge suggests disaster... unless there is an alternative room for the speakers to excel... if... you’re unable to achieve the objective in the "gathering room!"

Far better to find a system that will sound great for a "gathering room," while not looking like a "system" - which, once installed, will pass the judgment of the "judge" based on aesthetics - which does not "break the bank," and risk losing a significant sum, if the "judge" turns "thumbs down" once installed. I would never risk a $5-10K loss on such a challenge.

I would focus on the aesthetics and seek something that doesn’t look like a "system" once installed (no wires, no components, no huge - heavy speakers) - at a reasonable cost - that also produces good sound for a "gathering room."

While... I achieve "audio nirvana" in my "listening room!"

But... that’s just me... and "my judge."

Have you listened to any of these speakers?

our thoughts are meaningless as you have to live with the choice. 

$25K is a lot of $$$ for speakers.  You could buy a great pair of used speakers for much much less and commission someone to refinish them in high gloss white and they would look brand new.  

@lou_setriodes many people here have won the lottery

@lou_setriodes 

I’m perfectly fine spending a lot less but willing to go up to the end of my budget for something special.  I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that or should be shamed.  

Slightly above 25k from inflation, but maybe stretch for:

• Magico A5
• Rockport Technologies Atria II

I’m a fan of Magico and YG, these were on my short list before I demoed them, but got a fantastic deal Vimberg D as I blew my budget to get them.

My 2 cents: you can buy great speakers, used, for half of 25K. Time is money in audio, the more you research, the more you can save. 

Which Fyne 10s are you considering? The F1 series and the Vintage series are both brilliant, but are very different.....I do lust after a pair of VIntage 10s

The Classic series is really really good as well, but I did not get to hear them side by side with the F1s and the Vintages

Try to audition the Von Schweikert Endeavor SE Speakers. 

They are a superior choice to the speakers you mention. 

They are also within the price range. They are reference level speakers. But keep in mind you'll need good speaker cables. Von Schweikert sells cables that are the same as the internal wiring. Good cables and synergy 

@vthokie83 

The F1.  Any good? 

Also, Von Schweikert speakers will paint your speakers in any color you want.

@motta +1 on Von Schweikert. I have the walnut version of the Endeavor.

They are rear ported, though.  I think it was mentioned that they needed to be close to the wall unless I'm getting posts confused. I don't think they would need to pulled way out into the room, but pushed against the wall would not be ideal

I’ve heard the Focals and the YG. Both great. If your front end tends bright I’d go YG. I have not heard them but the PS Audio are intriguing. 
 

if you go YG you may want to plan for a sub or 2 for the last octave.

aj523

I heard them at Upscale in L.A. while on a business trip, I was there to listen to the Vintage 10s....they were driven with Manley electronics, not sure which one but I think it had EL84s.

I fell in love with the Vintage 10s, and decided they would be in my future short list if I could afford them. I asked if I could hear the 1.8s; but they had different electronics Primaluna EVOs, they too were excellent even though I didn't spend much time with them. I had already fallen for the Vintages

So my current short list for speakers is: Fyne Vintage 10s or 12s (though they just releases Classic Gold line), Joseph Audio Perspective 2 Graphene, Volti Lucera or Rival, Revel Salon 2)....and probably a couple of others I can't think of at this second.

@grislybutter - apparently so :)

@aj523 - I’m not shaming anyone here, your doing that all by yourself.  More power to you that you can spend $25K on speakers, I think that’s great.  Likewise, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I said either.  I’ve been in this hobby for over 40 years and sold audio at retail for a few years about 30 years ago.  There’s definitely a point of diminishing returns in this hobby if that’s of any importance here.  
 

For example, I have put together systems under $5K that hold their own with systems cost 5X more and are nearly just as good, and are the 20K speakers really that much better than the $10K ones?  I’ll bow out now.  Have fun, Enjoy the process, and I hope you find exactly what you are looking for.