The Best of the English Sound

Re ATCs sounding forward or aggressive...as much as I like them (and also their rosewood cabinets) I would have never guessed British ATCs might sound hot, and thus, always assumed it was my cheapo Behringer amplifiers, not any forward or aggressive sound on part of the speakers.

The ATC's I heard were the very expensive 20's with their own internal amplification. I don't think they're much like the model you have, but can't say for sure.

As I have said in other threads, I have never really loved the midrange and/or musical sound of any system or speaker to only add that I wish they had more "inner detail" or "resolution" both of which I now - after 30 years of this - believe to be synonymous with listener's fatigue.

I think I know what you mean, but have some contrasting experience. I'm listening to a pair Grado GS1000 headphones as I write this, on a good HP amp. Tremendous inner detail and resolution, right up to my ears...yet they are not in the least fatiguing. I have heard systems that do excel in bringing out inner detail, yet are indeed fatiguing...not sure what the key is though. Interesting subject.

Particularly in this nearfield, desktop configuration, I am listening to them all day, every day, at home and at the office with music, computer sounds, streaming video, and cable TV as the input.

A. I want your job!
B. You deserve a great system.

Glad you liked the room - it is indeed a lot of fun and even my wife and her friends think it is beautiful and interesting.

I want your wife too! :-) Really, nice integration of living/working/passion. My hat's off (doesn't fit over the headphones anyway!

Actually was thinking about the P3SER but without knowing anything about them....or the various models for Spendor...

A bit smaller is nice, if only to save space on the desktop, but then again, slightly larger might have better bass, and therefore the warmer sound I am looking for?

Any thought on various models within the Spendor and Harbeth lines would also be helpful.

JAX
Sorry I got you confused with the original poster.
The pair you pointed out are a good value but CWLONDON
say he was thinking about the P3SER which is a new model and rarely shows up used. At almost $2200 it's not a speaker to buy without a serious audition. Plenty of rewiews are out there. Placement is key.
As a Spendor S3e owner, I will say that with good electronics Cwlondon should get the warm sound he is after
and with the rear ported cabinet the bass also. They can be found for a third of the P3SER and if you don't like them
they are easy to sell.Good Luck

Given your setup I'd suggest a good subwoofer might be another angle to pursue/consider.

At the lower end , the Wharfedales are amazing. You could step up a bit to the Audioengine A5s that are powered.
ATCs need a lot of power.
The Harbeths and Spendors are the next step up and need less power. They are both less strident than the ATCs. Not English but the Reference 3As may fit the bill.