WAF Speaker suggestions

Go for a Salk Encore 3 BEaT and have her pick out the wood, the stain and the finish.  Win-win.

+1 Spendor!

Used Totem Forests

sonus faber = high waf

I would try to understand what "look" would make her happy. Aesthetics are such a personal thing and much more than size, shape, finish, etc. It is also does not require extensive auditioning - either she likes it (or something similar) or she doesn't. A quick visit to an audio show would be worthwhile - not to listen, but to determine what she likes and what she hates and what would be "ok." You might be surprised. Then you can find a speaker that sounds good to you within her visual genre - be it floor standing vs standmount, electrostatic vs multidriver, etc. 

Have a look at these.  https://system-audio.com/product/sa-pandion-30/

On 9/25/18, you posted a similar thread, asking for recommendations on replacing your Vandys, as they did not have the sound you wanted at low listening levels, and, the wife did not like the looks of the socks on the Vandys. Have you looked at your past responses on that thread, and yet, a third thread of the same, asking for recommendations on replacing your Vandys. Three different threads, asking for suggestions on replacing your Vandys. I say, talk to the wife, with audio becoming a very important hobby, and pass time, for you, in your retirement. Obviously, you love her, and she loves you, too, I assume. Show her pictures ( from here on the ’Gon ) of other speakers, and maybe she will allow you to keep them. A smaller speaker will not sound as full as the Vandys, listening at 55-60 db, which, imo, is ridiculously lower than normal. If you are really serious to change speakers for low level listening, get a pair of Klipsch Forte IIIs. Just some thoughts. Enjoy your retirement ! MrD.

Ohm walsh, or have Jim Salk build you something killer and have your wife help pick the finish.

Six months ago I demo’d couple dozen speakers over several months and my three favorites were Spendor (which I bought) and Vandersteen and Dynaudio (the runner ups). So if you like Vandy then I suggest also demoing Dyn (already on your list) and Spendor.

I liked the Spendors just a bit more than the Vandys for the very reason you desire - they were just a little more exciting sounding yet still rich and lush and delicious in the mids like the Vandys. I was comparing D7 to model 3,fwiw. Blues and jazz my go-to genres. 

The A2s new are in your price range, sound fantastic, and look pretty sexy too! I spent a long time listening to the A2s and was really impressed. A4 or A7 used would be even better!

Heard Focal in that price range too, nice, but quite different sounding. But Focal was probably in my top 25% as I think back. I’ll say that you can definitely get a ‘bigger’ sounding Focal for $2.5k than you can Spendor for that price. Might be a factor for bigger room.

Good luck!