Which $7000 speakers to ask Santa?

I go for Eggleston AndraI used.

NHT Xd would actually fit in pretty well with your goals. I'd also look at maybe Dynaudio Confidence C2s and ATCs.

I'd suggest getting a pair of Wilson Watt Puppy 6's from audiogon. There are plenty for sale for $8k and you can definitely talk them down to around $7k. With Wilson, you can always get much of your money back later (even the WP 5's are still selling used for $5k, and you can always order spare parts for them and even alter the sound via resistor changes to the watts to brighten the sound (although the 6's are incrtedibly bright and revealing already.)

These are speaks you'll hang onto and for the money, at around 7k, you can't beat ther value (or resale value).
/Lee

Where aboot in Canada? Ambience is available in Calgary and worth a listen. I believe Newform Research is made in Ontario but they don't sell through retail. If you live in Vancouver, you might want to consider a weekend in Seattle.

Beheme:

I heard the Zen Adagio's at a recent show and was unimpressed. Of course, a show setting is not ideal so take this for what it's worth.

I applaud your interest in venturing into lesser known territory. My search began by narrowing the field by reading countless reviews--this proved useless as one "highly rated" speaker after another failed to engage me on even the most superficial level. I started trying to read between the lines of the reviews, looking for some shred of critical appraisal within the cascade of superlatives. This proved futile as well. In the end I just figured I had to get out there and hear everything that met my basic criteria--full range and nice to look at. I also tried to selectively use the A'gon and other forums like the Asylum, looking for audiophiles who shared my listening preferences and philosophy and then back reading their threads. This proved far more useful than the mass publications. It was a long journey but I really feel it was worth it--with the Daedalus I no longer lust after other speakers and know I will only replace them if someday I'm able to move into a whole other price bracket. One thing I can say about this speaker--most of the guys who own them feel the same way I do--that they are not for everybody but if you click with them you are done. Most of the stuff I heard over my two year run was bland, sterile and polite. The DA-1's sound like real music in your room, not "really great hifi". They are utterly unfatiguing and you can (and will) listen for hour on end. Lou Hinkley is a great guy to work with and really has a passion for his gear. The DA-1's may not end up being your cup of tea but I would certainly have a listen, if just to have a different sound to compare the other stuff to. Heck, if your in the NYC metro area just come on by and have a listen.