Your ''best kept secret'' speaker choice ?

ATC is not well known but if it wasn't for B&W I think I would have bought them.
Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 2 way for $328 is very good.
I think everyone should have a pair of some single driver speakers, even if they only cost $60. It's pretty cool what they do with vocals:
Creative Sound ELF1.0

I'll second Ascend Acoustics CBM-170

www.ascendforum.com

GR Research, a DIY company out of Texas is suppose to offer an incredible speaker called the Alpha LS. Apparently they only use top-of-the-line drivers and cross-overs in their speakers. You can either build the Alpha yourself, or have GR do it for you. Another Audiogon poster thinks the Alpha LS outperforms Pipedreams. I can't comment on their sound quality because I haven't heard them, perhaps others on this board can elaborate on GR Research.

http://www.gr-research.com/AlphaLS/Alpha.htm

Odyssey Audio Lorelei loudspeaker, a replica of Symphonic Line`s +$7000 Legato for $2500. There should be a review on this "sleeper" coming up at 6Moons, should be interesting? Regards, Robin

When talking of full-range, world class speakers, DIY must be the only secret for the mediocre wallet; there are many choices. Here are but a few, and I strongly urge a visit:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ The incontestable magician of open baffle speakers and crossovers (i.e. L/R x-over, Audio Artistry speakers) -- i.e. dynamic speakers with the speed of stators and bass to match.. (An A'goner, steved, has built these)
http://www.speakercity.com/GRProject/PhlRevProject.shtml following up on a previous post;
http://www.kingston.neostrada.pl/ With a Raven II tweet & ATC units thereafter.

Last, but FAR from least, do check out the (in)famous Ariel: http://www.nutshellhifi.com/Arieltxt1.html#top.

While none of these designs are cheap, some of them are very extravagant indeed. Aimed at those who cannot afford the commercial equivalents (running easily over 20k).

Cheers