Best speakers of the group? Your opinions please

Distinguished speakers, all. With a fine list (and budget) like this, you should also take the time to listen to the Vandersteen 5A's. I think the 5A is a better speaker than at least two of the ones on your list, and you may agree....

I've heard all those speakers and several are absolutely world class.

Regardless of comments (including my own), speakers are a very personal choice that basically comes down to choosing the one with errors that disturb YOU the least.

While I agree with Sdcampbell about the Vandy 5A being an alternative, given the limits of your list, I would choose the Avalon Eidolon Diamond first place and maybe the Sonus Faber and Talon FIrebird tied for second.

That being said, I could choose my least favorite from the list and make it sound better than my first choice set up improperly and matched up with bad sounding associated equipment.

My point being that it's just as important when purchasing this quality level to carefully work to preserve what the speaker is capable of.

Basically you have to dig to find what it's best match is.

I'll add that the way each of those speakers interacts in your room will also have a significant affect on it's sound. One speaker you may like better in a different room than your own may not sound as good as in your own room. It could possibly sound better too.

I'd also do research and find more speakers in my price class. Maybe you can find some you can go and listen to. Two speakers at say 5k that are equally good will sound quite a bit different. With speakers it's very true that one man's poison...

I've heard the Avalon Eidolon and Eidolon Diamond, the Wilson Watt Puppy 7 (with Lamm 18w triodes) and the Talon Firebird. I really thought there was a significant difference b/t the Eidolon and the Eidolon Diamond, and the Diamond was my favorite of the bunch, followed by the Wilson/Lamm combo (many people feel the WP7's need something as powerful as the Krell, but they sounded quite nice with the Lamm.

Albert's words are born out of experience, and I know how much effort he has put in to finding good, synergistic matches. It's alot of work, but it pays off. You may have to experiment some, and you might even need to let go of equipment you are attached to to create the optimization you seek. The trick will be to hear the speakers at their best performance so that you are able to choose for yourself.