What to replace DQ-10s with?

If you love the Dahlquist sound, and audition other speakers in a "money IS an object" price range, you will be very disappointed IMO. I have somewhat modded DQ-20i's, and cost is not much of an object for me. While the 20i's have a couple of measurable "compromises", I have not found a speaker that I prefer to listen to in a medium size room, and I have auditioned quite a few. Many do better bass, many do better highs, but none I have heard do the midrange the way DQ's do. ANd none I have heard provide as balanced a listening experience. Every time I get home get home to my DQ's I just sit back and say, "Aahhhhh...., now that's a speaker."

That being said, from the dq10's (which I have owned), the affordable (under $1000) upgrade is a no-brainer: DQ-20i's or Alon 4's or 5's - and when you can afford it, upgrade the tweeters, caps, and internal wiring. You won't impress any audio-snobs, but you'll impress yourself.

Hi, I have had dq-10's for many years, both stock and modded, with subs, and loved them. Natural progression would be vandersteens, which seem to continue and expand upon the same principals as the Dalquist's. The vandy's are more coherent. Drivers blend seemlessly. The DQ's are somewhat dated compared to current technology. I went from DQ-10'S to electroststics, Acoustst, Sound Labs, B&W 801's (yuk)to Vandy3a's to Vandy 5's. To my ear the Vandy sound is an evolution of the Dalquist.
Used to sit the DQ-10's on top of the subs without stands.
Good Luck, Tom

keep the 10's.....even for another 5k, you're not missing anything.

Agree with Tom re: Vandy's vs. DQ-10's, but not the Vandy 2's, which do not compete with the DQ-20i's. The DQ-10's ARE dated and not particularly coherent, but not so the 20i's which feature Scanspeak tweeter and midrange drivers with First order, attempted phase correct crossovers.
The 3a's are VERY similar sounding to the DQ-20's and Alons, but I find them a bit dull in the mids by comparison.
The 5a's are awesome, but not in your price range presumably.

Opalchip's recommendation of Alon V's is good. I went from DQ 10's to Alon II's, the Alons are a dipole design, right in line with the Dahlquist. By the way, I still have my DQ10s stored away, never letting them go.