The Most Realistic Speaker Technology?


OK, maybe this is the question that I should have asked originally...

I need some help, because I am now more confused than ever. I am in the market for new speakers, and have about $10,000 to spend, more or less. I am looking for the most "realistic", "true-to-life", "you-are-there", quality speaker there is, at that price. But the sheer number of speaker companies, speaker technologies, and speakers out there is mystifying, stupefying, and bewildering, so my search has been extremely confusing. I am not a constant upgrade kind of guy, and I don't have a lot of money, and so the speakers that I buy are the ones that I have to keep for a long time, and so it is even more imperative that I make the right and wise decision.

I realize that everyone has their own different opinion of things, and that different people like different types of sound from their speakers, and that that may be their favorite whether or not the sound coming from their speakers sounds even remotely realistic at all. And, while I respect the right for everyone to like their own particular pair of speakers that puts out a particular type of sound that suits them that they like and that sounds good to them as their favorite, regardless of whether it sounds realistic or not, my tastes are slightly different. My particular idea of good speakers are speakers that produce sound that sounds "real", or speakers that sound like a live performer is playing right there in front of you. Please forgive my particular taste, I know that a pair of speakers can sound perfectly good to someone whether or not they sound very realistic at all, but that is just what I personally in my own opinion consider good speakers, speakers which produce music which sounds as lifelike and as close to reality as possible.

And so, the first step that I am trying to do in order to nail down my speaker search is to isolate the type of speaker technology that sounds the most realistic. Since I know that most of you have heard literally dozens and dozens more different types of speakers in your lifetime than I have, all from many different types of assorted speaker technologies, can any of you tell me what, in general, is the speaker technology or type of speaker that sounds the most realistic and true to real life, like having a live performer playing right in front of you, that sounds the most similar to that? I know that part of this depends upon the system setup and synergy, room treatments, etc., etc., and I know that people do not always prefer the most realistic sound, but oftentimes just prefer the sound that sounds good to them, but surely, there must be some speaker technologies that sound more realistic, and more true-to-life than others. Please keep in mind that I am only asking for the speaker technology that sounds the most realistic, and not for a speaker company or a speaker itself, as I think that that would be impossible for anyone to say.

Knowing that most of you have heard many other speakers than me, and from all different types of speaker technologies, I thought that maybe some of you guys could tell me, maybe some of you could then give me a good place to start, or at least some of the more stronger options that there are available out there in terms of true-to-life music and sounding the most realistic.

If you could please help me out with a little advice other than, "well it all depends on you, you just have to listen with your own ears, and try to find what sounds right, and decide for yourself", that would be great. Because, unfortunately, that does not help me out much because I do not have "golden ears" as they say, and I do not even know what to listen for. Can you guys please help me out, and at least give me some places to start in terms of which speaker technology I should be looking at more than others, to get the most realistic sound? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks to all of you for your responses, I really appreciate all of your help, and am grateful to you for any help, tips, and advice, that any of you guys can give me. All advice is appreciated.
leroyc33
I think you should look into the Klipsch Jubilee. They are in your price range and will give you the you are there feeling. Take a look at them over at Klipsch.com
Your question is still too broad. What amps will you be using? Good speakers have to be properly matched to the amps driving them. If you have low-powered SET amps, for example, that narrows the field down to fewer speakers to choose from. Are you looking for full range or stand monitor-types? If I had to give you a general answer, it would be to choose a speaker that is properly phase and time-aligned ( for that real sound you refer to), and also keep in mind that no matter how good the speakers and amp, they will only sound as good as your room allows, i.e. proper dimensions and treatment.
The answer is not that simple because speakers are so room depentent. I would before buying, look at the room such as measurments,celling height,and yes what acoutical treatment that you have performed or going to do. You might be very surprised that after all that is taken into consideration, you might not have to pay that much for that speaker system.
Choice of technology basically boils down to dynamic speakers, horns, or panels, electrostatic or ribbon. Panels may be what you're looking for. They give you an almost 3-D presentation, as if the performer is standing right in front of you. The downside is some don't play very loud well, many don't go very deep, so you might want a subwoofer, and they usually need lots of power. If you're looking to try something, I've heard audiogon member Quadsunlimited modified Quads and they sound amazing and not very pricey. A killer speaker at the price are Magnepan 3.6's -- fantastic lifelike imaging. Of course, there's the top-of-the-line and pricey Sound Lab speakers, too.
These cost a little more.. $15,000 but they are one of best at any price.... Klipsch Palladium