MBL alternatives

Yes, it's all about the sound. I could care less about what it looks like. $10k on the used market is fine as well.

At this price used you have plenty of alternatives. If you like MBL's and final sound then I assume you listen at low levels and you like a speaker with great ambient sound? Neither of these will play loud. What genre's do you like?

Is this correct - can you elaborate a bit. It hard to make a suggestion as it is not clear why you think Final Sound and MBL are the best speakers out there (for you)

I currently own the Final 1000i's and they play very lound. I listen to ALL genre's as well. Everytime that I've heard the MBL's I just "feel" the magic. Don't get me wrong, the Finals are the "best" to me with all that I've heard. Except the MBL's but at 5x the cost.....

Last, I've heard many speakers that I could easily live with but when you get to a certain point it really becomes small little things that take you in.

What do you think of Soundlabs A-1 ?

Soundlabs.

Love them but don't have the room (size) for them...

Morrison and Dueval are some other omni designs to consider that I have heard some good things about.

I own and run six pair of speakers. 2 are Ohm Walsh giant killers. Others are more conventional box designs.