ET LFT-VIIIB V.S. A. Gallo 3.1

Both benefit greatly from stands- a hidden expense, but then most speakers will.

I would add Magnepan 1.6s, which continue to get Best in the price class- see new TAS Recommended Components.

I was very hot-to-trot for the Gallos, when I finally heard them I was not impressed, and I heard them in the right size room with proper components

Unless the MK doubles down at 4 ohms you might need to replace it

Some years back I heard both speakers (8A)at a dealer in direct comparison. Both very, very good. Gallos had deeper, considerably tighter bass. EmTechs had that planar imaging and a sense of mirange detail that were impressive. Integration of the woofer and panel was very good, but not completely inaudible. Both were great, but the EmTech was both more impressive in its strengths and troublesome in its weaknesses. I suspect that some people intuitively lean one way and other folks lean the other way in this type of choice.

Marty

I like my Gallos for their incredibly wide sweet-spot. In addition, guitars and vocals (mid-range) were incrediubly life-like. They are also very "fast", their response to quick transients (cymbals, drums, horns, etc.) is extremely good. I, too, have heard them properly setup, and runnning the 2nd voice coils, in a large room and the sound they presented was astonishing.

Good luck in your search!

-RW-