There is a world of difference between "sound reinforcement" pro speakers and those used for mastering or main monitoring.
It is a valid concern (raised above) that most pro rock speakers are only "fun" and not High-end. Generally this is true.
The way to identify a high end speaker with high quality sound (lowest possible distortion) is to ask about the drivers.
Are the drivers "Long Coil in Short Magnet Gap" or "Short Coil in Long Magnetic Gap"?
Cheaper lower quality drivers made for sound reinforcement will always be Long Coil in Short Gap. This means you get a continuous rise in distortion with excursion as the voice coil sees less magnetic field. These drivers run much hotter too and therefore they compress at typical rock SPL's, as well as drifting in the crossover region as voice coil impedance rises with temerature. These drivers will quickly lose their "punch" from Neil Pearts kick drum (sound noticeably better at the beginining of a track and then turn dull). The major advantage is that for little cost they play loudly and they are a bit harder to "blow up" as less and less amplifier power reaches the driver at higher SPL.
High quality "audiophile" type drivers will always be "Short Coil in Long Gap". This type design means the distortion remains extremely low throughout the drivers excursion as the coil sees the same magnetic field. These drivers will not compress thermally nearly as much and are very expensive to construct - they also distort badly whe over driven and the voice coil exceeds the gap - therefore the preference is to use several massive drivers like you see in the link I gave above.
Most high end consumer speakers are long coil in short gap - so don't simply assume that most high end audiophile speaker will necessarily be better quality than a pro "fun" rock speaker.
Thiel often use short coil in long gap on their speakers. Someone mentioned Thiel above. Another good option.
I am sure Duke can add to this as Duke uses the higher quality type pro drivers in his designs ....another great option might be to check one of his designs out! (As a plus, I bet they look much nicer than anything I have suggested)
Note that the pro drivers alone in some of the designs I have suggested would set you back more than $5,000. You would be lucky to find more than $500 devoted to drivers in most high end audiophile designs. You may ask why high end pro and high end audiophile are often similar in price? The difference will be mostly in high quality wood work and finish that you get with a high end audiophile design (wood work is extremely expensive as anyone who buys high quality furniture will know). This is where something designed and built by Duke might be attractive as it straddles both camps.
It is a valid concern (raised above) that most pro rock speakers are only "fun" and not High-end. Generally this is true.
The way to identify a high end speaker with high quality sound (lowest possible distortion) is to ask about the drivers.
Are the drivers "Long Coil in Short Magnet Gap" or "Short Coil in Long Magnetic Gap"?
Cheaper lower quality drivers made for sound reinforcement will always be Long Coil in Short Gap. This means you get a continuous rise in distortion with excursion as the voice coil sees less magnetic field. These drivers run much hotter too and therefore they compress at typical rock SPL's, as well as drifting in the crossover region as voice coil impedance rises with temerature. These drivers will quickly lose their "punch" from Neil Pearts kick drum (sound noticeably better at the beginining of a track and then turn dull). The major advantage is that for little cost they play loudly and they are a bit harder to "blow up" as less and less amplifier power reaches the driver at higher SPL.
High quality "audiophile" type drivers will always be "Short Coil in Long Gap". This type design means the distortion remains extremely low throughout the drivers excursion as the coil sees the same magnetic field. These drivers will not compress thermally nearly as much and are very expensive to construct - they also distort badly whe over driven and the voice coil exceeds the gap - therefore the preference is to use several massive drivers like you see in the link I gave above.
Most high end consumer speakers are long coil in short gap - so don't simply assume that most high end audiophile speaker will necessarily be better quality than a pro "fun" rock speaker.
Thiel often use short coil in long gap on their speakers. Someone mentioned Thiel above. Another good option.
I am sure Duke can add to this as Duke uses the higher quality type pro drivers in his designs ....another great option might be to check one of his designs out! (As a plus, I bet they look much nicer than anything I have suggested)
Note that the pro drivers alone in some of the designs I have suggested would set you back more than $5,000. You would be lucky to find more than $500 devoted to drivers in most high end audiophile designs. You may ask why high end pro and high end audiophile are often similar in price? The difference will be mostly in high quality wood work and finish that you get with a high end audiophile design (wood work is extremely expensive as anyone who buys high quality furniture will know). This is where something designed and built by Duke might be attractive as it straddles both camps.