Best high end monitors?

The D3 will be my next speaker along with a sub.

I interpreted your description wrong and I understand what you mean now. Transparency does not always mean brightness. I can't stand brightness. IMO I consider most Thiels on the bright side. You might want to give Ty a call and discuss. He is very helpful. I have heard his whole line except for the Decades. He didn't have any of them finished when I visited his business last. I did see the D2's. I like the look and considered them but I have to have a smaller speaker. Wish I had the funds for a dedicated listening room so I could get a larger floorstander. Goodluck in your search.

Jp1208, I just meant that Merlins are normally considered better mates to tube amps, as opposed to the 400w ss amps used by the original poster. They may very well work, but on paper I don't think its the best match.

Cruz, In this regard then I would hope the Decade line moves toward wanting some tubes somewhere in the system. Meaning a flatter tonal balance. No coloration if that is possible. Driver integration without holes if you will. You can mix and match SS and tubes. Flexibility becomes more apparent. Lean too much toward warmth or detail and the flexibility shrinks. I am sure there are people using the new Merlin line with good solid state with very good results. I heard the Merlin line a very long time ago so I can't imagine how they sound today. It was shocking how a small speaker filled the room they were in. The mids were extremely fluid and integration between tweeter and mid was seemless. Not a lot of bass but that I am sure has changed.

Below is a quote from Bobby at Merlin from another current thread that sheds some light on his thoughts on amps:

i have used the joule and atma otls at shows for 10 or 12 years now. swampwalker makes a number of points i would agree with comparing the two. the merlins have a benign impedance characteristic which makes them very friendly to any type of amp, really. my favorite are otls and certain lower powered transformer coupled class "a" amps. there is also a more powerful 100 watt stereo amp made locally that i think the world of too (cat). the speakers were definitely designed around more delicate tube amps and that is why i like to use otls at shows. their uncomplicated sound pulls on your heart strings.
i personally own the joules vzn 100 mk ivs, as many of you know.

Ty's speakers like tubes Jp1208. When I finally introduced tubes in my system a few years ago I realized what I had been missing.