most articulate speaker

Stats and ribbons....then horns. I don't agree with Newbee....monopole cones interact with the room much more than dipole stat/planer type speakers do. (this is the reason monopole cone subwoofer setup gives many people fits).

Dave

Please allow me to make a recommendation for the Gallo Reference 3.1 - they are lightning fast, have incredibly good dispersion characteristics, and present a benign load to the amp. A very nice, used, pair can be had here for right around $1700. Read all the reviews, these are seriously good speakers...

-RW-

Once you hear a truly full range ESL with the appropriate associated equipment and cabling it is very hard to go back.

no single design holds a monopoly in this area.

QUAD ES, Magico, mbl, OHM, some MLs, Triangle and Magnepan all do it very well but in different ways.

You need good electronics upstream in all cases.

The best reference source recording I have ever heard for this was a modern reel to reel tape master recording. Vinyl and CD both trailed it in regards to delivering both articulation and weight together.

Remember that electronics play a big role in this.