Speakers that are very accurate sounding but don't produce an emotional connection.

Gpgr, likewise I’ve enjoyed our exchanges on this topic. To be clear, I heard the Alexia’s in a Dealer’s treated main room with top-line ARC tube gear. I was told by the Dealer the speakers were fully run in. I also confirmed my findings when I heard the Alexia’s at the Melbourne High End show with D’agostino Momentum mono blocks and a full DCS Scarlatti stack. But you know as well as I do that anyone who stamps thier fist on a table demanding that manufacturers put up or shut up in notoriously sub-optimal show conditions are not being honest with themselves. Too many variables. Hence I wouldn't rely on show auditions alone.

After hearing Magico’s sealed box designs compared to Wilson’s ported designs I think the former sounds correct. Magico also has greater in-house design and manufacturing capacity & are clearly ahead in technology. But that doesn’t mean Wilson make bad sounding speakers. They have a ’live’ sound & move plenty of air, so I can see why they have a big following. But for that kind of presentation, I personally prefer Marten Coltranes which sound much more musical to my ears. To each their own.

Melbguy, I am not sure that Magico has "greater in-house design and manufacturing" than Wilson, but even if it did--that would never be the measure of a "better" product. If it were, we'd all be listening to B&W , KEF and Focal who have among the biggest most advanced facilities in the world. Not that there's anything wrong with that. IMHO, it all comes down to the ear of the manufacturer. With relatively small companies like Magico and Wilson--those ears belong to Wolf and Wilson.  In some of the larger speaker companies, it comes down to a committee of listeners. I've heard great speakers from very small manufacturers that stack up with the very best-- because of the ear of the designer---Daedalus, Salk, Nola. Frankly, I much prefer all of those to Magico as they sound more like music to me whereas Magico sounds like fairly undimensional hi fi. But again--I am open to persuasion. Maybe I have not heard Magico with all factors acting in their favor despite the fact that Alon Wolf set them up himself on 2 of those occasions.

Emotional connection comes mostly from room reverb/immersion in my experience. So it’s more about speaker/room interaction. The more accurate the speaker, the less forgiving, you need to setup the room perfectly. Hence why most audiophile speakers are notoriously inaccurate, it helps to cover up shortcomings.

(If you have a non symmetrical room, you’ll never get what you are looking for) Try take that emotional speaker outdoors, I can guarantee you that the emotions will be all gone.

What I look for nowadays are 2 way horn/woofer designs or concentric designs. With certain active monitors, you can have the best of both worlds.

Sunnyjim-

no doubt that today's speakers are most accurate compared to speakers of 10years and older. The key, is to get that "synergy" correct. This reflects careful considerations w/ gear, speakers and cabling.

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!

Second note;

as above, I too, was disappointed upon auditioning both TAD and Aerial loudspeakers. Despite excellent reviews of both brands over the years.