Looking for a Speaker Recommnedation

The Revel F208 are probably the best of the bunch .

You really ought to give a listen to the Revel's. I have a friend who has a pair of larger models and they are great rock speakers, as well as for acoustic music. So I haven't heard the F208's but I do know what Revel's "house" sound is like. Vandy's would be my other choice.

Vandersteen Trio CT - Best of the bunch

You got it bubby...
(BTW- it's Treo)
Bob

HAHA I knew that Bob - that's what I get for copying :-)

Guys, I won't say which is which so folks can go listen and make up their own minds.  Those are my own thoughts on the speakers.  All my post was saying is that said poster put together a list of speakers that all sound totally different from each other.  Yes, it's obvious that I'm a Vandersteen guy as they do virtually everything and over the many years Richard has been designing, he's realized where most folks don't mind a corner to be cut.  NO speaker is perfect an it can't be right now.  All have to make design choices. To me it came down to which company got their corner cutting right.  

I just didn't want a speaker that was literally turned up at all on top or couldn't be tuneful down below and still move some air.  All stand mounted speakers were off the table at that point.  Hey, the footprint of a floor stander is the same as most stand mounts anyways.

I needed a speaker that threw a realistic and sometimes large sound stage and also had great imagine.  I was coming from Proacs and that's what they are known for.  I personally don't like buying from the huge conglomerates if I can help it.  I'd rather support the smaller companies. I love some of the Audio Research gear, but will buy Aesthetix or Ayre over it since they sold.

As I've said, I also need a speaker that is dynamic as ALL levels and there are very few that ever get that right.  Some of you don't care about listening at lower levels, but I live in a real home and my listening room is a loft. I'm just thankful that Johnny Rutan helped me set it up so that the sound is as good as what I used to have when I had a dedicated room (well 90%).  The one thing I've also learned over the years is that you can't look at a speaker and know what type of technology is in it or how much time it actually takes to make it.  Some companies make their own cone assembly's and send them out to the top driver maker to finish them.  I like this approach as the company can control their sound better than using off the shelf drivers, even modified ones.  Some companies are large enough to roll they own from start to finish.  

When I look at a cabinet (this is the major thing Wilson markets and sells to folks), how's it made?  Does it really reduce vibrations that can smear the notes?  Some companies have a very simple way to brace a cabinet.  Materials are important of course.  One company builds a cabinet within a cabinet AND used damping material in-between.  I make wood furniture and really appreciate a professionally finished speaker too.  I always notice how a company matches their veneer's. Some companies use real wood veneers, but very thin ones like the furniture in the 80's.  Wait til you get see a nick and you'll understand.  I personally have now gone painted on my Quatro's that are being built because I love the color I]m using.  I like the fact that you can order a speaker painted over veneer if you want to.  It gives the speaker a totally different look for whatever room you are matching.  

These are just my own personal tastes and many will disagree.  This is why there are so many speaker companies who come and go.  Many just don't have "it" for the long term.  Many make a great sounding speaker at a fair price, but aren't worth it to me. I loved Meadowlark years ago, but they were literally built out of the guys garage in San Diego if I recall.  You can't give them away anymore and too bad if it blows on you.  I guess that would be one case where stock off the shelf drivers would work best, lol.