Personal speaker evolution

climbing the stairway to heaven: college, 2 way JBL's...junk for the years I was in training, then Vienna Acoustics Mozarts with a REL StataIII sub. I have been actively auditioning for several years...and am about to purchase Harbeth Compact 7 ES3's for a bedroom(13x13xx8'. My references are rebuilt Quad 57's, Vandy 5's, and for giant scale..Magico Model 6(I call them Stupidos because of the Price, and Revel Salons) I don't have the space or money for giant large scale speakers, nor do I think they are necessary. For value, I have concluded that Harbeth's or similar BBC type speakers or Quad's offer the best sound for the least (relatively speaking) money, especially in the all important midrange. I have been most moved emotionally by the music I love with Quad's and Harbeths with good but not stupid expensive tube gear and passive preamps.

Kenwood Godawfuls
AR 2-ways (25's?)
Boston Acoustics bookshelf
Polk Audio 7
Polk Audio 10
VMPS Super Towers
Spica TC50 w/Hsu Research subs
B&W DM600 w/Hsu subs
Apogee Acoustics Duetta Signatures

Radio shack cheapies, late 70's. JBLs in 80's, Infinity's in 80-90s....then started building my own. So far I've built two sets and would never buy from a store again.

-Sanyo ghetto blaster
-Kenwood towers
-Paradigm 3se (that started it!)
-B&W DM220
-Boston A100
-Yamaha NS690 (they're still in the bedroom)
-Paradigm Studio 100 v.2
-Active triamped 3 way custom with Eton 11-581 woofers
dual Scanspeak 18-8545 mids and Newform research 15" ribbon tweeters.

Cerwin Vega used
Design Acoustic PS-10 new $300ish
Klipsch Forte new $800
KEF 101's? new $600 w/stands
Linn Keilidh used $1100
Martin-Logan Arieus new $2100
Magnepan 1.5 used $800
VANDERSTEEN 2ce Sig new $1500
Vandersteen 3a Sig used $1400 (local no boxes)
Gallo Reference 3.1 used Love them!!