Searching for the most "accurate" speaker (below 15K)

It is refreshing to read the Tannoy name appearing in these discussion pages. Worthwhile remembering is that Tannoy have been producing loudspeakers since 1926. They must know something about this stuff!

For those who care about such things, Tannoy is neither fashionable nor trendy, and most definitely unsexy! But have a listen anyway. Tannoy  have more or less global representation, and a dealer should be relatively easy to find. You may like what you hear.

If shopping vintage is your taste, one of the best values is the late '90s Tannoy Churchill. Produced in limited numbers, I have seen lightly used examples go for well under $10K.  A steal!

Lastly, (and this is really going back!) do some reading on IMF, a mid 70's company among the first to successfully bring the transmission line speaker to market. http://www.imf-electronics.com/Home
Pioneered by the late Irving 'Bud' Fried, IMF's boasted a flat frequency responce which was as linear as I have ever seen. 'Accuracy' was not only graphically represented but also accoustically.  And because of the TL design, the bass was clean and true down to the nether reaches (depending on the model size). Not as musical as Tannoy IMO, but a classic in its' own right. They are out there.

Good luck on your search.

@vermeer I went through a similar exercise earlier this year.  I spent a couple months listening to speakers at that price point.  My end choice came down to 3 speakers, the Persona 3F, Sopra 2 and Legacy Focus SE.  I took the Personas and Sopras home together for a side by side comparison.  They were the two most detailed/accurate/revealing speakers I had heard.  In the end I chose the Persona.  The Sopra by comparison was flat and laid back.  Both are very similar when compared to all others and it may have to do with the beryllium.

I chronicled my search here.
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30844-reference-2-channel-speaker-recommendations/

@gpgr4blu the Persona has both a beryllium tweeter and mid.  I would say accurate, detailed, revealing and at times forward.  I wouldn't say hard and bright at all.  They are well balanced.  Perhaps you like a more laid back, "musical" sound?  Like the Vandersteens.  That's a great sound as well, but different.  The downside of that to my ears is the lack of depth and detail.  It could be that digital music was the source which has a tendency to be hard and bright.  Did you listen to them with vinyl or a tube amp or pre?

Kii THREE.
Recent Stereophile review.
You don't need the amp, because the're powered speakers.
Highly recommended.

Just a general comment.  I think that some people who comment about Vandersteens lacking detail or sounding overly warm (i.e., to the point of being colored) perhaps have not heard the current line.  I find it hard to believe anyone thinking the carbon tweeter in the Treo CT models+ and the "reflection free" mid (let alone the carbon cone one) lacks detail.  It seems like an old stereotype that's hanging on.  Heck, I think even listening to my ca. 2016 3A Sigs would change your mind about that stereotype.  Consider yourself invited.  :)