Looking for speaker recommendations that I can purchase on Amazon.com

I'm happy with the Yamaha P5000S.

Among other options, I'm considering the Magnepan 3.7i speakers in the future and I spoke to a dealer today who told me this Yamaha amp would be a very good match for those speakers (or the 1.7i's). They have both Magnepan speakers in their showroom and they have lots of experience with Magnepans. This amp is definitely good with them.

Furthermore, I am very satisfied with this amp for my current speakers. So I consider that amp to have been a good recommendation and a timely purchase. It definitely increased my listening enjoyment. :-)

With all due respect here, troll or not, your wasting everyone's time here, including your own and I'll explain why in just a moment. I apologize in advance for the harsh way this must sound, but my comments are meant in a positive way so that you re-think what you are doing here.

1. You recently wrote, "With so many recommendations for the KEF LS50, it seems like I need to give these a try. I had my mind set on floorstanding speakers initially, but after reading all the recommendations for the LS50 here, I think I will give them a try first.

Even if I still end up buying floorstanding speakers for my music room, I can then put the LS50 in my smaller home theater room to replace my Polk RTi A3’s.

I will call a nearby BestBuy store before buying the LS50 on Amazon. "

So why not just buy them from Best Buy and support the local economy and the person whose time you just wasted? Instead, you're going to waste the salesman's time listening to them at his store and then buy them on Amazon. (and please don't insult my intelligence and tell me you said above that your just calling Best Buy and not going there to listen to them - then what's the point of calling them? Of course you're going to go there and listen to them, so let's be honest)  

2. In reading through this thread, it's apparent that you've spent a great deal of time researching, reading reviews, and listening to everyone else's opinions except your own. Trust your own ears! They are no better or worse than a reviewers. A reviewer might say one thing that sounds very encouraging but when you hear it, you may not like it. Listen more, read less.  

3. And this should be #1 - Your using a frigging 500 wpc, 26 lb Yamaha amp that is designed for professional use in a night club, bar or gathering hall. Why? This website is primarily for home audio, not professional audio, and I'd bet 95% of us, myself included, know nothing about professional audio but can talk to you all day and night about home audio. I'll bet my old B&K EX442 at 200 wpc into 8, 360 into 4 and 75 amps would smoke that Yamaha for breakfast, lunch and dinner any day of the week. Why? Because I once heard it up against tube monoblocks from Paoli (a highly moded Dyna mkIII) and you virtually couldn't tell the difference.  

4. 23' x 21' is a nice sized room, but how loud do you listen that you need 500 wpc? You would be really surprised to hear how loud 1 watt can sound with the right speakers. Get rid of that Yamaha and look for a tube amp because once you hear the warmth and sweetness of tubes, you'll never be truly happy listening to solid state, IMHO.  

You'll need something of decent power in a tube amp, unless you go with a single ended amp and high efficiency speakers. If you've never heard a low powered SET amp with hi efficiency speakers, you are in for a treat and your journey will end there. I once heard a 3 wpc 2A3 amp with horn speakers completely fill up a 40' x 40' room that you were completely satisifed with the loudness of it.  

Otherwise a push pull tube amp using KT88's or 6550's, possibly EL34's will get you where you need to be but I much prefer the SET sound to PP.

Go get the KEF's and see how it mates with the Yamaha for now and then consider upgrading the Yamaha which to me is the weak link here. Let us know what you think of the KEFs. Thanks for listening.

This post is loaded with assumptions.

1. You're assuming he'll call Best Buy to arrange an audition but will subsequently buy on Amazon. 

Did you read his initial post? He intends to buy from one of these two stores. Maybe he simply wants to know if his local Best Buy has them in stock. Most Best Buys don't carry their Magnolia brands.

For most states, Amazon has begun charging sales tax, so there's no longer an advantage in that regard. 

2. You're assuming his Yamaha amp is a weak link. I've compared the lower end Yamaha integrateds to some far more expensive amps and it trumped them in many areas. He prefers his amp to the A-S801, which happens to be competitive with $2K^amps IME. Have you heard his specific amp at length? Many would make similar assumptions about the performance of your B&K EX44, simply because it's old and has rather simple circuitry. 

3. You're assuming he'd prefer tubes over SS. I own both and have heard various implementations of each. Yes, tubes have a unique sound, but many do not find them to be all-around better. Many prefer SS. Some (like myself), even prefer moderate power SS to high-power SS.  I currently have one tube and two SS powered systems, each has its strengths. 

I agree that he should ultimately decide using his own ears, but many do not live near any brick and mortar dealers, let alone one that carries tube gear. It's true that many B&Ms will ship cross-country, but I'd feel more guilty potentially wasting their time (with a return) than that of BB, who employs clueless kids at $11/hour. Kids who spend most of their time aimlessly wandering the store, or harassing patrons by hovering over them, with no useful knowledge to offer.

I don't agree that we should keep hounding him about his chosen retail outlets. He's clearly staunch in his decision to stick with those parameters and we should respect his choice. Amazon and BB (Magnolia) do sell some very respectable gear despite the limited options.

@helomech thanks for the level-headed response. :-)

"I’m happy with the Yamaha P5000S."

Yes, of course you are, because you’ve compared it to a Sony receiver. My 1985 NAD receiver would be a big improvement over what you have. The key question is this -- how does it sound relative to a truly refined home audio amplifier? I challenge you this -- buy this Yamaha integrated on Amazon and compare it to what you have...

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-S2000SL-Natural-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B001M9G6I8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronic...

You were sold sold a bill of goods by Willemj who thinks "pro" audio gear measures the same as home audio gear so it’s the same but just a better value. PHOOEY!!! He admitted the 5000 uses a switch mode power supply, but unless implemented with higher end engineering and parts, a crap switch-mode power supply (as would certainly be used in a relatively cheap "pro" amp) will make a HUGE difference in the quality of the sound you hear. They use cheaper components in pro gear because they have very different goals than with home audio. Look at the 3500 you’re asking Willemj about because it has a better power supply. Yes it has a better power supply, but look at the capacitors, power supply, and other components the Yamaha AS2000 uses versus what’s used in the 5000 or even the 3500. There’s a reason there’s very little crossover between "pro" audio electronics and higher-end home audio equipment. Very few people here would recommend a dedicated "pro" amplifier over one manufactured for home audio use. They’re just two totally different use cases, so trying to buy an "audiophile" quality "pro" amp on the cheap is largely just a fallacy. Otherwise we’d all have "pro" amps, right??? Or are we all here just absolute idiots who like to pay more for absolutely nothing except nicer cosmetics?  Ehem. 

Take my challenge -- PLEASE. The Yamaha integrated I’m recommending is manufactured to a completely different standard on every level versus the 5000 you have (or even the 3500). Call Yamaha and I’m sure they’ll give you an exhaustive list of differences between the two and why they’re improvements for home use. Hey, if you can’t hear the difference, just return it!   No harm done.  But I seriously doubt that will be the case. Even the Polks will be good enough to show you the improvements. The KEFs will do even more so. Hey, what do you have to lose?  Best of luck.

Did you read that test?