Still looking for speakers in the 10-20,000 range

what city do you live in?  I know when I was going to get a new set of speakers, I ended up getting teh Vandy's from a dealer in NJ, Audio Connection.  They are nearly 3 hours away.  For a few other speakers that I wasn't going to drive that far for, I found folks online who offered to have me listen.  I actually have let a lot of folks over to audition gear that I have.  Have made a few friends that way also.  

I actually have found that a couple of companies had 'dealers' in areas that didn't show up on their sites.  

Heard the Focal Kanta No.2’s with Naim reference gear and I was smitten immediately!  It’s been about 40 years or so since I’ve heard a speaker render dynamics, bass definition, midrange presence with a top end that is natural and full of unforced detail.  Owned many of the brands mentioned here, but none impressed me so deeply as did the Kanta’s.  Gonna have to buy them...oh, and the looks are groovy baby, yeah!!  A-3’s are another metal tower with a tweeter on top.  The Kanta Time alignment and Quasi D’ Appolito array seem to really blend the sound naturally.  So warm, defined and tonaly exquisite:)

I need to go to the local shop again to hear the Focal's. I have a lot of friends who love them. I used to own a pair fo their Micron's back in the day, when they first started to sell their own speakers.  A close friend has the Sopra 2's in his office system and swears by them.  

Every time I've heard them at various places, I haven't 'gotten' them.  There comes a time when I feel it's not just a bad set up for me, but I'm thinking that has to be it.  I'm brutal on speakers and feel 'hifi'ish', but folks who's ears I know and trust seem to really like them.  

Btw, if you haven't had a chance to listen to the Vandersteen Treo CT, which is a bit less than the Kanta 2, it would be a good comparison.  I have a feeling that the reason I may not 'get' the Focal's is that I don't love the Beryllium tweeters on any of the speakers I"ve heard them on.  I've only heard a diamond driver sound good on the Tidal's too, so that's just me and my ears.  It's sure a nice looking and well built line of speakers.  I even took one of their models' home a few years ago as I was close to getting it, but in the end, it wasn't what I wanted.  I felt badly for the dealer as he had to lug them to and fro, lol. (with MS, I Cna't even help move empty boxes, lol. 

Glad you like them as that's the only thing that matters in audio as we all hear so differently.

Everybody’s got a bias so go listen...really can’t tell till your ass is in the listening chair and your electronics are pushing them in YOUR room!  Now go get the Focal Kanta No. 2’s...they sound like butter:).