Stand mount loudspeakers

stand mount is a great idea, anything you can do to lift up the soundstage off the floor, greatly improves sound. I built corner shelves for my 3 way speakers w/15" woofers and bass reflex ports, and epiphany struck- WOW- the soundstage is huge, wide, tall, expansive 28 feet across the entire room, and depth that seems out in the front yard 25 feet away beyond the walls of my room. my speakers are 5 feet off the ground. think of a concert, when you’re in the front row, the players and singers are above you, the audience’s face is at their foot level. there are great benefits from high speaker placement. it makes the soundstage enormous, by getting the speakers up into the airspace of the room, rather than the sound bouncing around or being absorbed by furniture, tables, etc. in the room on the floor.

It's always humorous reading responses to someone looking for recommendations regarding new speakers.  Answers vary widely and likely predicated on what's sitting in the respondent's living room.  One post asks the question "what type of music do you enjoy."  Ridiculous.  The goal of any well designed speaker is to as accurately as possible reproduce the original image.  Rock, jazz, classical, acoustic, electric, vocals, motion picture soundtrack, it makes no difference.  Ultimately a speaker system that adheres to this basic principle will provide the listener with the greatest level of satisfaction over the years.  Why then do speakers vary so much in characteristics?  Because some companies have much larger R&D resources than others which includes the ability to design and manufacturer all associated components within the system. Also keep in mind that high cost does not assure high performance.. Ultimately beauty is in the ear of the beholder but if you are looking for long term satisfaction seek a manufacturer with resources. Although tempted to list examples I will refrain.    

@astewart8944 thanks for the setup details.  Sounds like a good system and that you thought the demo was up to typical JA standards and that the Pearls sounded good?

@tutetibiimperes thanks for your impressions.  Heard lots of positive things about the Revels so i'll have to find a dealer and give them a listen.  I liked what I heard from Raidho too at a show a while back, and they were on my radar until I learned the two guys who started the brand just picked up and left to start a new speaker company.  WTF???  They start arguably one of the best new speaker brands in the past 10 years and then just decide to flat out leave to scratch a new itch???  I just don't understand this behavior, and I certainly won't support it with any of my future purchases (unless the founders are still involved and I just don't know about it). 

Well put banyanbull.

Although not a small book shelf or stand speaker, the Spatial Audio, Hologram M4, open baffle, has all of the attributes of it’s $10,000. big brother - the X2, but is made for a smaller room and would check your every box. Ea. speaker is only about 3’ tall, 14" wide and a few in. deep and made to fill a small room with true to life music. They present a large detailed stage, a beautiful rendition of instruments and vocals and "NO" head in the vice factor. They are easy to drive, with either ss or tubes and very room friendly. At only $2,000, they would be - even at two or three times the cost - one of my first picks for a small room and in a slightly larger room than yours, would greatly consider the M3. Just a thought...Jim