Horn Speaker Recommendations

I have had many speakers over my lifetime and have spent a lot of money on stuff.  The best long term speaker system I have encountered (and own for the past 8 years) are the Avantgarde Trios.  On the used market a pair with subs in 19 ohm configuration are about $20K, hopefully within your budget. 

In my experience there are four factors that contribute the most to long term satisfaction with a given sound system.  These are: a large wave launch, high efficiency (100 db or thereabout), good micro-dynamics and lastly no upper mid-range odd-order harmonic distortion (granted electronics are key here but some speakers can be brutal in this crucial region).

A large wave launch means the speakers never sound "loud", allowing you to see into the music better.  High efficiency puts you in a category of being able to select relatively inexpensive electronics.  Micro-dynamics give the music that subtle realism that takes you there.  Once you experience this there is no going back.  Lastly to my ears upper mid-range distortion which in many cases is from under-amplification is a pet peave and may not bother some as much as it bothers me...perhaps due to my aging ears.

Of note, the Trios are a very different animal from the Duos or other horns in the AG line-up.  While they are big and take up space, they work fine in a relatively small room.  I will concede that their imaging is not as pin point as small monitors or planar drivers, but is quite satisfactory to these ears.  Live music does not have finely delineated images. 

Good luck with your search. 

I agree, the Trios are in a different league above the other AGs. But I disagree about them working in a small room. My experience with them ( my buddy owned them, he was the Jadis importer at the time ), tells a different story. Listening too close to them, they lost coherence, and did not stage well. Moving them to a larger room, creating greater distance between them and us, the listeners, they disappeared. We also had set up a pair of the AG powered subs, and it was awesome. 

I would highly recommend auditioning the Diesis Ludos, available at Rhapsody audio. Beautiful top to bottom natural dynamic sound for 29k. Gutenberg auditioned the 100k version and fell in love but Bob at Rhapsody told me this was just as good from his listening, I certainly loved it but out of my price range. There is also a slightly larger Aura for 35k. See details on Ludos below. Best of luck in your search

The transducers used for the low frequencies are two high-efficiency ten-inch woofers, assuring comparable performance to larger models as it reduces a few db of sensitivity because the slimmer design. Upper registers are entrusted to a 45mm compression driver, which is the same as in the Aura one-inch throat. The circular design of the horn, which allows for far more efficient sound diffusion in tight spaces, was designed specifically for this model out of a solid block of milled ARNITE which was then lacquered. The Ludos can be considered a two-and-a-half-way speaker with two identical woofers but tuned to different frequencies. As in other Diesis models, in the Ludos the crossover filter, the assembly of the components and the finishing are all made by hand with no compromises. The efficiency along with its optimization for cozier spaces causes a nearly-live experience even with low-output tube amplifiers.

2.5 way system with 3 speakers
Two dipole loaded woofers 10 inch

Understanding driver from 45 mm exponential horn loaded on specific Sharp Audio

Sensitivity 93 db 2.83 V/M
Nominal impedance 6 Ohms
Frequency response in environment from 37 a 26.000 hz a +/- 8 db
Minimum power 10 watts RMS
Max power 130 watts RMS
Acoustic crossovers to 180 Hz and 2000 Hz
Maximum dimensions width cm Height cm depth cm 32,8, 28,9, 104,2, single speaker Weight 40 kg
* Bearing frame Clad 58 produced on specific Sharp Audio (material composed of mineral powders, cement and special resins) cast in one mould

Trumpet by one inch fiberglass and abs made about specific
Totalfix proprietary system for fixing the woofer
Cross-over hard wired with high-quality components treated with dielectric resins to military standards
Removable front panel and trumpet to allow editing of the aesthetics of the speaker in order to customize its inclusion in environment

My room is 23' X 20' which I assume is smaller than most dedicated sound rooms.  That is what I am referring to as a small room.  In that space they work fine. Most venues where Trios are being displayed are much larger than that.  I should have specified that.  

Agree with much of what you say about the Sound Labs, however dont forget to mention that these speakers are dipoles which creates problems by virtue of this aspect. Not a small problem I might add.