Considering Harbeth C 7ES-3

I love my Harbeth C7es3.    They paired fantastic with McIntosh.   Great detail and not fatiguing!   

I also listen to everything accept heavy metal/thrash or rap!   The harbeth speakers shine for live concerts and studio!   

I paid 3200 dollars new tiger ebony.   500 for stands  in Chicago 

I have owned many Spendor loudspeakers including the SP 2/3R2s as well as earlier versions of this model and can wholeheartedly recommend them. Actually, over the years this is the speaker I have come back to having owned and sold four pairs. Obviously I like rotating through gear to try different things. Currently using a pair of Spendor SA1s with a pair of subs and enjoying that combo quite a bit. 

I would suggest speakers that are built to represent the recorded material truthfully before you enter into the more coloured world. ATC 11, 19, 20, PMC Result 6 (active) and Quested H108 are fine and affordable examples (all english). Also easy to complement with subs using a good room eq management system like ARC or Dirac.