Looking into speaker upgrade/change?

I"m a Vandersteen guy and would always tell folks to put them on your short list. There is a reason that Vandersteen has been so successful, even while not advertising as much as Wilson, B&W and others.  

They are your ears in your room.  Glad you got those two in to listen.  It just shows you that system matching is key.  So many on the boards just purchase what folks tell them etc... and never match components.  The Audio Physic's line is all over the place for my ear. Every time I've heard the different models in various stores, they all sound different.  It has a house sound, but not as much as many others have.  There are a lot of companies like that.  Elac is like that.  Often times it's dues to using different designers.  

I'm not sure what's going on with Revel.  A friend has had the line since their inception, but he hasn't sold a pair in a couple of years.  He has their newest speaker and hasn't been able to move it and doesn't know what's up with the company.  I have always enjoyed them when driven with higher end gear.  I'm sure you will make the right decision as long as you keep bringing them in to audition.  

If I was in your situation, I'd try to get a pair of used Vandersteen Treo's or even Model 5's as well as getting a pair of 3's new.  I love the 3's as they play loudly, but also with plenty of finesse.  They won't be as resolving as Treo's on up, but are a great value in their price range and why they have been such a great seller for 30 or so year (as they keep getting upgraded, meaning their original design was that good that you can just keep upgrading all components and getting better and better sound).  

Few others can make that statement at this price point.  You are doing the right thing in getting speakers into your room.  Wish you luck.  There are a few that I'm sure you will love with your Clayton amp that you love.

What I can say confidently, based on my long history of owning many speakers with various high end components, is that Klipsch and JBL (other horn speakers) bring a much needed sense of excitement and life to music.  

If you don’t have a problem with used Dynaudio C60 lists $10k. I heard them with 6 figure components so it is possible anything would have sounded great. I like dynamics, resolution and sound stage full range. If I stayed with passive speakers I would have kept my usher be20 dmd’s. I went through a bunch and these guys were the most natural over the most music. As much as I like my hegel I gave up And went dsp.

I agree with @adg101; I own the Aerial Model 7s (the original series) and it requires at the very *minimum* 100W/channel. I heard competent drive from BAT tube amps (60W), however it was in a fairly small room.

I suggest either getting a more powerful amp that can really dump current or try the others (I listened to some Audio Physic speakers long ago - they were very nice.)

Good Luck!

I auditioned both the Aerial 6t and 7t and bought the 7t's because i found the bass extension better than  the 6t--however, i was listening to them in a room larger than the one in my home--a very good room--i couldn't be happier but would note that at least wrt the 7t, Aerial says the sensitivity is 90dB but according to measurements from reviewers it's more like 86-87 and they do need adequate amplification as many have already said.  Does your budget preclude looking at the 7t ? Your room size is asking for it.  I've never had to use subs-- I think the 6t's cost significantly more than the F208's but having heard both, imo the 6t's are also much better.