I went through this for awhile. I think most of us do. Depending on price point and whether you have size/aesthetic constraints, there are a few things you could do. 1) Buy what most approximates what you want and wait until the more desirable speaker eventually comes your way. 2) Find two sets of speakers you like that do different things well and run them together...I did this for years using paradigm and polk. Paradigm added body to low to mids, Polk upper mids to highs. 3) Try headphones.
My final speaker at a price point was Focal 807W (at a price point). They do almost everything better than most speakers I have heard (for me) and I prefer the older tweeter over the newer Poron, but they are metal tweeters. The AA with Raal seem to be as you describe, lacking a midrange punch or excitement, comparatively speaking. My suggestions for newer equipment would be Triangle Borea 3 at $600ish,a speaker which has received alot of attention, Monitor Audio Silver 100s at $1200ish which has become more dynamic than previous models were..so maybe more forward rather than laid back. Above that, the Sky’s the limit. The sweet spot has to reside somewhere between 1-2 grand but there are some performers for less.
What I look for is clarity with dynamic reach or "exciting clinical". Not too airy, too large a soundstage (stretched) or too small. Something that adds depth of sound rather than flat wall so more 3D vs 2D.
Let your brain adjust. The brain is like an infant, you’ll eventually desire the taste for what’s on your plate. Don’t forget, amps and sources can make a difference too regardless of what some people say.
My final speaker at a price point was Focal 807W (at a price point). They do almost everything better than most speakers I have heard (for me) and I prefer the older tweeter over the newer Poron, but they are metal tweeters. The AA with Raal seem to be as you describe, lacking a midrange punch or excitement, comparatively speaking. My suggestions for newer equipment would be Triangle Borea 3 at $600ish,a speaker which has received alot of attention, Monitor Audio Silver 100s at $1200ish which has become more dynamic than previous models were..so maybe more forward rather than laid back. Above that, the Sky’s the limit. The sweet spot has to reside somewhere between 1-2 grand but there are some performers for less.
What I look for is clarity with dynamic reach or "exciting clinical". Not too airy, too large a soundstage (stretched) or too small. Something that adds depth of sound rather than flat wall so more 3D vs 2D.
Let your brain adjust. The brain is like an infant, you’ll eventually desire the taste for what’s on your plate. Don’t forget, amps and sources can make a difference too regardless of what some people say.