How many NICE looking high end floor standing speaker are there at present


Hi, 
Sometimes when I dream, imagining of replacing my current 1997 Burmester 961 speakers, before maybe COVID19 is sending me to an early grave - I'm practically only stumbling on ugly often even like somehow crippled looking speaker creations.
Test will say, sounding fantastically gorgeous and - looking like 💩. 
This, or par tout looking like some or other children's coffin ⚰. 😥👻

Not for the life of it, can I imagine ever having some such 'creation' invading my daily living space. Ever.

Talking 'bout a BAD WAF situation, I say.

Some makers are trying to improve on this tragic situation with creations looking far too anatomical or something alien👾 fruit thing hanging off a tree... handle an' all. 

Is there no hope out there at all...? 🤔

So can one savely move on forgetting about a replacement, still in this here life, and saving the money 💰 ?

Well, the budget <= max 20k $ lets say, so I won't risk starving before the lockdown will end ever. 😱 

😘 M. 🇿🇦 
128x128justmetoo
Michelle,

In regards to your side-firing woofer bias, Drivers need to work in unison.  A drum set doesn't have the kick drum or the snare drum turned sideways or off to the side to throw the hit a different direction.  Good crossover networks, particularly our electro-acoustic crossovers help all of our drivers work as though they sound as one, not a disjointed or convoluted mess.

  • The crossover coordinates it all, like the conductor of a massive symphony orchestra (and choir). Crossovers are judged by their attention to detail, precision and speed. They must live up to an audio ideal: accuracy and transparency, and realistic frequency blending, all achieved by the perfectly engineered slope.
  • Paradigm multi-element frequency and phase-coherent crossover networks are purpose-designed for each speaker model. They are handcrafted of high-power, close-tolerance components, like polypropylene capacitors and air-core coils, each selected for their superior performance and reliability.
  • Our crossovers are specially "voiced" for enhanced mid-range clarity, with proprietary topology that produces vanishingly low distortion and achieves seamless dynamic integration.
  • This kind of precision tuning preserves even the most microscopic sonic nuances, while easily handling the full audio spectrum of even the most challenging sources.
  • Paradigm crossovers are engineered to deliver sound of unparalleled purity, precision, clarity, and openness — a sonic performance that virtually eliminates the speaker from the equation, leaving only the sound you want to hear.

Is that enough fire? :)

Respectfully,
Chris
My wife would laugh at this thread.  I'll get whatever I want, but I do always think about what she wouldn't mind.  I too like a great auto painted finish right now and I used to build wood furniture for the house and can do veneering (a specialty to say the least).  I use plants to hide the Audioquest Niagara power strip and the Hurricane cords (three large woven cables to make the cord) as well as the double, true bi wire run of speaker cables.  I sent back a pair of granite bases I had custom made for my Vandy Quatro's as they didn't route the bevel the size I told them to.  There are too many great products on the market not to be able to get a speaker that looks great to you (not just you talking yourself into it) and also sounds great.  

I asked my audio buddies this question and so far 5 have come back saying that looks do matter to them just as my as sound does.  I honestly don't feel it's just a gender deal at all.  
It kinda depends on your taste in furniture; some (like me) prefer a minimalist look, whereas others like a more "decorated" exterior. I've been happy sitting looking at my Vandersteen Treo CTs for some years now. All of his speakers except the Model 2 have a similar, slab-sided truncated-pyramid look, and a high-quality exterior finish.

https://www.vandersteen.com/products/treo-ct
How about something from Shahinian Acoustics,  Obelisk, small in stature, big in sound, depending on favorite types of music. Looks not so much like a conventional speaker. With a little more room available, maybe his Hawk assembly. Have both, one in main (Hawks) one in second system. As soon as music starts, they disappear