Pondering a change after 30 odd years...

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and suggestions! I'd whinge a bit that most folks offered specific equipment suggestions vs. the conversation of "things to think about" I was hoping for but I think it's rather the nature of the beast being an audiophile. I admit my interest is piqued about the Spatial line of speakers. I live in the Seattle area and it's looking like the closest place to hear them in in SLC, a mere 12 hour drive... They seem a bit more forgiving of room placement versus electrostatic/planar speakers. But, I think the search is on! Thank you all again...

@musicfan2349 

i need another pair of speakers like i need another hole in my head, but i am getting a set of spatial m3 sapphires shortly... see what the fuss is about

several hifi nerd friends and contacts i have great confidence in have raved ad nauseum... so we shall see  :)

I was sorta’ in your positon several years ago. After owning them for over a decade, I was considering replacing my Soundlab stats., with a newer Soundlab model.

Before spending considerable funds, I wanted to have a clue whether anything else would better suit my fancy.  Hence, my son and I sojourned to RMAF. We did so, primarily to listen to every speaker we could, which we did. After hitting all the rooms, we kept returning to what we termed “effortless” reproduction.  As a generalization, lower power SET friendly speakers tend to also provide this. 

My son has a penchant for horns, which I believe, represents the definition of a speaker being “effortless”. Thus, we found that we received the most satisfaction from panels, horns and open baffle designs. After returning home, I ordered the new pair of Soundlabs.

Thus, this experience has suggested that listening to as many types of speakers as one can, is a worthy endeavor! From that, perhaps a type (box, open baffle, horns, various panels etc.) can be selected. Then the shopping begins.

I’ve adhered to the premise of speaker “type” since my first high-end system which consisted of ESS Heil AMT-3 (“Rockmonitors”), with their “effortless” sounding Air Motion Transformer. These speakers had their limitations (especially coherence between drivers), but decades later, the Heil’s are still going strong in my son’s game room and AMT's are still being utilized in speaker design. Thereafter, I’ve owned Apogee’s, Martin Logans and Soundlabs. Presently, I use Logans in my up stair’s home theater and newly purchased the Soundlab Majestic 845’s reside in my 2-channel room.

Everything in this hobby is personal as far as taste in presentation and sound is concerned. There is no one answer (or speaker) for everybody – it’s too personal. That’s why I believe it’s imperative to listen to as many different speakers (especially types) that one can. Although audio shows with their limited days for setup, multiple combinations of unknown components and impractical room sizes, are the NOT the best venue for critical auditioning. However, they are a superb venues for checking out speaker types!!

Musicfan, Way back I had a pair of Acoustat Monitor fours that I mounted on top of RHLabs Subwoofers!! I loved those subwoofers. Never should have sold them. Mine were walnut.
Anyway check out my system. I currently run 2+2's which I have owned on and off for 40 years.
Unless you take an ice pick to the panels they will last forever. So, don't worry about that.
The only real downside to these speakers is that they are very selfish. You have to be seated in exactly the right spot or the high end disappears. I an going to move to Sound Labs 845's just because of this problem. The Sound Labs are also an easier load and a bit more efficient.
You have been living with the 1+1's for a long time. Switching to any other type of speaker is liable to be a disappointment in the long run. You might tolerate Magnepan 3.7i's but once an ESL fan? It is hard to lose the inner detail, transient snap and sense of the third dimension that no other speaker has. Most people think all ESLs are like Quads and have never listened to a sturdy line source ESL like yours. Your soundstage is way more lifelike than what you get out of any dynamic loudspeaker except perhaps the ones that are set up as line sources (Pipe Dreams).
Getting a speaker better than the 1+1s is not going to be easy or cheap.
The least expensive would be the Maggie 3.7i's. I would audition them for at least several hours. There is Sander's Sound Systems model 10 but I actually think your 1+1's are better! Sound Labs makes the only serious contender but the 845 is a MONSTER. However, Sound Labs will do custom speakers. The 545 is 24 inches wide. (845 is 40"!) I bet they would make an 8 foot version for you. You are use to a full range line source. Decreasing the height of the speaker will dramatically reduce the size of your image. If you like that presentation (I personally will never give it up) you best stick with an 8 foot speaker. Anyway, An 8 foot 545 would be just four inches wider than my 2+2's, a very nice size with good proportions. 

My Apogee Slant 6's many years ago blew the ribbons, so I got to explore a lot of speakers in the intervening years.  My experience/bias meant I hunted speed, imagery and the sound wall of the ribbons.  I evolved to a pair of Dynaudio C2 Plats, which unfortunately didn't sit well with my original amps so after a number of combinations I eventually found my end combo with a Supratek DHT pre (adds the warmth and some color), Accuphase A70 (just clean power).  So matching new speakers with your existing amps could be a journey.  I also run a C22/Mc75's system but too much color with the Dynaudio's so use different speakers with them.

I recently had my Apogee Slant 6's fully restored, new ribbons and rebuilt bass speakers and fell immediately in luv' with them again, now being driven by an Ayon pre and Radford STA-25, and never sounded better.  I also picked up a pair of Apogee Slant 8's cheaply and not much between them and the Dynaudios (a bit more dynamic), I rotate them every couple of months.  So my 30 year old speakers compete very well with my modern speakers.  Maybe hold onto your Acoustat 1+1's, you never know how you might feel in a few years.

So sometimes what you have and luv' are for a reason, but then again its the journey that's fun, but can be frustrating as well.   Enjoy your search.