What speaker – under $10k – has the best timbre and tonal qualities?


Several years ago, a prominent reviewer had this to say as he was praising the natural and life-like tonal qualities of a particular speaker:

It’s [speakers] like these that make me question the priorities of audiophiles who relegate accuracy of timbre to secondary status. How are the richness and color of instruments, voices, ensembles, and textures to be reproduced in all their infinite variety and beauty if a loudspeaker has less than accurate reproduction of timbre? What do dynamics, imaging, detail, transparency, and the like matter if voices and instruments don’t sound like themselves?

I’ve come the same realization, late in the game. I recently made a lateral move from one of the most popular of recent speaker models to a different speaker, because it sounded so much more natural and realistic in timbre. I sacrificed a touch of image precision in doing so, but it has been well worth it. The sound is so much more engaging. It’s like going from a high-resolution black and white photograph – which is very detailed and impressive – to a color version of the same photo, but with slightly less resolution. The color version offers so much more in terms of realism.

So I’m now contemplating the purchase of what I hope will be my last speakers, with the objective of realistic, natural, and rich (but not artificially warm) tone being the primary attribute.  

What speakers, under $10k, would you recommend? (I’m driving them with a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium)


wester17
Hello,
I don’t hear Proac speakers mentioned a lot. Very nice sound. Also, for another box speaker the Tekton has the open sound of the Maggie’s and the mids and bass to fill the range. The Proac are for normal volume listening. 
I have a pair of Cube Audio Nenuphar Mini’s on order. Everything I’ve read about these has been amazing so I’m really looking forward to them. It’s a major splurge for me but I’m going for it. They’re a bit over 10k but might be what you’re looking for. The Spatial X5’s or M series were also on my list but they’re too big for my space and I know my wife would be all over me about that and I don’t want to deal with that. If you’re interested in the Cubes check out reviews online. They also have the Magus speaker for a bit less and I might know where you can get a mint used pair of Mini’s. I wanted a pair in walnut so I passed on the black used ones but if you pm me I’ll let you know if you’re interested. 
Yamaha NS-1000M. Especially recapped with high quality caps (the famous 6 3uf in parallel).
I don't believe you mentioned the kind of speakers you presently have.  Have you heard a pair of SALK speakers?  I heard a pair at the RMAF in Denver a couple years ago, and the impressed me the most at the show.  They played everything well.  Jim Salk sells direct in order to user higher end drivers and cabinet build so he doesn't have to discount his speakers to the dealers.  However, the problem is having the ability to hear them other than listen to them at audio shows because he manufactures his speakers in MIchigan.  You will love this guy.