I expected more from my speakers (not high end)

My friend @ johngaltwho, I’ve been in the same boat as you. I was all about 2 channel and then in 1999, I got a DVD Player and bought extra Speakers. For the next 18 years I focused on 5.1 Video & Audio with 2 channel + Dolby Pro Logic II. Now I’m back and it’s quite the Rabbit Hole and more expensive than "set it and forget it" 5.1 Home Theater.

Enjoy the Ride.

Para Dig Em were were good and cheap back in the day but their newer models have lost their "budget mindedness".

Johngaltwho, I just checked the classifieds to see what was available in the two grand ballpark and one of my speakers was there, a custom version of the (discontinued) Planetarium Alpha.  This is a high efficiency system with a built-in down-firing subwoofer.   So there's one option which is unlikely to have compression issues.  

Duke

K what's up? Not your normal helpful self.  No need to be a knot head.. What will help the guy?

Excuse me OP, playin' mother hen again.. Cluck cluck, gotta keep the little peepers in line, when they act all Rooster Like.. LOL

I like planars.. I bought VMPS RM30s all tricked out for 1400.00 dollars..
Zowee.. They will get your attention and keep it.. The prices on planars speakers is just going UP.. I can’t think of a more dynamic and transparent design.. Extremely fast...Extraordinarily accurate and darn near bullet proof.. They can fill a good size room or work in a pretty small one with no problems.. IF YOU CAN FIND them.. There a LOT of them out there though.. Folks just don’t like to sell them.. They are very hard to beat.. With a little tinkering.. BIG dollars to even get close..

More importantly with just a so so pre amp and amp.. they are better than most speakers with twice the gear.. They are real gear friendly...Big watts or little watts.. they like um.. Oscillating watts,, NO NO NO..

What about Tekton they have something in the 2K range?

Clean them ears too.. take care of that throat.. Enjoy..

Regards

Either Tekton if you want new, or the Planetarium if you're willing to try used. Either way you want to stick with high efficiency (absolute minimum 92dB, and preferably 95+) in order to get the sound you want from the amp you have.

Either way, huge improvement over what you have now.

The troll under the bridge scares away yet one more weary traveler.