Opinions wanted: 10-30K Speakers for Jazz/Folk

Marten speakers are great!  I have a friend who just moved from Kef Reference 5s to Marten Mingus Quartets. He is driving them with AVM Ovation MA 8.3 Mono-Blocks and it is insanely good using his Chord Dave as DAC and Preamp.    

I believe for floor standers, you are going to want to look at the Parker or Mingus lines from Marten which if you can't find them used, might be above your budget.  Great speakers and are best with lots of power and warmer amps.  

Which Audionote, UK or Japan?  I am familiar with the products.  I import and sell a competing line called Art Audio which, in the right application, are insanely good.  They tend to be lower power, tube amps.  

I know Spectral makes great gear.  I am not a huge fan of that 70s mainframe computer look personally but it is VERY good equipment.  

These amp recommendations are all assuming normal, neutralish sources.  You can always change up amplification if you use a particularly bright (Mola Mola DAC) or warm source (Lampizartor DAC).

So, here is what I think is a must consider.  Might cross it off after a second, but it's worth a look.  

Avantgarde Zeros and Unos.  They have fully powered units and ones that require separate amps.  Generally, a good low powered SET like an Art Audio PX-25 or Diavolo are best with these.  They have powered bass units so are VERY full range.  Take some effort to get setup and dialed in but when done, nothing sounds quite like Avantgarde.  

Vivid Kaya 45s and 90s New, Giyas used.  These are obscure looking speakers and are true form follows function designs.  Fiberglass cabinets with drivers that are created to properly interact with the cabinet.  The designs are no weird for the sake of being weird, they are their tom minimize standing wavs.  Technologically, designed to optimize sound.  They like a little bit of warmer power as the speakers are a bit forward naturally.  I would recommend AVM amplification to go with them and think the result would be brilliant.  I just spend time listening to a piano concerto on these and it was....memorable.  I personally am about to order a pair of Kaya 45s as demos.  

Wilson Benesch Vector is a brilliant speaker.  As you rise in WBs geometry series you get some really cool technology but even these base models are technologically incredible.  Carbon fiber cabinets and customer drivers.  This is a more neutral/natural sounding speaker and doesn't require warm amps to be at their best but will deliver beautiful sound with a warmer amp but will be decidedly laid back.  Good with AVM if you like a more laid back sound, Chord Ultima for a more forward sound.  

MBL Hybrid speakers.  I would look at 116s and they are definitely best with MBL amplification.  MBL are going to deliver a massive, immersive listening experience that is incredible.  You won't feel like you are in a small jazz hall, you will feel like you are on stage with the band.  It is incredible but not for everyone.  MBLs amps are shockingly powerful and yes, you need it.  

Magicos S3MKII or S5MKII.  These are aluminum cabinet speakers with a BE tweeter.  They look normal, but are very well designed and deliver precision.  The listening soundstage is presented to you and they do like a lot of power.  I would suggest AVM amplification.  

Martin Logan 15a electrostats.  These have powered base units as well and are going to deliver a huge and immersive soundstage.  Similar yet different approach compared to MBL.  They are power hungry and a bit bright.  Warm amplification is required so I would look at AVM.  

Focal Sopra with Naim amplification.  Focal is a unique looking speaker and they are super engaging.  Focal and Naim are owned by the same company and go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  Similar in presentation to Magico, they are delightful.  

B&W 800 series.  This is a must review speaker simply because.  To me, the deliver an incredible, detailed, image but I find the overall soundstage is less defined.  It sound different than many on here.  Goes well with McIntosh amplification and any other warmer amplification like AVM.  

Vandersteen.  I am not an expert on this line but it is legendary.  I think the Quattros would be in the right price range.  Best with Ayre amplification.  

Harbeth is a line like no other.  Where many brands try to dampen resonance, they embrace it and harness it in a positive way.  This brand has an intense and loyal following.  You either love it or nothing it.  I don't know if I have ever met someone who hates it.  Just too well made to dislike them.  They like power and you can drive them with something a bit brighter.  

Wilson Audio Sabrina X and I am sure one other model is in this range.  They use a cast resin cabinet and very traditional drivers to deliver  a huge sound.  They work with lots of different amplification but most prefer something neutral to warm like AVM or Luxman.  

There are others that are redundant to many of these.  If you love Harbeth, then you should also look at Spendor or Stenheim.  If you like Margico, check out YG and Stereokonzept, etc...

This to me is a good place to start your research.  I sell a lot of these, not all of them.  I will answer any question I can.  

nhb1, in your room with that money IMHO there is only one way to go. Sound Labs will make custom versions of their loudspeakers. What you want are 8 foot tall 545's. The 545 is 24" wide about right for a 14 foot wall. Their normal 8 footers are way too wide at 40". An 8 foot line source in a room with 8 foot ceilings produces a more life sized image and projects power better than the common point source speaker. It is like being right up front vs back of the hall. The sound of a modern electrostatic speaker is just so....right. Distortion levels are much lower and there is no crossover avoiding those pitfalls. There is a level of detail missing from dynamic speakers. Once you are use to these, other speakers including Wilsons, Magicos and YGs will sound just like what they are, fake. ESLs sound real. Once you are use to them you will never listen to another dynamic speaker. Cost? Right around $20 grand plus shipping. Call or email Roger West and he will tell you what to expect. You can dandy them up any way you want but in my book satin black with black grill cloth is the way to go. They become part of the room. People walking into the room won't know what they are. When you tell them they are speakers they look at you funny. Another advantage of modern ESLs is they are indestructible. The only way you can hurt them is by running a sword through them. Your grandson can run right into them and it won't hurt them a bit. There is no amplifier that can hurt them under normal operating circumstances although there may be a few amps they make uncomfortable. You do not see many of them on the used market for a reason. 

There are a lot. You don’t know me, but I may like these the most for lighter music:

Soundlabs are amazingly transparent; easy and relaxing. My favorite sounding speaker and certainly the best ESL. No speaker is perfect. There is that hard "thawp" upon excursion limit. Some will complain about limited dynamics. Not me. Big tube amps.

YG Carmel II is also refined and has that fatigue free sparkle of ESL and ribbons but in the box form. Bass is dry and limited on this model. I preferred Gryphon amp over Audionet.

Voxativ 9.87 is possible under thirty although lists higher. Rolled off highs but otherwise not varied in the tonal balance. The best double bass reproduction I have heard. You can listen to them forever; they sound beautiful. Voxativ has their own electronics. Easy.

Vandersteen's Quatro CT 
The sound is like being there 
$16315.00

Check out spatial audio labs  open baffle speakers with Beyma AMT tweeters,midrange  and powered sub the x3,X5 under $10 k and the x3  beats many speakers 2x this ,
also the latest Wilson Audio speakers just under $20 k 
have tons of $$ trickle down technologies very detailed and musical , both brands different but excellent .