Best speaker in the $5-10K range. Details below.

If you are not willing to go out and listen to speakers that are in your price range then I think that you should keep what you have and convince yourself that you just bought them and they are wonderful.

Asking for recommendations from strangers who do not have your equipment, room or music is a great way to become an equipment collector. Basing your purchases on reviews are just as unwise. When was the last time you read a review that was unfavorable? Audiogon is full of classifieds from well meaning so called audiophiles who continually "turn" equipment because they mostly buy without trying and read reviews. They listen to the component for a few months and move on. That is not the way to achieve bliss only frustration and a lot of wasted money.

If you sincerely care about music and building a synergistic system you have to put in the time and travel to hear what gives you goosebumps, anything less is a crap-shoot.

^^^^ agreed ^^^^

Well said Tom! Too bad we can't use this response as a "Sticky" blanket reply for everyone continually asking what's the "best" amp/speaker/cable,etc ad nausium. At best, the answers from well meaning respondents will be whatever THEY bought but doesn't take into account the O.P.'s systems/room interactions or the listener's preferences or bias. While I realize no one can listen to everything in their area, but when it gets down to major dollar purchases on an item as personal as a speakers, listening (preferably in your own system) becomes a must. If you live in an area with little choice, take a trip to a major city center. The cost of a mistake at this level is disappointing and costly. A'gon is littered with the heartbreaks of unwise purchases. Good luck.

If there is an audiophile club in your area you might consider joining and listening to what other audiophiles have. You can get a wealth of knowledge, hear their different speakers and associataed systems and also find out what they tried before their current set up.

One can get lucky and by speakers unheard that work well, but the obvious (and often repeated) advice to listen remains good. If you can't shop, could you go to an audio show, such as Rocky Mountain (Oct. in CO) or AK (Spring in MI)? You can hear a lot in a day or two that way.

Although listening "out" is helpful, it's hard to determine exactly how something will work in your room with your kit (that's why the obvious advice is, IMO, not completely helpful).

Fortunately, many companies with mail order business models allow in house demo's, which is the test that matters most (the downside is, it means buying new). On your list, that includes, Salk, VSA, and maybe Legacy.

Now, to add a bit on the question you actually asked. If you go Legacy, I'd stretch for the Whisper, which *might* be had for 10k (give Bill D. a call about demos and the like), and is a lot better than the Focus -- that is, very good. To add one not on your list, the Gallo 3.5 is lovely, and can be had at your price point (Call Walter at Underwood). I much prefer it to the Salk HT2-TL (and the VSA 33), which is a looker, but runs a little hard or analytical on the highs, on my hearing. A company that is often mentioned with Salk is Selah; I prefer Selah, and would talk to Rick Craig about a the possibility of a home demo.

So I think you can do it your way, but be prepared to spend on return freight!

John