“House” Character of Popular $20-$30k Speakers

Nyev, This is impossible to do because the same speaker in 5 different rooms is going to have 5 different sounds. You can predict sound stage size and depth to a degree whether a speaker is a point source or a line source. Some speakers such as dipole planars and horn are less room sensitive because they have controlled radiation patterns and do not spray sound all over the place creating a multitude of early reflections. From an amplitude perspective you can make a speaker sound any way you want it to if you get a digital room control unit with 1/3 octave EQ capability. Once you get use to using it you will know exactly what you like and how to get there with any loudspeaker. I like the bass boosted below 100 Hz up 6 dB at 20 Hz a flat midrange and the treble rolled off from 1000 Hz. By 20 kHz I am usually down 6 dB but this depends on the recording, some more, some less. With digital EQ you also are able to balance the channels so that they have the exact same frequency response curve which really sharpens the image.

All the speakers you mentioned are excellent and I agree on your evaluation of the looks of Wilsons. I like the workmanship on the Sous Fabers the best. Italians are really good at that. But, I am totally invested in ESLs so perhaps I am not the one to listen to when it comes to dynamic loudspeakers. I would tell you to get Magnepan 20.7s or Sound Labs 545 - 8s. 

@nyev you can find Alexia’s at a reasonable price used, but my bigger point was that I ended up getting rid of the 802 D3 because of bass. And yes, I would say Wilson and B&W, while not having the same signature, certainly both reside in a more neutral land. Keep in mind, that when some of the old timers here say something may be neutral, they probably lost their high frequency hearing decades ago. ;) you definitely need to hear them for yourself. 

@mayoradamwest , thanks for the clarification and yes I fully agree with the importance of hearing everything first hand.  That said, before auditioning, I wanted to get a “general consensus” of the character of these different brands.  Before I audition amplifiers I did the same thing, and it helped.  In most cases, but not all, I agreed with the consensus on how a particular amp or preamp sounded.

Speaking of aging, I know that even in my 40’s my high frequency hearing is starting to degrade, based on a test I did years ago.  The test showed where my high frequency rolloff was happening. It’s not something I notice yet, but I am scared to do another test!  Having said that it might be valuable info in selecting which speakers I choose :)

In your price range I would put the Acoustic Zen Crescendo mk2 on the short list. Impeccable sound quality!  

The paradigm persona 7f or 9h would end your search. I thought the Be mid and tweeter would steal the show but it was the quality, quantity, speed, and articulation of the bass that kept amazing me. My hegel h360 wasn't the best match for the mids and a pair of kef blades came up locally I wanted to try so I sold them. I have heard the persona properly set up and they are exceptional.