Looking for Speaker Recommendations

@wast314

your add’l info is quite helpful... always good to see folks coming here for advice provide ample useful input so we can be more informed to try to help you properly

a few additional thoughts -

1. life is short, if wilson sabrina x’s are it for you, you should go for it... why have regrets?

2. not sure how much of your speaker choice is driven by visuals, cosmetics and/or speaker set up constraints, or is it pretty much all about the sound? if the latter, please do not underestimate magnepans, while they look how they do, and demand to be out into the room they play in, they are absolutely superb when done right and provide a magical balance of live presence without attendant treble harshness

3. seems like you are bascailly quite sensitive to modern sizzly treble but still want the visceral impact of a live performance in the rest of the range, along with tonal correctness at good volumes - given this, i do agree with your notion of getting electronics that have tone controls, or the modern version of such, being digital signal processing/equalization - this will allow you to use speakers that are more alive sounding, but shelve down the treble

You should take a look at the Tekton Double Impact SE speakers with Beryllium tweeters... they blow away many speakers at twice their price.  Reviews below of the standard DI but the SE version with the Beryllium tweeter is even more impressive. 

Double Impact SE - Tekton Design

$3k speaker better than $30k speaker? Tekton Double Impact impression - Bing video

The Best Speaker Award - Tekton Double Impact Speaker Review ! - Bing video

OP be patience , at times it takes lots of speaker Audition to really choose the right one for you and your wife.You also need to be open minded on your selections? If looks is important to you, there are many musical speakers that will suite your preference, but not your eyes .I have collections of Speakers the ugly one are the one that really suite my sound preference, the nice looking one are for my eyes and  a bit for my ears Iam also 65 yrs old like you. I’ve been in this hobby for at least 30 now. If you like Wilson speakers. Albertportis is a  Agon member , who has lots of Wilson inventories. PM him. He is from Chicago.

Pffeix +1

With the additional info you provided I’d highly recommend stretching a bit for the Joseph Audio Perspectives and a Hegel integrated — with the $$$ you save by not buying the Mac that should make the stretch a lot easier. I heard the Perspectives with Hegel at a show and the sound was fantastic and everything you’re looking for, and I’d recommend the Hegel over the Mac for the same reason. Plus the Perspectives are very attractive and would look great in your living room.

Another option I’d highly recommend are the new Usher ML-801 speakers that have the benefit of being closer to your stated budget than the JAs if that’s an issue. Haven’t heard them yet, but I’m familiar with the Usher house sound and am confident they too would be right up your alley (I still do think their Dancer Mini Two DMD is also an outstanding option as it’s gorgeous and uses their top diamond tweeter along with being considerably less expensive and well under your budget). Here’s a good review — always a good sign when the reviewer buys the review sample (he upgraded from the Dancer Mini 2 DMD BTW)…

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/usher-audio-ml-801/

Hope this helps, and best of luck in your quest.