Looking for Speaker Recommendations

People generally recommend what they have or have had. Most put a lot of research into their purchases and have chosen accordingly; makes perfect sense. Few however get a chance to a/b/c several brands because shops, for the most part, only carry 3-5 major brands and stay in their lane. They'd have you choose between what they're deep in in the stockroom. Try shops that have the ability to show and demonstrate a wide variety of used or vintage pieces. Those shops have more than likely experience with MANY brands and models and can help steer you in an informed direction. You make the final choice but from an eclectic mix of brands, models, designs and vintages. Having said that, in my own personal experience, I think the Mac or Hegel will match up well with SF, KEF Reference, JM Reynaud and yes, Aerial Acoustics. Have yet to hear a set of SFs or AAs that I wasn't smitten with starting with Cremona Auditor M and Aerial 5T and working up. Thought the KEF Reference One to be such a massive departure from LS50 Metas. JM Renaud Bliss Silver/ Jubilee are fabulous as well. Very limited dealer network but guys in Western Mass are an excellent shop and have the full line. Everyone's got an opinion and know mine is starting mid point of your budget. You can run away with things from there. Anyway, given the info being shared by forum members, I'll agree with the assessments of Sonus Faber, Vandersteen, KEF, Ref 3a, Spendor, ProAc, etc being brands that should be in your crosshairs. GL! A lot of good solid info in these posts,...

I love my Sabrina X’s.  Fantastic speakers, powered by a Pass Labs 250.8 with an ARC REF6.  I saw a used pair for $12K. They replaced my Focal Diablo Utopia III’s with a REL sub, which sounded very good with both my Pass and a PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premier HP.  In fact, My Pass is back at the factory right now for a checkup and I am driving the Sabrina’s with the PrimaLuna . . . Not in the same league as the Pass Labs, but still sounds good!

no mention of the so called BBC speakers? If B&W are too bright, Sterling or Harbeth or Rogers might be right

yes they were indeed mentioned early on -- op said he didn’t know what bbc heritage speakers are, are all about, how they sound

if i were him, i would certainly find out, as these speakers have only given generations of music lovers around the world great pleasure for many years

that said, it does seem he has some cosmetic/appearance related considerations, and the best bbc speakers are indeed larger fairly old school boxes...

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/harbeth-40-2-or-spendor-classic-100-or

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0302/spendor12.htm

https://6moons.com/audioreviews/spendor2/1.html

https://highfidelity.pl/@main-1106&lang=en

NSMT 100's!  They have a silk dome tweeter so you don't get the Klipsch/B&W/FOCAL sound on the highs and they are amazing at imaging, depth and tone.  They have a powered woofer so the amp only pushes the mid and tweeter. 93db efficient. I have owned Klipsch, focal, buckhardt and Zu's and these are end game speakers. Made in USA.  Here is Tea Jay's review link.  I have no affiliation at all with NSMT or any dealer so this is my honest listening expereience. I have the black front model with cherry sides.  Amazing speakers. Using a pass labs XA25 amp.