Harbeth M40.1 vs. KEF 205/2 vs. Spendor SP100R2

Hello Dayglow - and we are on the same journey as I too am looking for a new set of speakers. I had the original Avalon Eclipse speakers for almost 12 years and I would have kept them except for the fact the tweeters were no longer being made. I had no need for large door stops if they ever went on me. I had the Harbeth 40.1's for about 6 months - great speaker but they just did not seem to me to be very engaging and I just always felt that something was '' choking '' the music from fully coming out of those big boxes.....the excuse I got was that my room too small......Hmmmmm I have listened to the Spendor S100's which was awile ago and they were very musical but again lackd at sort of dymanics. Now the Kef 205/2 have not heard them .....but form people who own them they love them. 90db sensitivity with an 8 ohm load .....easy to drive. On my short list. Also I will look and listen to the Avalon Ascendents which are also in this price range......what about the ProAc D 40-r's and Vienna Acoustics has new which I think is called the ; Beethovan Imperial Grand. There there is the 2 way Magico S-1 also for about $12,000. So help me here as well as all of these speakers are in the same price range.

Garebear-Going from an Avalon to Harbeth must have been an adjustment! Did you feel you had the right amp synergy with the 40.1? The current Spendor 100R2 has won a "speaker of the year" award in Japan. The award might not mean much but i'm sure the current speaker is a solid improvement over the original SP100. Not so sure the KEF 205/2 is that easy to drive. Both the VA Imperial and ProAc D40R look interesting.

Hello Dayglow......I had a Classe' CA 2300 which ws a 300 watt amp but it just didn't open up it always seemed that something was holding it back. The Spendor's may have changed as I think the new interation is the SP100R2, The KEF's I would think would be easy to drive at a 90db sensivity level at 8 ohm's ...let me know. I have listened to the Avalon Ascendents which is at their lower level of their line but still incorporates the Avalon sound. Not a fan huh ????........the Vienna's are new speaker and I expect that we will hear more after CES ....price is about $12,000 and Vienna does make some nice stuff. Then there is the ProAC D40-r's .....had ProAC years ago and they seems to have fadded over here in the US ....still ncie stuff but many feel way over priced for what you get. I did listen to the Wilseon Benesch's ACT used at the same price - nice speaker , UK made but they have pulled out of the US so to support ....not for that kind of money. So, my room ( finished basement, temperature controlled ) is 11' feet wide , 20' deep with 7 ' ceilings. All Esoteric equipment now ....and the amp is the A03 class A 50 watt beast. Let m eknow what you have found out as we are both looking at the same stuff.... ohhh ...the Magico's sound nice but $12,000 for a two way ?????