speaker recommendations for Ayre V-5xe?

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I've got the same amp and use it with B&W, 802D3, very happy with the combination. I can't see that a smaller B&W won't work great as well.

I will 2nd the Vandersteen VLR-CT with Sub3 around $6250 without upgrade finishes, or Vandersteen Treo CT on upper end of your budget. 

I also would recommend talking with John Rutan at Audio Connection.  Has been selling Vandy’s forever and is very honest.

the Ascend’s pricepoint allows me to try and buy regardless as a stop gap, custom seas driver, raal ribbon, and Klippel measurements, appears to be a level of actual R&D and published measurements beyond alot of the smaller independant companies

Yeah, no. The Sierras, as good as they are, are not even on the same planet as the JA Prisms I mentioned above. If, for some reason, the Prisms don’t just blow you outta your chair — which they absolutely will — you can turn around and sell them for little or no loss as they’re a great value at the seller’s price. Just do it. You’ll be blown away and will thank me. These speakers are an absolute gift looking you in the face. You better have decent stands that are worthy of speakers at this level, but that’s a discussion for another day. BTW, I’m a hockey player and played many times in “Our home and native land.” Spent many summers in Pointe Au Baril north of Parry Sound and the home of Bobby Orr who transformed the game as a defenseman. Who does that??? Him being horizontal scoring a goal against the Leafs is the best photo — bar none IMHO — in professional sports. Epic. Just epic.