Speaker Choice

B&W didn't impress me, either. Suggest you listen to some time-and-phase aligned speakers, e.g., Vandersteen and Tannoy dual-concentric. You should get a very fine pair of Tannoys for $10K, and they won't cause listener fatigue.

Oops, I meant Magico S1 before not the S5. KEF might be good too.

Just a comment on Thiels.

Thiels nail everything - I simply cant fault them - except in one area - a bit dry, thin and slightly uninvolving although to some extent that's fixed by valve source gear.

Make sure you listen to Thiels before investing in a pair.

I personally prefer other speakers - but most certainly you should go out of your way hear a pair - I don't necessarily recommend the same thing for B&W's.

Thanks
Bill

Bill,

I don't entirely disagree and it's why I use valves in my front end. Compromises abound. Wish I could afford a pair of Magico Q5's. ;-)

Sweet fronte end, wish I had that level of a front end. bhobba's comment kind of made me laugh, how can something nail everything while being dry, thin, and uninvolving...no offense, sorry. I have heard the Monitor Audio Silvers on a pretty capable system they could deliver some great impact and SPL but were to my tastes a little un-refined at the price point. Are you set on a full range floor stander? If so I am a fan of Jim Salks stuff, the Sound Scape will deliver that full range sound with pretty good refinement, maybe a little bloated on the bottom end. If you can get your ears on so of Sonus Fabers systems they are always great, dynaudio is always popular but to me they are a little uninvolving. My Favorites if I had that budget would be fully decked out set of Vapor Audio Joule Whites. I own it's baby brother.