Please talk me out of buying the Avalon Eclipse

Yeah for $700 it’s hard to see going wrong.  From John Atkinson’s review they lend themselves to brightness quite readily so hopefully you have partnering equipment that won’t trigger their brightness, but their imaging/sounstage abilities appear to be sublime — not surprising as that’s an Avalon house strength.  Best of luck!

If you buy them you will go blind, and people will talk.

DeKay

Hey @celo, if you're still pondering this, this may help you.  I once drove from L.A. to Albuquerque (11 hours) to get a used pair of Genesis speakers at a 90% discount, they were about 12 or 13 years old, unseen, unheard.   That was back in 2007.  I keep saying I'm going to get rid of them, but I still have them.   Go for it, man!

haven't heard the eclipse, though i've heard the eidolon and other avalons, which very vg if not sota.  looks like the eclipse retailed for around 5-6 grand; they get good reviews and certainly look nice and if it was me, and i could confirm working order i'd  jump on 'em for $700.

I have never purchased a pair of speakers unheard in my entire 40 year audiophile journey.  Speakers are far too subjective for anyone to take a chance on purchasing without auditioning them first.  My recommendation to you would be to, if the speakers are that compelling to you, then you'll have to just go ahead and bite-the-bullet and make the long drive so you can audition them first.  That would be the wise (financial) thing to do.  Happy listening.