Best Holographic Speakers ~$7k per pair

Los Angeles has a lot of great stores.

A friend of mine in the audio business is coming out with a new open baffle speaker. That thing sounded great when I heard his working prototype. He is in Ventura. I am going see if I can hear maybe the final version the following week once I quit my current job. Send me a DM if you want address.

My friend was blown away by my Yamaha NS5000 speakers that you can get open box for $9k. The comments I heard from him on this speaker have a lot of relevance to me since he is known for the great gear he makes (and his hearing).

The NS5000 does everything with a high degree of sophistication (including soundstage).

The biggest soundstage I have heard are the Maggies and the KEF Blade. Though the driver on the NS5000 is better than anything else I have heard. It has details like Beryllium drivers but also an analog sound.

You have gotten a lot of genuinely terrible advice from people that I'm guessing have never heard a truly high end system.  Assuming you can pull the speakers at least 60" from the back wall almost any panel speaker will be much more holographic than box speakers at an equivalent price point.  In particular, a used pair of Magnepan 3.7s, or even better the 20.7s are inexpensive and simply terrific.  Electrostatics also have some real virtues when it comes to soundstage, holographic imaging and transparency.  Downside is you do need very good high powered amplification.  Panel speakers also have relatively narrow sweet spots so not the best if you are planning on listening with friends or family.  Open baffle speakers have never had any depth in my room so missing that 3D holographic quality but otherwise are also quite good.  Kef Blades have great imaging but I dislike the way they sound.  If all you care about is imaging you can pick up a used pair of Klipsch RP 600M IIs for $300 that will blow you away with the level of detail and imaging but they aren't that involving in my opinion.  The Klipsch Forte's, Heresy's and Cornwall's I've heard don't have what you are looking for despite their other merits.  And do keep in mind your room is almost as important as the speakers when it comes to how the system sounds and images.  At the end of the day it is all about your ears and your room.  You should definitely go to T.H.E. show in June.  Go to the Final Audio room.  I get you will be amazed at the sound vs price point.

@julesg13th. Remember: JBL 4435's see here

Mike

Of the speakers you suggested, the Ascends will be best because they employ higher quality drivers in a small and braced cabinet. Their drivers are far better quality than you’ll find in most <$6K/pair speakers, aside from DIY. Otherwise, consider a speaker like the SB Acoustics Rinjani Textreme kit, which will blow most of the aforementioned suggestions out of the water. 

Keep in mind that most commercially available $5K/pair speakers are equipped with tweeters and woofers that would retail for somewhere between $50 and $100 each if they were sold piecemeal by Seas, SB or Scanspeak. Typically, less than 25% of the street price is what went into building those $5K speakers. And don’t be fooled by those who claim their in-house built drivers are superior. They are often inferior to off-shelf drivers if anything. 

You should listen to some ATC speakers if you can. They are exceptionally accurate. I have them as part of a combo HiFi/Home theater system.. Sometimes they have made me think the surround channels are running, when in fact they are not.