Looking for loudspeakers under $4,000

For what it's worth, the 1.6 Magnepans are much less obvious looking in a room...and with the Carver sub-woofer, are just superb. I also own or have owned the Magnepan MG-20 and 3.6, and it is very difficult to go to another type of speaker after living with current generation Magnepans. I have tried Thiel 1.5 and 6, Various Kef, B&W and Vandersteens....and they were all super box speakers....but none were as much a pleasure to listen to as the Magnepans. If your mate just will not consider the smaller 1.6...then you will have quite a search ahead of you.

The new Martin-Logan Ascent (replacing the SL3) is supposed to be coming out this month at the price point and using some of the technology from the Prodigy. The sound should be similar, the bass better, and it all depends on your wife if the SAF has changed. Enjoy!

I agree with Sedond. The Newform Research speakers are hard to beat at their price. Plus their is I believe a 30 day home trial period offered. The transparency, open sound and soundstage are great. I don't know about the wife approval factor though. They are quite unusual in appearance.

I concur with sdcampbell about the Vandersteen 3a Signature's. For the money you can't beat them. This can be said for most of the Vandersteen line up. I have owned Thiel, Martin Logan, and Aerial. Every time I think I've found better than my Vandy's I have been mistaken upon further indepth listening. I started out with Vandersteen 2ce's and I have run the gambit of high performance speakers and I have returned to the Vandy 3a signatures. And I am happy I did. Regards, thestryder

The one that will do as you ask (Maggie tranparency with low end authority) a used pair of Von Schweikert VR 4.5's