$1k speakers / Audio Refinement Complete

I have an ARC with a pair of Aegis 1 and I'm not very happy. If you like your music very laidback I guess it would be good, but I prefer forward and detailed. When I had the Aegius hooked to an Acurus rl-11 and A80 they sounded very good indeed, but the ARC is just a bad mix. I don't think the speakers or the amp are in themselves the problem. I think it's the combination. Silk dome tweeter and 'tube' like SS are a bad mix(at least in this price range). I decided to go with a Sim I-5080(I guess I love the Aegis too much to sell), but if I were to keep the ARC I'd prob go with B&W CDM1 SE(good price now that matirx series is out), Triangle Zephir(#1 choice for $1000), NHT 2.5i($800 on ebay new) or any other good quality speaker with a metal tweeter. The ARC is just too laidback, although very smooth and grain free, for speakers that attempt the same. Just MHO.

The Vienna Acoustics haydn would be a good match for $995.00

Perhaps too numerous to count. I would lean towards buying used - should be able to buy in great shape at 50-70% of list. For around 1000, with some patience, you could/should find Vandersteen 2C, Maggie 1.6 (not sure the amp can handle these), ProAc Studio 125/150 or Response 1, and many others. If you can go a little higher, there is a pair of Soliloquoy 5.3 on this site now for 1300. Happy hunting.

I'm using an Audio Refinement integrated with B&W CDM2 SE speakers in my office system, great match for a reasonable price.

I am going to try the Audio Refinement with the Magnepan MMG's this very afternoon. If the Complete can handle the MMG's power requirements, I am expecting a nice match. The MMG's are not harsh in the upper frequencies, but they are bright in my room. The Complete might just do the trick. I will post my findngs on this thread and the one I started--"Integrated for MMG's"