Vote for the best speakers in 10K range

If,if,if...you have a big room without rectangular geometry (vaulted beamed ceiling per se) with high current amps and quality (other) componets and optimized wire you cannot beat the Dunlavy SC-5s used. This also assumes optimal placement. Payoff is near world class performance.

Kthomas - The Dynaudio Confidence 5's had slightly better mid-range. Vocals especially sounded amazingly real. However, The Contour 3.3's were more full range and had better bass. It was not an easy decision, but when I went back and forth between the Confidence 5's and the Contour 3.3's, the Contour 3.3 just sounded better to me. I used the same cd's when I audition every speaker. They were the opening track of Eric Clapton's Unplugged, Sir Neville Mariner and the Academy...Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Louie Armstrong meets Duke Ellington-The Summit opening track: Duke's Place, and Pink Martini's opening track: Ameda Mio.

Kthomas- The Dunlavy SCIVa and the Dunlavy Aletha were my second considerations. Actually, I was very impressed with the Martin Logen Prodigy, but my wife requested that the speakers look like furniture and not something out of Star Wars.

Vandersteen 5. The best speaker that I have personally heard. Spacious airy highs that are not etched or unnatural. Transparent midrange. Beautiful vocals. Great soundstaging. Solid powerful bass, including deep bass, with which few, if any, of the speakers mentioned previously can compare. When matched with the right electronics, I think it really doesn't get much better than this. At any price. Don't buy until you have heard these speakers.

Rayhall: I'm very impressed with the Vandy 5's as well. What do you recommend as the "right" electronics? (My listening room is fairly large, high-ceiling, very bright w/hard surfaces.)