Speaker Quest Revised

In your $1500 range, you should definitely include the Vandersteen 2Ce Signature on your short list. A very musical, accurate speaker that represents high value for the dollar and compares very favorably with speakers costing in the $2500-3000 range.

jm lab electra 920 or 915 used. right here on audiogon. no they are not mine , i just think they are very good.

Unfortunately, the new Klipsch speakers aren't much to listen to. I owned older pairs back when Paul Klipsch owned and operated the company. They were terrific speakers for what they did--dynamics with almost no power. But they never did image very well.

The Vandersteen is a good suggestion. I think you could also find a B&W 803 or maybe even an older 802 near or perhaps within your range. I personally like Electrostatics due to their transparancy and imaging. However, they have some issues to consider, such as: the electronics being used with them is very critical (and can be costly), the bass is limited (in some cases severely), and they can be difficult to place (very dependent on room interactions).

If your priorities are timbre, holographic imaging, and smoothness, the Vandy's are a very good suggestion.

Maggie 1.6's will give you excellent timbre and smoothness, but will not give you pinpoint imaging. To me, it's a worthwhile tradeoff - I personally find the boxlessness of the Maggies to be magical. I don't sell them, but I admire them a lot. The Maggie 1.6's draw me deeper into the music than anything else in their price range, with the exception of a good pair of old Quad 57's. But then the Quad 57 is a highly specialized loudspeaker.

If you have a Maggie dealer in reasonable driving distance, consider making the pilgrimage. If not, consider taking Magnepan up on their MMG offer - for $550 they will ship you a pair of MMG's. You can return them for a full refund within 60 days, or trade them in up to a year later towards a bigger pair. Aside from the MMG's being the best $550 speaker out there, it's a great way to find out what Maggies sound like.

You might find a used pair of Innersound Isis speakers in your price range - this hybrid electrostatic has superb imaging, but a fairly narrow sweet spot. It has better resolution and dynamics than the Maggie 1.6's, but the Maggies have a smoother and more forgiving tonal balance. Depends on your personal preferences.

Best wishes on your quest!