Which monitor speakers are the most detailed...


and musical? I'm looking to start a second system and have read many threads regarding monitors such as ACI Jaguar, Merlin TSM, Totem Tabu and Dynaudio 1.3SE. Unfortunately, I live in an area where I can't audition any of the aforementioned. Any input would be greatly appreciated. My second system consists of Sim I-5 integrated, Cary CD-306-200, Silver Audio interconnects, Silver Audio Power Burst powerchords and Symphony 32 speaker cables.
shanej
You want detailed and musical? If by that you want both of opposing poles, it will never exactly happen, there is always a balance.
With the Sim integrated, make sure the speaker is not too tightly damped, or else the sound will lack bass and be somewhat boring (though accurate and detailed). By boring I just mean that out of a pair of minimonitors you will start to feel cheated on bass if the sound is too dry. Speakers are voiced more or less tightly damped in the bass, depending on the designer's choice and use of amp, etc.
I think the Merlins are better suited to tubes, though the TSM-M does come with an alternate "wiring harness" supposedly better suited to solid state.
Both the Totems and Dynaudio might be better suited to a solid state situation, both like current and will play loudly and coherently given lots of power.
Ultimately the weak link in your system will be the preamp section in the Sim integrated, which has a way of choking out whatever music the CD player is giving you. Your source is ok as CD goes and the speakers will be fine, but the Sim amp ultimately sounds a little dark in my opinion, like it lacks dynamics. Or at least is not a good match for the lack of dynamics typically (non)-residing in CDs.
I hope I'm not getting over the line in commenting on an aspect of the system you did not ask about.
I have not heard the ACIs.
Good luck, please keep us posted!
Tom
Detail and musicality is a balancing act, as Tacs says. Harbeth HLP 3ES, or 7ES, have both in spades. Great speakers. Good luck!

I assume by Monitor you mean a non floor standing speaker.

Take a look at Northcreek.com. They have a simple kit called the OkaraII. Buy the innards for $629 and have cabinet made by Lee Taylor. Scan Speak 9500 tweeter and Vifa woofer, Cresendo Caps in the crossover. You will have $1500 in it by the time you are done and, IMHO, nothing in your price range will touch it. Not brain surgery to put it together -- a good experience.
Both Harbeths mentioned above are great. The Compact 7 has the the unusual midrange clarity/detail the result of the material used to make the 8 inch mid-woofer. Smaller than the Harbeth Compact 7, but bigger than a mini-monitor and still using the same mid-woofer, and still in your under $3000 price range, is the Harbeth Monitor 30, the primary mid-field monitor used now by the BBC. (The much larger Monitor 40 is the large reference speaker used by the BBC and the Monitor 20 - which is the same speaker as the HLP3ES - is their near field monitor. I doubt there are any Monitor 30's available in the US, but you could contact the distributor.