Can speakers be both "big" and "accurate" ?

It may well be that what you are looking for does not exist. If your definition of accurate is nearfield listening at moderate SPLs or listening through worldclass headphones, all bets are off. First, nearfield or headphone listening essentially tries to eliminate the room from the equation as much as possible. Second, the behaviour of speakers does not typically scale linearly. Different drivers of a speakers may start to compress at different SPLs, for example, which will alter the sound depending on SPL, or an otherwise excellent amplifier may have trouble delivering the required amount of current fest enough to faithfully reproduce the dynamics of a musical event (and it may not even be amp that is at fault if it starving for power from the wall).

On the other hand, if you definition of accurate is reproduction of musical events with realistic SPLs, sound stage in three dimensions, emotional impact, "suspension of disbelief" for more than mere microseconds etc. there are systems capable of doing just that. Whether a symphonic orchestra at full crescendo can be reproduced accurately is another question. I deliberately used the word system, not speakers, in my above claim. Putting all the burden on the speakers is not fair. Obviously, you have to start with a set of speakers that is capable of producing what you are looking for but then you have to go all the way with proper room tuning, choice of electronics, cables, power, vibration control (which gains in relative importance the higher your SPLs) etc.

I am speaking from experience with the very speakers that I own (Avalon Eidolons). Depending on how they are fed, they are capable of producing accurate auditorium size portraits or simply be loud and unconvincing. I guess that the same will be true with many other speakers.

Try Gallo Reference speakers. They are no longer made, but there is a set on Audiogon for $1850.00. If you want to engulf your room with sound, these will do it! Bass output is more than you would expect out of two 6.5" drivers (26Hz). The speaker has no crossover. The woofers are weight damped to match the natural roll off of the tweeters. The round enclosures have no cabinet diffraction and inherently do not sound like boxes. The unique CDT tweeter emits sound 320 degrees and is very fast like an electro-stat. They throw an amazing soundstage and are very accurate and detailed. You will feel like you are “in” the jazz club, and with your amp they will go “stupid-loud” if you want.

Proper set up requires that they be out in the room and well spaced out to work. The best seat is typically on an equilateral triangle. Off axis listening is quite good, because there is no high frequency roll off from either speaker unless you walk behind them. I run mine with tube pre-amp and 35 watt solid state mono blocks. They should work nice with your set-up. Use the spare cash for a sub if you really want to go low. I set mine on the lowest cut off 35Hz and 24db per octave for the last bit of bass extension. Feel free to E-mail me for any additional information.

http://www.roundsound.com/cdtspecs.htm

Stewart

Thanks for the responses, as well as the criticisms! I think I need to make some clarifications, though. I'm not looking to do both "loud/big" and "pinpoint imaging" at the EXACT same time, even though that's what I said. I'm just wondering what speakers could do them both, at the proper time? And, by "big", I guess I mean to surround myself in sound (no 5.1 please), and get the impression of a live performance. "Stupid-loud" shouldn't need explaining. My tastes are truly varied, as we all like to believe, but I can groove to Led Zeppelin one minute, jam with Miles Davis the next, and swing with original Big Bands recordings, all in one sitting. I particularly like three-piece sets with awesome pianos- if a speaker can blast out Boston when necessary, and then do Gene Harris or Herbie Hancock, I'm sold! Please, keep 'em coming (and Yes- I'm paying attention to room reflections, as much as my wife will let me)!

Vandersteens are known "huge spacious sound" and time/phase accuracy...at your price range the Vandy 3a will fill your room with sound...and bass to 30hz...not designed for loud party rock...but most hi end speakers arent...

My room is the same size as yours 14x18,and I am firing the speakers down the long end as well. My speakers are arguably the best speakers...period! They are very large, very accuate, and very detailed. They are the most efficient speakers with a rating of 104dB at one meter with only one watt of power. They have the deepest, most dynamic bass of any full range speaker with a bass range down to 35 Hz. You have probably guessed that they are Klipshorns which is correct. Even though they are corner speakers, you can aim them where ever you want using 4x4 foot dense particle board as false wall baffles as I have done. This will allow you to get the full bass range without having to restrict them to the corner. Yes, brand new they would cost over $7000 if you don't mind the six month wait (if you are lucky). However, you can get these gems used here at Audiogon or at Ebay from $2000 to $2500.
Someone was bragging over at the Klipsch website Forum that he just got a beautiful pair of Khorns on Ebay for $1500.