Best Floorstander Under 10K?

Well, well. Sorry to have started something here. Actually, I am most intrigued by the last post--a floorstander by Harbeth. Anyone hear it at the CES? If they can pull off a visually attractive speaker that sounds anything like the C7 (or better yet the HL5) I'd be done with this. I am certainly holding my wallet close until I find out more. I heard the Focus 888 at the Hi End Show in NYC last year and thought that was a very, very nice sounding speaker. I hate to sound finicky but I was disappointed in the high gloss finish which, to me, was quite guady. Otherwise a real contender. As for the Verity Parsifal, I heard this a few months ago at Sound by Singer and was woefully unimpressed. A true "audiophile" speaker. Great soundstage and resolution but totally unmusical. Thin and lacking in emotional qualities. As to the argument which has ensued, this seems to have gotten quite personal. As such I agree that relevant parties should move on to more elevated pursuits. Lrsky, still waiting for a link or additional info on your speakers--can you provide?

Dodgealum...I agree with you that the high gloss burr wood finish on the Focus 888 can be a bit loud for some folks. It does come in a piano black finish, too, which is much more understated. Anyways, glad you were able to stop by our room at the NYC show...we'll be there again this year with Focus, Blue Circle, and Dodson...

Philnyc. I agree that the piano black is better, but not by much. The way I see it is you have a fairly traditional looking column with a modern a high gloss finish--it just doesn't work (for me). Any chance of using whatever influence you have to get Focus to offer regular satin wood veneers? I will tell you that the sound in the Focus room was probably the best that I heard at the show. I just couldn't get away from the glaring finish.

Dodgealum...I'll see what I can do. The Focus Classic Series has that kind of finish, and they did want the Signature Series to have a markedly different look. If you (or anyone else) have particular wood tones that you think would be of particular interest to you, please do let me know.

And thanks for the kind words re: our room at the show!! :-)

Philnyc. I think a distinguished loudspeaker requires some distinctive woods. I feel like the standard maple, cherry, rosewood, etc. would be a little boring (I know, this from the guy who thinks the glossy too loud!). The euculyptus done by Harbeth and others has a really nice look, a honey oak perhaps, and what about something like the rose walnut offered by Aerial Acoustics? Just my two cents. By the way, where can I hear the Focus speakers again in the NYC metro area? Given the moniker I'm thinking Philnyc must be around here somewhere?! I'd really enjoy checking them out once more now that I have had the opportunity since the show to listen to a variety of other speakers. It would be a good opportunity to recalibrate since I remember the Focus speakers pulling me in the way others have not. Then perhaps a finish option will pop up in the future that I can live with!