laid back speakers

I second the Vandersteen nomination. I have a pair of 2Ci's and they are mellow, laid back, whatever you wish to call it. A very easy speaker to listen to and very forgiving of upstream electronics.
Scottht, I'm intrigued by your suggestion of removing the socks for a different sound. How does this change the speaker? Sometimes I think they're too mellow. Does sock removal help?

For about a $1000- you might want to try the Ohm MicroWalsh Tall. Although they are laid-back, I think of them more as smooth (while still maintaining a neutral sound). I like the Vandys too, but fot my room I like the Ohms better.

Rsbeck, you are quite correct about most of what you say about the VR1.

However, you are VERY wrong about describing it as warm, or recommending it as a laid back loudspeaker. It is a very engaging, open, clear, treble forward speaker. A very good speaker, yes, but not laid back.

The whole speaker just becomes more alive. The sock is very thick so you wont see thru to the speaker cabinet. The cabinet is rough. That is not where the money is put into this speaker. The cabinet is stapled together and the staples w/holes are completely visable. Not a pretty sight. I did make a poor attempt at trying to finish them off. It didn't come out real good. I am not a cabinet maker.
I have many other plans and ideas that I am going to try with these.

Give the Ohm Micro Walsh Tall a try. You can send them back within three months if they what you hearing for. I never sent any back.