Used speakers for $3k? Oh the confusion

I would try to listen to all demo's you can at stores or friends homes if possible for starters. You have gone through a lot of speakers. Everyone has a different opinion on what they like. I would suggest Dynaudio Contour 3.4's and depending how far you can stretch you budget maybe the 5.4's. The 5.4's have the esotar2 tweeters and a little more bass.

I have the Confidence C1's and the soundstage is huge - the depth is great along with the imaging. Dynamics are also great. In my opinion they do need a sub and I do have a REL B3 (had it before the C1's). The Rel although very musical dont seem to have the response as the lower end of the C1's. To me it sounds slow. I would love a dyn sub but you need to have a sub-out from your pre which I dont have to intergrate properly.

Just another idea.

Hello Stereo,

I was a Cliffhanger dealer, and yup the Bulldog was killer! A classy little three-way in an league where virtually everything else was a two-way, and Ian did a superb job with the crossover.

Nice to come across someone who appreciates it. Wish I knew where you could find a pair.

Duke

dealer/manufacturer

"My first pair was Altec Lansing 510's. Those things could ROCK" "ProAc Response Ones which I thought were even better at everything EXCEPT DYNAMICS" "built a pair of Proac Response 1SC clones. Again very nice BUT LACK DYNAMICS for some rock." "HEAD MUSIC is my favorite...don't have a problem using a sub." (Stereo)

Not knowing your room, setup, acoustics, etc, (you did mention, besides being a bit of ahead banger, that you want to be able to move around the room, and still hear quality sound), I suggest looking at both active speaker designs, multiple drive designs with good efficiency (yes, larger Dappolito designs), traditional designs with good efficiency, with larger bass drivers, and also designs with powered subwoofers built in. And, lastly, you could do somekind of descent efficiency Dappolito (woofer-tweeter-woofer design) higher end speaker, crossing over to a subwoofer or two!!
Yep, you've got options.
Without getting to much into all those options, and what all is out there to cover those options, and adress your needs, you might strongly consider looking into a used pair of Infinity Prelude MTS full range speakers! (including active 2500 watt 12" powered subs attached to each tower)
At $8k a pair, new/retail, these offer the advantages of powered subwoofers (like a superbly well integrated sub/sat system, but better), with multiple upper/mid-bass/mid-range drivers (like 4 of them per speaker, plus a midrange/tweeter combo, sanwiched between all of that) - These are very high quality, high-end speakers, with a very clear, transparant, deatiled, un-colored design! They are slighly foreward to neutral in pressentation, and mate SUPERBLY with the kind of electronics you have (well balanced, slightly laid back).
Anyway, I think this is an attractive, well build solution (plus the woofers are not only detachable, but come with a parametric EQ to help placement - very good stuff indeed.
While no speakers are perfect, I think these would offer you the best advantages, SUPERB DYNAMICS and extension, while still offering a very detailed, coherent, un-colored, hi-end sound!
Anyway, I can think of nothing right now that would do you better...
Good luck

"My first pair was Altec Lansing 510's. Those things could ROCK" "ProAc Response Ones which I thought were even better at everything EXCEPT DYNAMICS" "built a pair of Proac Response 1SC clones. Again very nice BUT LACK DYNAMICS for some rock." "HEAD MUSIC is my favorite...don't have a problem using a sub." (Stereo)

Not knowing your room, setup, acoustics, etc, (you did mention, besides being a bit of ahead banger, that you want to be able to move around the room, and still hear quality sound), I suggest looking at both active speaker designs, multiple drive designs with good efficiency (yes, larger Dappolito designs), traditional designs with good efficiency, with larger bass drivers, and also designs with powered sub-woofers built in. And, lastly, you could do some kind of descent efficiency Dappolito (woofer-tweeter-woofer design) higher end speaker, crossing over to a sub-woofer or two!!
Yep, you've got options.
Without getting to much into all those options, and what all is out there to cover those options, and address your needs, you might strongly consider looking into a used pair of Infinity Prelude MTS full range speakers! (including active 2500 watt 12" powered subs attached to each tower)
At $8k a pair, new/retail, these offer the advantages of powered subwoofers (like a superbly well integrated sub/sat system, but better), with multiple upper/mid-bass/mid-range drivers (like 4 of them per speaker, plus a mid-range/tweeter combo, sanwich'd between all of that) - These are very high quality, high-end speakers, with a very clear, transparent, detailed, uncolored sound. They are slightly forward to neutral in presentation, and mate SUPERBLY with the kind of electronics you have (well balanced, slightly laid back).
Now, on their own, they don't have a super deep sound stage - in fact, it's a bit flat/2 dimensional, to be critical. But mated with your electronics, and good acoustics/setup, this could be balanced out and improved, I think.
Overall, the speakers offer razor sharp imaging, and the ability to set em up "WIDE" (unlike other single woofer/tweeter designs), for a huge sound-stage, potentially.
Anyway, I think this is an attractive, well build solution (plus the woofers are not only detachable, but come with a parametric EQ to help placement - very good stuff indeed.
While no speakers are perfect, I think these would offer you the best advantages, SUPERB DYNAMICS and extension, while still offering a very detailed, coherent, un-colored, hi-end sound!
Anyway, I can think of nothing right now that would do you better...
Good luck