Still looking for speakers in the 10-20,000 range

I'm really enjoying this thread since i'm shopping at the low end of your price range. I have had many, many pair of Kef's and while I love what that uniq driver does well I find kef voices the bass a bit too conservative for my taste. Currently  high on my list are the Contour 60 new, salon 2 used VA 'The music', and still a sweet used pair of used R 207/2. Good luck. btw I also notice as we get higher in price with speakers partnering equipment becomes more important.

The Focal Kanta no2 and Paradigm Persona 3F are absolutely my picks at the $10,000 price point. 

The Kanta is one of the most forward thinking visual designs I have ever seen, and they have the sound quality to match.  They are extremely musical and laid back.  Very organic -- almost like a poor man's Gamut (EASILY in the top 5 best speakers in the world).  They smoke the outgoing Electras (although I do still think the 1028/1038 be2 in the dark walnut was one of the nicest speaker designs in history (see them in person before commenting).  After the unbelievable Aria range, I feel like this is the new direction Focal is going.  Drive them with anything, and be rewarded with a huge soundstage, tons of resolution and detail, yet never bright or forward, and unbelievably engaging and musical.

Now the Persona -- I have to say technically, it is an even better speaker for the money.  A totally different look but still stunning.  I still am in awe that Paradigm has made a speaker this good.  The 3F and 7F are both under priced.  With the right set up (mainly room positioning and acoustics, not speaker cables and power cables, aka throwing money down the drain) they will give you maybe the most holographic and coherent sound you will hear for anywhere near the price.  There is something intrinsically special about not only having a beryllium midrange and tweeter, but the fact that they are the exact same material.  I don't know if I have heard better midrange anywhere under 60k~ on any speaker when it all comes down to it.  These speakers are a little more difficult to get right.  If you have ever heard them sounding bright, clinical, etc -- you did NOT hear them. 

I can go on and on, but I highly recommend listening to these two speakers.  I'm eager to also hear the Magico A3, which I'm sure will be great -- although the look isn't even 1/3 as nice as the other two I just mentioned.  Either way, sound is most important.  Might get a chance to listen to the A3 very soon, so I will post impressions this week.

I have the KEF Reference 5s and love them. They do everything that you like about the 3s, but just more of it.

They are also quite flexible with the type of amp you use with them. Do you want a front row seat in an intimate club? I ran them with a single MC275 and they sounded very warm and smooth and the music just enveloped you. Female vocals and acoustic music would just put you in a trance.

I recently switched to EC Nemo mono blocks and they are now just so dynamic and the bass is fast, tight and very controlled. Where the tube sound stage was deeper, the Nemos just exploded the sound stage all around with amazing detail and clarity.

As you know from the 3s, the fit and finish on them is wonderful and, though they are large, they are conservative enough to not stand out too much in a room making them very WAF-friendly.

I also have a pair of PMC fact.8s in my bedroom system.  At the lower end of your budget, they are also wonderful speakers if you are looking for a smaller footprint, yet keep that British sound you enjoy in the Reference 3s.

They are also well-made with furniture quality finishes.  The bass is better with the KEFs, but the fact.8s are really articulate and a joy to listen to.  I highly recommend an audition if you have a chance.

Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 /thread

Thanks everyone.  OtherGreg, some questions specifically for you:
-Did you love the KEF Reference 5?speakers right out of the box or was there a break in period?  If so, how long did it take?
-which ports are you using (I know it’s location dependent)?
-how far apart are your speakers and how far from back and side walls?

Why the questions? I took a chance on the 5s and am still trying to fall in love with them.  It’s only been a couple of weeks.  I’m using an Audio Research amp and Pre amp—both tubes.  The sound so far seems “digital” for lack of a better word-not as full bodied and natural as I hoped for.  Also I’m not hearing the same soundstage as when I auditioned the speakers.  The treble can be harsh at times.   I’ve been moving them forwards, backwards and sideways and experimenting with toe in.  So far I haven’t found the magic. Obviously my room and equipment are different but I’m searching for solutions and appreciate any help.