Berning ZH-270 Amplifier,Which Speaker?

Sorry to be late for reply.
I am using Sonus Faber Signum w/REL Strata subwoofer. If I had your budget today, I would go for Cremona Auditor with TWO subwoofers. It all depends on your taste and the room. Ken.

For 6K you can pick up a used pair of the Melin MX speakers. The synergy between the ZH-270 and the MX is remarkable. So much so that I believe that David is only selling new 270's to Merlin owners.

I recently changed amps from the Simaudio W5 to the Berning Zh-270 and was floored by the deep textured bass from these speakers. I also use a Joule LA-100 linestage and Audio Aero Capitole Mk2 wirh Cardas ICs.

Merlin VSM-Ms for sure! I'm running these with the Berning, and it is very pleasing.

Another option: If you look for a back article in Stereophile a few months ago, Fremer did a tour of Sonus Faber in Italy. He mentioned that the Berning was used as their design reference.

Okay,
Another Merlin recommendation, but this one from an MX owner. I would agree w/Oneprof that Merlins aren't likely to often be described first-and-foremost as "laid back", but they are when the music is. The MX is almost flat to 25hz where the BAM filters out what's below(mostly subsonic junk).
Smooth? No doubt.
Warm? Dunno about that one, think it depends on associated components. The beauty of it is that the Berning/VSM-MX combo lets the various sources, cables etc. reveal what they do(for better or worse). You'll need to upgrade to very high $$$ range to get something that will outperform the MX; Some folks would recommend Kharmas(I haven't heard them)...not many choices that will run right on the Berning's 70w. Most of the other speakers I'd recommend(Sound Lab, Maggie, Von Schweikart) need a different type of amp(i.e. big!)
Side note: I also used the Berning w/Quad ESL-63USAs, and they never sounded better. However, the Merlins kill the Quads, in most every way. Cheers, Spencer