Best new/demo/used value for $7.5K range


Hello all!

I will be buying new speakers at the end of September.

My budget is roughly $7.5K (can flex some if a steal is found).

I am currently looking at:
-B&W 802N (5000K used and 7K demo)
-JM lab Mezzo Utopia (7k used)
-Revel Studio (7.5K used)
-Dynaudio Confidence 5 (5k used)
-Wilson Sophia Used (8.5K? used)
-Wilson Watt/Puppy6 (8.5K? used)

I like all of these speakers for different reasons. I would be happy with any of them, but wish I could afford the wilsons - my favorite.

Any thoughts? At this price I want to know I considered everything.

My gear: EAD 8000pro preamp, Levinson No.27, Classe CAV150, SACD XA-777es, Pioneer Elite DV-47 DVDm, Transparent Audio and Audioquest interconnects...
jtee
My vote goes to GR-Research Alphas (think of a speaker similar to Pipedreams). I know of no other speaker that will come close to doing what the Alphas will do in terms of freedom from congestion, soundstage height, scale of dynamics and output or integration between drivers (anywhere near your $7k price point new or used). This design has many of the same attributes that the Pipedream's design has due to the multiple high performance drivers not being pushed anywhere near their limits and it being a simple two way design (which is MUCH easier to perfect than a three or four way design).

IMHO GR's speaker designer (Danny Richie) is a VERY seasoned, has a great ear and only uses the "best of the best" crossover parts in his Alpha design. I've looked at the inside guts of many of the well known big buck speakers only to be completely disgusted at the parts used in their crossovers! In fact, a couple of the speaker suggestions by other posters here can be improved with just a $100 of upgraded parts in their crossovers too! (i.e. those speakers were not designed with a "use the best crossover components" mentality- argh!). IMHO GR Research's Alphas are more refined than a pair of the big $75k+ Pipedreams!!
I like the used Sophia in your price range, although would swap amps to a BAT 75SE.

I also would listen to the Dynaudio C2, several of which have been on a'gon at this price. However, again would switch the Levinson to Krell or Plinius.

Levinson and Revel is a typcial combo, but i have never been impressed with the sonics.
As mentioned above, depends on your musical taste, room, listening volume, etc. A couple more to consider in your price range are: Vienna Acoustics Mahler, Talon Khorus X Mk II (love them or hate them!)

Good luck!