Hi Scott.
I think you need to really nail down your budget for the entire system and what % of that will go towards speakers. A lot of people suggest 40% of total budget for speakers. That way, you won't waste your time investigating speakers you can't afford.
In your original post you wrote that the speakers must be bautiful. So, start with that. When you visit a retailer, take your wife, choose some speakers to audition that you can live with, looks wise, and that are within budget.
A lot of great speaker brands have been mentioned on this thread. And there are a bunch more that haven't been mentioned. So, I advise that you let looks, sound and price be your guide rather than the brand.
Also, see if you can find a retailer that will let you buy the speakers and return them within x days if you don't like how they sound IN YOUR HOME.
Keep us posted on where you go with this.
I think you need to really nail down your budget for the entire system and what % of that will go towards speakers. A lot of people suggest 40% of total budget for speakers. That way, you won't waste your time investigating speakers you can't afford.
In your original post you wrote that the speakers must be bautiful. So, start with that. When you visit a retailer, take your wife, choose some speakers to audition that you can live with, looks wise, and that are within budget.
A lot of great speaker brands have been mentioned on this thread. And there are a bunch more that haven't been mentioned. So, I advise that you let looks, sound and price be your guide rather than the brand.
Also, see if you can find a retailer that will let you buy the speakers and return them within x days if you don't like how they sound IN YOUR HOME.
Keep us posted on where you go with this.