New audiophile looking for first speakers. HELP

Zakmetal...if you have not purchased the Mesa Boogie amp or Rogue preamp yet, listen to Unsound, and choose the speakers first and then work your way back on electronics. There are plenty of speaker options that will let you rock out in the $1-2K range new and even more if you are willing to buy used, which clearly will allow you to go up the food chain. For metal/heavy rock, I would stick with floorstanders that have solid bass. Here's an initial list with retail price in parentheses for a new pair:

1. Paradigm Studio 60 v.5 ($2K)- Stereophile Class B
2. PSB Imagine T ($2K) - Stereophile Class B
3. Revel Concerta F12 ($1.5K) - Stereophile Class B (these speakers can rock)
4. Aperion Intimus 6T ($1.4K) - Stereophile Class C
5. B&W 684 ($1.1K) - Soundstage Reviewer's Choice Award
6. Dali Ikon 6 ($2K) - TAS Editors Choice Award
7. PSB Synchrony 2 ($3K) - TAS Editors Choice Award...you would have to buy this used

I tried to choose floorstanders that could go relatively low in frequency with not only deep but tight and punchy bass and good dynamics across the frequency spectrum. Read up. There are many more but this should be a good starting point. Try to see if you can listen to any of these and narrow down your preferences. As many folks have said, once you have narrowed down choice of speakers, you can make a more informed decision on amplification. If your budget on amplification is also in the $1-2K range, I would look at an integated amp to maximize price to performance. Hope this helps and good luck shopping.

Personally, I think those who like metal and heavy rock would best be served with a professional sound-reinforcement speaker such as a JBL Professional or EAW. They have huge bass and viceral impact. I don't think any high-end speaker in the price range of those speakers will give you what you want for that type of music.

You can go the JBL Professional route as Chayro suggests but they will not have solid audiophile mids and highs that the other speakers on the list above have. So if you want to check out jazz or classical or blues or whatever other type of music, I believe an audiophile speaker such as I tried to list above will shine with all kinds of music. My 2c worth.

I think that Chayro has it right, try some pro-type gear. I recently saw some Klipsch La Scala's on here that were the pro set up, with a Rogue integrated, that would rock your sox off!!

Cmalak has listed some good choices. I add to that some French floorstanding speakers from Triangle and Focal. Very efficient = loud.