cost of speakers in relation to the rest of the system

It's difficult to put into words. I wasted many years and dollars on affordable speakers that did the highs and lows yet felt uncomfortable with the music.

Not knowing how or what to listen for it was suggested I listen to Avalon's in stores and at shows but could never justify their price. As frustration increased a subjectively affordable pair popped up. 

At home the improvement was stunning even with the lesser electronics I hadn't yet sold.

My suggestion is not about the brand or the cost rather ones experience in listening. On the other hand I'd say buy used but go big. 

"the speaker<->room interface trumps all."

110% agreed

prof,

Do you listen at loud rock levels? Thiels are amazing at moderate levels but they don't quite hang together when really pushed. Try ATC - it may float your boat if you are looking for Quad ESL low distortion mid range but still a speaker that can really rock.

shadorne,

No I don't listen at really loud levels, at least not when sitting on my listening sofa.  Though I have excellent hearing, I also have some tinnitus from playing in a loud band when I was young so I've learned to protect my hearing these days. 

I can listen to the Thiels louder than any other speaker I've owned - they are so smooth.  (I moved away from ESLs because though they are transparent, they don't have the body to the sound that I prefer).

I do crank the system loud when I'm listening from outside the room (my system is in our living room which is open to the hallway so I can crank it when I'm in another room.  The Thiels certainly seem to hold their composure very well - better than almost any other speaker I've had.  You must like music really loud! ;-)

"Thiels...don’t hang together when really pushed,"

More complete and utter nonsense/misinformation from The King.

prof, shadorne needs his music really loud because he can’t hear.

Dave

Dave,

Some rare speakers have 6 drivers and some 114 components making up four crossovers - and all this driven by one amplifier on a single set of binding posts. If this worked so very well with no compromises with regard to energy or dynamics losses then we would definitely see a whole lot more of this type of heavily engineered speaker design - but there is a reason we don’t see a whole lot of designs like this and it ain’t because I am deaf.