Best Dual purpose HT and Music speakers 10k

I was looking for more of a general answer as to which company makes a speaker that does both well. I figure more people would get use out of that instead of me being selfish and making it all about me..

But since you asked...

First the reason I said $10k, is because it looks like on then used market you can pick up most speakers at 50% off. I rather not buy new, I want the most bang for my buck and with new, well you loose a lot of value out of the door.

Aragon 8002 2x125
Sunfire Cinema Grand 5x200
Rogue 99 Magnum Tube Preamp
Lexicon MC-1
Electrohome or NEC Front Projector (not sure which yet)

I am not married to either amp and would consider upgrading, but I needed to start somewhere.

The room is 25' long and 13' wide. I do not have the room nor $ to run two separate systems.

I just heard the Revel F50's (thanks for the suggestion Mike) and liked them a lot but at $8k new and none on the used market, they are out of my price range. They also had 3 Snell Reference A's from 1997 selling for $7k for all three. Didn’t get to really hear them, but at $30k new, they must have been good.

I have heard Alon's, very nice but don’t know if they are dynamic enough for HT.

Going to hear some Merlin VSM-M's this weekend.

That’s my story….

Welborne Labs has the Aspen Speaker Company on their list for recommended speakers (for SET amps). ASC makes a model HT-6K that looks interesting for $1250 each (LCR) and SE-8K for $3000 a pair (LR) or SE-10K for $4000 a pair (LR). I've never heard them but they have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee that might be interesting. Their web site is at www.aspenspeakerco.com and includes a link to a short review of them. Just a thought . . .

I will vote for Dynaudio Contour 3.3. They are good enough for most 2-ch system and more than good enough for HT. They play loud and deep, also have good dynamic, and reward you when you feed them more power. They can even run without sub for 2-ch listening so the sub won't screw up the sound. They don't take that much space, and they are less than what you wanted to spend :)

Well, with Genesis coming back into business, you *might* be able to pair their center channel they made with the old Infinity IRS Betas. The betas can be had for around $4K give or take and are amazing still to this day. The 8 servo controlled 12" woofers makes more than enough bass for movies and the upper frequency panels are awesome.

I bought Betas for my HT and then picked up another pair for surrounds instead of getting the Genesis surrounds. Even using my IRS Gamma on its side for a center channel has yielded pretty good results.

I have Dynaudio Contours (3.0's in front, with matching center, Audience 50's in back), so I guess by definition that's what I'd recommend since that's what I decided on. I have a dual purpose system that I avidly use for both music and movies.

I think something along the ATC suggestion is the other "path" I'd investigate (or will investigate if I ever change what I currently have. The Dyn's are nice, and are my first choice in music, but probably wouldn't be my absolute first choice in HT. Something that's a little "quicker", which will probably come from a more monitor-like speaker, and quite possibly is self powered, at least in the bass, would probably be what I'd pursue for a system that was more HT, but where I wanted good music as well. Other brands I'd consider along these lines would be Infinity, M&K and NHT, to name a few.

Finally, Martin Logan would be an excellent choice, particularly if you listen to music where electrostats excel. A pair of Odyssey's up front would be an excellent start, and they make dynamite center and surrounds to add later.

Certainly the Dynaudios and the ML's would require (at least ultimately) an upgraded amp for the fronts to fully realize their potential. They both really like their juice.

Kirk