Best combo - integrated amp/ speakers/$8,000

I own the Spendor s3/5s and the Harbeth C7s (as well as my old Spica TC-50.)

As others have said, the Spendor is small so it has bass limitiaons but never a thin sound. I use a smaller Quad 99 and it's mainly used for tv watching in the bedroom, but it never fails to amaze my wife and me.

I have the much bigger Harbeth c7 with Quad 909 amp/99pre. I use a sub (not really needed) ,and listen near field. (Totat cost for this package new, excluding sub, is around 5,000. I've heard Quad 988 and 57 recently and while they of course have thier magical qualities, the Harbeths satsify with a truth of timber and midrage which makes them quite special.

Good luck.

I have a BAT VK 300XSE and love it. Used it with maggies and recently switched to a pair of Wilson Benesch ARC speakers and continue to utilize my REL Storm III subwoofer. They are tiny speakers, bottom ported and carbon fibre enclosures that eliminate boxiness. I bought them because I like the sound much better than my Maggies (i always seemed to have to end a listening session with female vocals) . They are lightening quick, very accurate and dynamic with the best soundstaging I have heard in my listening room, with the exception of that 1 square millimeter of sweet spot perfection with maggies.

In a past system I had the Rowland Concentra (original) with a pair of Tyler Acoustics Linnbrook monitors. I think you would have a very hard time beating this system - especially at the price of about 5k (Used) or 6k (new speakers, used amp). BTW, "past system" doesn't mean I traded in, just upgraded the speakers and amp power (but with McIntosh). The Rowland was pure magic though.