I very much prefer smooth with excellent sound stage. I do not like a "brash" or "loud" speaker, for lack of better term. Probably the man reason I do not like horns. I also do not like extreme, what I would call "tinty" sounding speakers. I sold Infinity for years and never liked the ribbon tweeters for example. There are several members in our audio club with Martin Logan Electrostatic speakers. Don't like them....
I have always liked the European sound; KEF, B&W, MBL, MC (which is designed by the original MBL designer and founder), etc... But these tend to be on the hard to drive side of things... I also admit to not listening to as lot of new speakers over the recent years, so my opinions come mainly from back in the day when I managed a couple higher end stores.
BTW- I have never like large woofers. They tend to sound boomy to me. Stand mounted speakers with a couple small subs seem to work nicely.
My listening area is fairly small, but it is a loft with both left and right walls being half walls and open to the space below. This tends to lead to a very open sound stage, which I like. Large speakers would definitely not work for me.
Even thou the MC's are considered hard to drive (85 dB, but 4 ohm) both my amps get them up and running just fine for my taste. I am only concerned that if I want to go with a similarly hard to drive speaker that is 8 ohm they may not be enough. I am also thinking a more permanent solution that takes the place of both my amplifiers. I have definitely decided, from the listening I have done recently, that I prefer either tubes or Pure Class A (with the JOB as the exception to this rule). I have a feeling that a larger Pure Class A might be out of my range. If this does come to pass I am thinking in the $4k - $8k range...
By the way, I listen to a lot of everything. I use to be very classic rock oriented, but any more really enjoying Jazz, Jazz vocals especially, folk, some classic rock, some classical... Norah Jones, Patricia Barber, ELP, Pink Floyd/Roger Waters, Lyn Stanley, Shelby Lynn, Cat Stevens, David Elias, Holly Cole, Fiona Joy, Diana Krall, etc., etc.; and very much prefer DSD....
Wow Randy, quite a different sounding bunch up there. A lot of variables that just one wrong move can have you chasing your tail for years. Do you want detail with extended top end & high dynamics with percussion on implemented pieces that are in the recording... or maybe a lush midrange that more or less equals out with a warm presentation that you occasionally notice but accept knowing that having it all is a matter of voicing & synergy of your system... or.....it's gonna be a hard one looking at what you have. Another thing is what is the presentation of your speakers & the sound of your listening space....
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