Speakers ~$10K for rock, alternative and some pop. Not Jazz or Classical.

I apologize for the extensive background context but thought it would save some steps in getting useful feedback. I am trying to scope out my pre-retirement system and the most important component would be speakers. As the title goes my music choices fall along classic alternative (Talking Heads, REM, Collective Soul, B-52's, Green Day, etc.), classic rock (Aerosmith, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, ) and newer music; some Rock, Pop and yes Alternative (Modest Mouse, Foster the People, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink,..). Not interested in tube amps or vinyl. However, I don't like digital processing in two channel, obviously okay for HT. Prefer a good DAC then clean analog processing. Have a good system for home theater (Kef XQ40/XQ50c) so the focus on this will be two channel , but still want to be able to do HT as long term we want to have a house down south and a summer place up north on a lake. Plan to get either the Integra 80.3 or more likely the Marantz 7005 replacement as a Pre/Pro. Amps will likely be class D as heat is an issue for my room (otherwise I'd get a Parasound Halo A31). Until proven otherwise, the best to me is still high current class A (e.g. Krell), just can't handle that heat output. My current room limits speaker size but I can go a bit bigger than ideal as the plan to change houses before retirement and as mentioned also have a summer cottage/home. Rules out 207/2, however. My current media room is 13' x 16' x 9', speakers about 8.5 apart due to room configuration.

Speakers I have been considering are:

Kef Reference 205/2 - Concern here is whether they will replace these shortly with blade derived UniQs. Don't want to spend that kind of money and be upgraded right after (like the XQs to R series). Kef seems to handle music and home theater both very well.

B&W 803Ds - 800 series seem very polarizing but still intrigue me. Based on what I've read the newer diamond series seem to have some problems with coherence between the different driver types but the last and only 800 series I have heard was the 801 Matrix Series 3, an incredible speaker but too clinical for me. Also making me a bit wary, I had planned to get CM9s/CMC2 a couple years back until I heard the CM7s compared to my previous 103/4s and was disappointed. However, CMs are no 800s.

Aerial Acoustics Model 7Ts - Press is quite good on these, not sure if it would have the bass impact desired for 2.0 as it only has two 7 woofers.

Paradigm Signature 8 - Cheaper than target which is good. I have only heard two Paradigm towers, monitors and (studio), (Edit: Both were Monitor, one older, not Studio) not signature. To me they were very veiled, lacking in detail and clarity, but had good bass. Good press on the Sig 8's but I also read a lot of good press on the GoldenEar Triton 2s but they came up short to me in the upper mids. The other concern is that from what I read about the Studio 100s that they need to be pushed a bit to sound good. Would like speakers that sound good at low volumes also, which I've had for years. Would need a serious audition to consider.

Salk Soundscape 8s - Very strong on my list, concern here is the open back midrange. Belief this is more a classical music speaker versus what matches my music tastes.

I would love to hear your input on this range of speaker for the music type I listen to. Not all that interested in monitors with dual subs as this would likely require digital processing which is what I want to avoid in two channel.

ADTG, I know you have great speakers, four brands no less! The Phil 3 was on my radar but doubt it will pass the WAF, yes I still have to get past that gate. The 207/2 would be awesome but they are realistically just too big for my current room, would have trouble getting in the room as they would block the entrance. The SS8s might even pose some challenges on the WAF gate.

Thanks for the input!

Jay1, I have auditioned Klipsch several times over the years (not this level, however) and agree with many that they are awesome for home theater and good for music but there are others can do music better. I am at a loss to describe why I came to that conclusion but know when I bought my 103/4s I compared similar priced Klipsch as they were also in room 3 of Sound Advice. Have you heard this model or similar?

I have heard the GoldenEar Triton 2s, they were awesome on most music but had issues with upper mids. Brought to the attention of the Sales Guy and he admitted they were aware of it. They called Sandy and he said to work with placement, not the issue. May be defective pair but not chasing that further.

Just read a a review of the Def Techs, sounds like an incredible value but would likely be an issue for my room size. I have heard Def Techs and they are great for HT and pretty good for music. I think I am looking for towers without built in subs.

Thanks for highlighting these!

A. Yes, I want great 2.0, no digital processing after the DAC (sounds hypocritical?)

B. I very much like the XQs, plan to keep as 2nd system. Great detail and midrange, good bass. Awesome looking. As mentioned before have heard better "air" in the highs and they are not full range.

C. Besides speakers, room acoustics are critical. In my experience, up to a point, the bigger the room the better the sound. Worth doing proper treatments but my focus is to spec out my hardware at this point.

Thanks!

Thanks for the leads. I will check all these out as they are new for me, and if I can I will try to audition the Klipsch Palladiums, best to have an open mind. Yes, I will at least check out the "form-follows-function" suggestions, at least so I know about them.

I checked with the Sales guy and I was originally wrong, both Paradigm towers I heard were Monitor series, one an older model - no Studio. I did edit the original post.

Regarding the 801 Matrix Series 3 they were used by most reviewers as reference speakers and many recording studios at the time (about 20 years ago). I think just that version was known for being almost too revealing and less enjoyable but I don't think that is true for later models, but I have never heard the later versions.

The CM7s were notably more clear and detailed than the Paradigms, they just came up a bit short to the 103/4s and were lacking in bass, IMO.