Speakers to beat at the $30K mark in 2012
 

I am looking for a speaker to be driven by a high power solid state amp in a small to medium, well damped room. Around $30k price range. Preferences in order are:

1. Highly resolving/detailed
2. Accurate/neutral
3. Big, deep, controlled bass
4. Large open 3D soundstage
5. Extended but natural highs
Must have: Clean, lively, and exciting; plays well with all genre's (rock/electronica)

Which current speaker most closely meets these criteria? I would like to shortlist a few to audition. Some that I am considering:

Wilson Sasha $27k (can be found 2ndhand)
Rockport Avior $30 (wow!)
Focal Scala Utopia $30 (findable 2ndhand)
Magico Q3 $34 (looks great)
Sonus Faber Futura $36 (more classical/jazz focused?)
TAD CR-1 $37 (would need a sub)

your recommendations and reasons please!

http://www.chananes.com/audio/sasha.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/avior.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/scala.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/q3.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/futura.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/cr1.jpg

EDIT: Additional recommendations:

Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signature $22k
Vivid Audio B1 $15k
Wisdom Audio L75 SCS Sub ~$30k
Sony SS-AR1 $27k
Evolution Acoustics MMOne $38k
Avalon Acoustics Indra $20k
Vienna Acoustics' Music $27k
Martin-Logan Summit-XS $14k
Franco Serblin Ktema $40k
TAD Evolution-1 $30k
Magico S5 $29k
Marten Django $15k
Verity Audio Amadis $30k
Audio Physic Avanteras $27k

http://www.chananes.com/audio/c4.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/b1.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/l75.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/ssar1.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/mmone.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/indra.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/music.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/summit.jpghttp://www.chananes.com/audio/ktema.jpg

note due to 15 image per post limit some of the last speakers are not pictured here. they are pictured later on in thread

Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signature...way less than $30K at $22K. See Atkinson's comments about them at CES last week; he was impressed. The C4s compete with speakers in the $45-$60K range.

Dynaudio's Confidence C4 Signature | Stereophile.com

Uh, BTW, you won't need a sub for TAD CR-1s...

The stands are an additional $3,600.00 :tears:

IMO, unless you have a small room, they do need a sub.

They're probably the best sounding in that list too, YMMV.

Pick up a pair of Skylan or Sound Anchor stands for a fifth of the price instead.

You really think so? About needing a sub, I mean? They pretty dang big for stand-mounts :scratch2:

I agree they are probably the best-sounding on that list....they would be my pick of that list.

Holy smokes!

Audition the Vivid Audio B1 too!
At 15000$, you even have some cash left for a very decent sub if you'd like (they have surprisingly good bass).

ok - here's a real hidden sleeper off most people's radar - Wisdom Audio L75 Freestanding version with their SCS subwoofer. Totally full range (20hz in room extension), highly resolved (line source planar magnetics), crazy dynamic - all for around 30K.

What are the dimensions of your small/medium room?