So, OF COURSE the obvious answer is "It depends..." on the kind of music you listen to (to an extent), your preference for analog or digital sources, your living space, etc. BUT, I am happy to give a specific answer anyway, because that's what you want. I truly believe that the future of this hobby/obsession/addiction/sickness is ACTIVE STREAMING LOUDSPEAKERS. I think it is hard to make the case - especially when we see what gets the best reviews on this site - that separate components with passives can approach the sound quality of an active system, price being equal. When speaker manufacturers can control the usual speaker components PLUS amplification, DSP, user interface, etc., the results speak for themselves. So, if you have a huge listening room that needs serious SPLs, or don't want to ditch your amp setup, ignore what I'm about to suggest (maybe just get the best Revel floorstanders you can afford, maybe?). Otherwise, you have two choices: the Buchardt A500, or the KEF LS50 Wireless II with a KC62 subwoofer. I believe both setups will cost almost exactly $4K. There are differences, of course, and John Darko posted a good video a few months back on YouTube comparing them (minus the KEF sub). His conclusion is that the KEFs are for people who don't want to mess too much with settings, placement, etc., and the A500s are more for the majority of people in this forum: people who like to fiddle and tweak to maximize performance to suit their specific needs. I await angry, dismissive, insulting reactions with a small amount of glee...
