Best skiinny floorstanders

Spendor!
https://www.spendoraudio.com/

cdc2

These are killers from Germany, amazing mids/highs and bass, I have a "similar" pair on my second system, and they don’t let me down, and my main system has always been Martin Logan esl Monoliths with Neolith panels and before that Accusat ESL’s

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/elac-fs-609-ce-speaker

Cheers George

Do they have to be Skiinny as Schiit?

Haha.
I included the misspelling to increase views, and. yes I own a Schiit DAC too.

In that case then I'm sorry. But maybe they make a phono stage you can buy some day?

Just say’en those ELAC fs 609’s are $21,000 pair, a little more
than the OP’s 8,000 / 12,000 budget.

Regarding skinny thats somewhat relative.

Just to be clear, I'm looking for the skinny on skinny speakers not the fat cat solution, and yes $8-12k is the price point 

MAGICO A3s get a pair asap.

Spendor, Totem.

Just say’en those ELAC fs 609’s are $21,000 pair, a little more
than the OP’s 8,000 / 12,000 budget.

Regarding skinny thats somewhat relative.

Yeah but this cdc2 OP is what they go for used. I'd snap these up in a second if in Australia.
Could touch up the chips good as new, found women’s finger nail polishes perfect for this as it’s cheap, gazillion different colour shades and comes with the touch-up brush.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Elac-FS-609-X-PI-Floorstanding-Speakers-Pair-Used-/373287202206

Cheers George

Those elacs on the bay are out of stock. I don't know why anything is listed if out of stock. 

Don't leave the Joseph Audio Perspectives off your list!
Basically the same size as the Devore Super Nines, and renowned for their huge, punchy, clear and rich sound.
(I own a pair after a very extensive search to replace larger floor standing speakers and love them).

What sound characteristics are most important to you and what would you like to improve over what you have now.  BTW, the Boenickes are great but not sure they’ll work too well with a tube amp. 

Used KEF Blade 2

I always thought the svelte Totem Arro, Audio Physic Spark, and Vienna Acoustics Mozart had great looks.

“play room for the grandkids in the afternoon and listening room for me in the evenings”
You are blesses to see your grandkids daily!

Scansonic? 

Try listening to the monitor audio platinum 200 Gen 2, there in your price range, about 12,000 list, very natural three-dimensional sounding speakers. That AMT tweeter is very sweet.

If they are skinny enuf for you, you wont be able to beat the GoldenEar Triton series.

I agree with the question asked - why are you wanting to move to "boxes" ? What are you trying to achieve sonically? Also, what tube amp do you have?

@cakyol - I haven't heard the floorstanders, but I had the GoldenEar BRX bookshelves for awhile. They have a ... distinct sound. Very beautiful highs, but I think their sound is polarizing in that you'll probably fall in love or want something else. I was in the latter category.

Have a look at PMC ( https://pmc-speakers.com/home-audio ). Their FACT range may be available for the money you are considering.

A large percentage of films you have watched and albums you've listened to were recorded, mixed and mastered using PMC monitors in the control room ( https://pmc-speakers.com/studio )

PMC domestic speakers are based on the research done in the studio space. I've had quite a bit of exposure to both formats and the home audio kit has a similar signature to the studio kit. The domestic kit is neutral and transparent, AND they manage to do this without making bad recordings unlistenable! 

Sound characteristics I'm looking for?

Not sure if it's possible but while I love the sound of the Martin Logan's, sense of being there, they lack punch some box speakers seem to have, and my biggest complaint is that while they sound great if your head is in the perfect spot, move your head up or down a foot or move two feet to the side and the sound collapses. Sit on the floor, stand up or move to the side on the couch and the quality of sound goes down dramatically.

Sure I know, I know with most speakers there is a window where they sound best, but even my old Hales Transcendence 1s, still sound good whether I'm sitting on the couch, lying on the floor or walking around v.s. the Martin Logan's only sound great from one very small spot in the room.

I'm looking for speakers, which do a good job in the midrange but also with cymbals and kick drums, string bass, have the you are there wow factor and have a large sweet spot AND decent WAF e.g. skinny.

If need be I'd change amps, let go of the PrimaLuna Prologue Seven Mono blocks I'm currently using.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Salk Veracity ST   RAAL tweeter, Seas Midwoofer, Transmission Line 

http://https//www.salksound.com/model.php?model=Veracity+ST

Ohm Walsh 2000

Walsh Tall | Speakers | Ohm Speakers | Custom Audiophile Speakers for Music & Home Theater

How about the PSB Synchrony One? You can find them used for $2K or so. They were listed by Stereophile in 2012 as a starred “Class A [Restricted Extreme LF] Loudspeaker Recommended Component,” along with speakers costing up to $80,000 in that category, and as a “Recommended Reference Component” by Soundstage Hi-Fi —again, in competition with vastly more expensive speakers. Summing up his review in Stereophile, John Atkinson wrote: “the Synchrony One offers surprisingly deep bass for a relatively small speaker; a neutral, uncolored midrange; smooth, grain-free highs; and superbly stable and accurate stereo imaging. It is also superbly finished and looks beautiful. Highly recommended. And when you consider the price [$4,500 a pair, and $5,500 a pair by the time they were listed as a “Class A Recommended Component"], very highly recommended.” SoundStage HiFi awarded the Synchrony One “Reviewer’s Choice” recognition when it was first released in 2008, then “Recommended Reference Component” status in 2012. The original review found the Synchrony One “among the most neutral speakers ever reviewed” that “sets a new standard for tonal accuracy, clarity and detail.” The follow-up review noted that the Synchrony One is “the least expensive speaker to ever be included in our list of Recommended Reference Components,” and that it measured (in the anechoic chamber of Canada’s National Research Council) lower levels of distortion “than any speaker at any price we’d measured up till then.” The review concludes “it’s important to realize that the Synchrony One isn’t being recognized as an RRC for the performance it offers at the price [$5,500 a pair]; rather, it’s a reference-caliber speaker that compares with top-class speakers at any price.” You can find these and other glowing reviews yourself with a simple Google search.

I bought a pair to replace my beloved but ailing Scientific Fidelity Teslas--but then found a guy in PA who was able to repair the Tesla drivers. I'd be willing to sell my PSBs. Got the boxes, manual, spikes and port plugs. PM me if interested.

I've heard the Spendor A series speakers and thought they sounded very nice for the money.

Ohm Walsh the best, but also always liked the old Totems, aka Arro, Forest, etc., for something more conventional but not obtrusive, especially with current used prices. PSB Synchrony also very good.

Those top of the line triton speakers are thin, and sound great. 
 Golden ear I think. 

While I have not heard them, I might also suggest the KEF Blade 2, used. I have owned the original LS50s and currently use the Metas in my stereo rig. The uni-q driver excels at horizontal / vertical dispersion and driver integration, which translates to a large sweet spot and beautiful sound throughout the whole room. Your 2ohm taps might work well with the Blades? There's no shortage of positive reviews, so I'll leave it at that.

Klipsch R2-5A

Used mid-life WATT-Puppies. Not the early ones (ear-bleed tweeters) but a few released down the road from initial release. 

I would take a look at Larson speakers. they are tuned to sounds their best when placed against the back wall. I have had a pair of speakers similar to that concept and they had a very organic sound that i loved .

Mine...

6.5" dia. @ base (nic tripod legs), 9" dia. @ radiators, 42" h.

All Walsh, all the time.

NFS...for now. *S* ;)

A sub would be nice...working on That, for the bassaholics...

Audio Physic
Example:
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa2j8f-audio-physic-caldera-mkiii-full-range

If I was going to spend that kind of money I would consider these KEF Blade 2s. They look to be nearly perfect condition. I own some 21 yr old KEF reference Model 4.2 and they sound great. I would assume the Blades would sound even better than my Reference 4.2s. I just had the 4.2s at Magnolia, testing amps, and compared them against the B&W 802 D3 ($22k) and Martin Logan ESL 15s and the 21 year old KEFs were very competitive.   KEF Blade 2 Floorstanding Speakers; Snow White Pair; Two - The Music Room (tmraudio.com) 

Vandersteen Treo CT’s would be a good choice-

https://www.vandersteen.com/products/treo-ct

After reviewing the Ethos model and appreciating the speed of panels, consider the ATC 40 active which provides a small foot print, the slam of active woofers and match the great speed of panels.  They also image more widely than the Ethos and you can ditch your amp(s).

OHM Walshes.  They have a very small footprint, but throw the music widely because of their down-firing bass.  And you can fine-tune which model suits you by answering a few questions about room size on their website.  A very solid bargain!

I'm also a fan of Larsen speakers. I wouldn't describe them as skinny though.

Check this out, i have heard them playing equally well with tubes and ss.
https://www.lowbeats.de/test-standbox-bauer-audio-ls-3g/

G

Bauer speakers?
I'm in the US. and not seeing any U.S. distribution. Too bad they look nice.

Golden Ear Triton Reference speakers. Only 8 inches wide at the front, 12 inches in the rear.  Best under $10K speakers out there. 

Not sure if it’s possible but while I love the sound of the Martin Logan’s, sense of being there, they lack punch some box speakers seem to have, and my biggest complaint is that while they sound great if your head is in the perfect spot, move your head up or down a foot or move two feet to the side and the sound collapses. Sit on the floor, stand up or move to the side on the couch and the quality of sound goes down dramatically.

Sure I know, I know with most speakers there is a window where they sound best, but even my old Hales Transcendence 1s, still sound good whether I’m sitting on the couch, lying on the floor or walking around v.s. the Martin Logan’s only sound great from one very small spot in the room.

I’m looking for speakers, which do a good job in the midrange but also with cymbals and kick drums, string bass, have the you are there wow factor and have a large sweet spot AND decent WAF e.g. skinny.

cdc2,

The Joseph Perspective speakers fit your criteria perfectly.

They are very skinny and take up very little space, but cast an enormous soundstage with Big Speaker imaging. They completely disappear, and their excellent polar response and steep crossover means they are particularly good at maintaining the same tonality and "disappearing" act over a wide sweet spot. If you see lots of show reports they often mention "and it didn’t seem to matter where I was in the room, the Joseph’s seemed to soundstage and sound great even off-axis."

They are very punchy and powerful too, for kick drums, bass etc.And they use SEAS drivers similar to the Hales Transcendence line (I have owned Hales T5s and still own Hales T1 and TCenter speakers), and there is a similar sound to the Hales - very grain free and pure, only moreso on the Josephs, but with more presence and texture.

If you like that immersive experience, I would look seriously as Sansonic.  The MB5 B is going to be thin with great bass response.  The MB6 B will be taller and you may find it visually less appealing.  Both will be in your price range.  

Another interesting option is the Audiovector R3s.  Read Andrew Quint's review in the Absolute Sound.  They are tremendous and relatively easy to drive, as are the Scansonics.  

Full disclosure, I am a Scansonic Raidho dealer and I continue to flirt with Audiovector.  They are both awesome lines.  

Spendor A-line, Graham LS5/9f, ProAc, and any of these might work out well:  

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649719782-vienna-acoustics-beethoven-baby-grand-symphony-edition...

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649598483-kudos-super-20as-in-special-tineo-wood-finish-in-facto...

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649661844-raidho-xt-2-speakers-mint-condition/

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa975d-marten-design-django-l-speaker

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9jid9-sonus-faber-olympica-iii-full-range

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9fc22-sonus-faber-olympica-iii-walnut-color-full-range

Big Plus 1 for Magico A3’s. Full transparency / I’m selling mine to move up to the A5’s under the category more is better. Right in the middle of your price point and as new. 

In a room that size skinny floorstanders are not the answer you need a large baffle full range speaker to project a full sound with enough volume and presence especially when you through in an eclectic mix of music a skinny floorstander will not do an 18 by 30 room well at all.

I think Audiovector R 3 Arreté is worth a look, especially coming from an electrostatic. Extremely fast and clean while being balanced and musical. I would call it neither warm nor lean, but rather quite neutral, which will make it somewhat sensitive to amplification matching - you will really hear which way the amp leans. Plays much bigger than its diminutive size as well, but is easy to integrate (works well close to the back wall). The review in TAS is quite complimentary and it was made an Editor’s Choice, but I think their evaluation only scratches at the surface of the speaker’s capability. (I am admittedly a bit of an Audiovector evangelist given I have made them my reference speakers but have no business interests whatsoever, I bought them from a retailer like everyone else.)