You have a tough situation, Richmonk. Wife, speakers - wife, speakers: hmmmmm........ My best suggestion for a speaker in this price range is the Vandersteen 3A Signature. I have owned planar speakers, too (Acoustats, back in the dark ages), and their mid-range transparency and quickness is hard to beat. However, the Vandy 3A Signature is also very transparent and clean, with excellent bass response. I recently upgraded from the 3A to the 3A Signature, and it was worth every cent. The 3A Signature is one of the best integrated speakers, from top to bottom, that I have ever heard. In listening to disks that I know really well, I am absolutely amazed at what I am hearing that I hadn't heard before. I think the 3A Sig particularly excels at acoustic jazz and small chamber classical, as well as small-group vocals. I have said many times in these pages that for $3500 you can get a speaker that sounds DIFFERENT than the Vandy 3A Signature, but you won't get better. Infact, I strongly believe that you won't get better for less than $5000-6000.
Looking for loudspeakers under $4,000
I am intersted in auditioning loudspeakers witha cost at or below $4,000 (new, not used). Associated equipment: Wadia 850 CD player, Linn Klout power amp. Room size 18 x 26 x 10. Music: mostly accoustic jazz. Current speakers: Magneplanar 3.6 R's: Wife can't live with them; I want to continue living with wife. Ideally, I would like to match the 3.6 R's sound, with "better" low bass. Any suggestions? Thanks for your thoughts.