New audiophile looking for first speakers. HELP

You can go the JBL Professional route as Chayro suggests but they will not have solid audiophile mids and highs that the other speakers on the list above have. So if you want to check out jazz or classical or blues or whatever other type of music, I believe an audiophile speaker such as I tried to list above will shine with all kinds of music. My 2c worth.

Zakmetal...if you have not purchased the Mesa Boogie amp or Rogue preamp yet, listen to Unsound, and choose the speakers first and then work your way back on electronics. There are plenty of speaker options that will let you rock out in the $1-2K range new and even more if you are willing to buy used, which clearly will allow you to go up the food chain. For metal/heavy rock, I would stick with floorstanders that have solid bass. Here's an initial list with retail price in parentheses for a new pair:

1. Paradigm Studio 60 v.5 ($2K)- Stereophile Class B
2. PSB Imagine T ($2K) - Stereophile Class B
3. Revel Concerta F12 ($1.5K) - Stereophile Class B (these speakers can rock)
4. Aperion Intimus 6T ($1.4K) - Stereophile Class C
5. B&W 684 ($1.1K) - Soundstage Reviewer's Choice Award
6. Dali Ikon 6 ($2K) - TAS Editors Choice Award
7. PSB Synchrony 2 ($3K) - TAS Editors Choice Award...you would have to buy this used

I tried to choose floorstanders that could go relatively low in frequency with not only deep but tight and punchy bass and good dynamics across the frequency spectrum. Read up. There are many more but this should be a good starting point. Try to see if you can listen to any of these and narrow down your preferences. As many folks have said, once you have narrowed down choice of speakers, you can make a more informed decision on amplification. If your budget on amplification is also in the $1-2K range, I would look at an integated amp to maximize price to performance. Hope this helps and good luck shopping.

Chayro...I don't disagree at all. I was just suggesting that if he wants speakers that in addition to tuneful and dynamic bass can also deliver pristine mids and highs if and when he decides to move into other musical genres beyond metal/heavy rock. Not to mention deliver on solid soundstaging and imaging as well. I have never heard the JBLs so I should steer away from suggesting that they can't deliver on these traits. I wasn't arguing :-) merely pointing out the flexibility point in case the OPs musical interests strayed beyond heavy metal. I am sure the JBLs are a great rec for the OPs specific needs. Ofcourse there is no substitute than auditioning the speakers in person so hopefully the OP will have an opportunity to do so to start figuring out what sound appeals to him. All the best.