Speaker help under $2,500

Might I suggest a pair of Magneplanar .7s ($1.4K) or 1.7s ($2K) augmented by a Magneplanar DWM bass panel ($795) or a small fast powered sub to fill out the bottom and fully energize the room?

I listen to a lot of big band, classical orchestra, and vocal ensemble and my Mag 1.7s are really great on all of them. There is no resonant "hump" around 150-300 Hz, and the panels are phase coherent and really fast for sorting out larger ensembles.

The 1.7s won out in our auditions against several other speakers when my wife could pick out the 8-part vocal harmonies in a Mendelssohn oratorio. I throw everything at it--Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Roger Wagner Chorale, Louie Bellson, Sinatra with Basie, Nelson Riddle, or Billy May behind him, Roger Wagner Chorale, Norman Luboff Choir, Manhattan Transfer. You name it, these Maggies bring it.

JL Audio now has an entry-level line, the Dominion series. Their subs are fast enough to blend well with panel speakers. Their 8" d108 powered sub (http://www.jlaudio.com/d108-ash-home-audio-dominion-powered-subwoofers-96281) has an MSRP of $799.99. It also has a variable phase control (0-280deg) which I find essential for getting a seamless blend from a dynamic powered sub.

Maggies are an easy load for an 80-100wpc tube amp if it has 4-ohm taps.

For a dynamic speaker with speed, clarity, and good bass reach, the Monitor Audio  Silver Series 10 Floorstander at $2K/pair (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MRSS10) should also give you everything you're looking for in your price range.

You asked about the Sonus Faber Venere 2.5s. I auditioned them a couple of times and was tempted to get them. They have a very seductive sound that works on a wide range of material. They brought me into a zen-like state playing solo lute and a Chet Baker jazz album. They have that SF "magic."

I ultimately went for the Maggie 1.7s, but the Veneres brought a strong emotional connection to the music, and really, that's what it's all about. I personally found the upper bass (around 70-100 Hz) to be a bit too voluptuous on some material.

The Stereophile review is pretty favorable (http://www.stereophile.com/content/sonus-faber-venere-25-loudspeaker#cyPiXZtsy3iyTvJp.97) but both the reviewer and the measurements noticed this hump (http://www.stereophile.com/content/sonus-faber-venere-25-loudspeaker-measurements#zf0Zb65PaheJ0O5Q.9...). Atkinson figures the two woofers' overlap causes this.

I sure wouldn’t get depressed about SF Venere 2.5s. They are *really* good. Although my previous post was a bit cautionary, the 2.5s are so musically communicative I felt like I had some transcendental experiences when I was auditioning them even when the source was CD and the power was an A/V receiver. One was a CD of solo Vihuela music. Vihuela sounds like a lute but is shaped like a guitar. Those speakers totally drew me into the moment and mesmerized me. In fact, the sales person and I sat in the sweet spot transfixed. Ditto when I put on some Chet Baker singing and playing his seductive, smokey trumpet. The sorted out solo, small ensemble, vocals, and orchestras equally well.

The primary factor in why I didn’t buy them is because I had a rigid budget and couldn’t quite swing the Veneres. After having omnidirectional speakers for 5 years, I was surprised at how well this front-baffle design could totally energize a room, scaling soundstages up and down depending on the material, while maintaining realistic and specific imaging.

I know it’s subjective and setup and electronics make a big difference, but I’ve never heard Vandersteens move me like those Veneres, and a mass market A/V receiver was hardly an ideal setup either.

Embrace the experience. They’re voluptuous, subtle, dynamic, involving, and--as a bonus--beautiful to look at as well.

And don’t judge them right out of the box. From Fremer’s review in Sound & Vision:

Big Sound (After Long Break-In)!
Those who don’t believe in break-in, and there are many, will not be happy with what they first hear, and because they don’t believe, they will be done. Cold out of the box, the system was bright. Any dealer putting this system on display before a thorough break-in is making a big mistake. Normally, Sumiko breaks in review speakers, but deadlines prevented it this time. To speed up the break-in, I let the system percolate for a week whenever I wasn’t using it for pleasure (even cold, it brought plenty!).

Read the whole review at http://www.soundandvision.com/content/sonus-faber-venere-25-speaker-system#WIZCbJhoxiiLjOay.99

TAS review: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/sonus-faber-venere-model-25-loudspeaker/

S’phile review: http://www.stereophile.com/content/sonus-faber-venere-25-loudspeaker#2mZE3OW1TBMImumb.97

Goodsound (SoundStage Access): http://www.goodsound.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/453-sonus-faber-venere-2-5-loudspeakers

Canada Hi-Fi: http://canadahifi.com/sonus-faber-venere-2-5-speakers/

I heard the Venere 2.5s, both straight out of the box and after several hours of break-in. You would have never known they were the same speaker model. Give'em time. They are pretty amazing after break-in.

+1 on the NAD BEE series. That's was what driving the Magneplanar 1.7s I auditioned and bought. I had to try multiple combinations of amps and preamps at home to match the dynamics, resolution, and musicality of the NAD C 375BEE integrated amp in the audition.