which would you buy?

In October 2013 I was auditioning $1500-2500 floorstanders for my living room. I wanted to like the Triton 7 for its folded ribbon tweeter, small footprint, and reasonable price. I had to pass because I couldn't get a good match with the auditioning room, which is about the same size as your room.

The Triton 7 has a lot of bass output, and is probably more at home in a larger room or one with a higher ceiling or open architecture. For your room you might actually get a better match with their Aon 2 or Aon 3. I heard the Aon 3 in a room about your size and it was a good match.

As for the Q900, Kalman Rubinson reviewed it for Stereophile and really liked it.

Also, it might help to know what kinds of music you listen to. I wound up buying Magneplanar 1.7s because they resolved large scale orchestral and choral music better, and their spacing requirements might not work in your 15x15 room.

There are a lot of excellent tower speakers in your price bracket, including the Rega RS3 and RS5, several Focal models (these are transparent, airy, and fast), the Epos K-2. The Monitor Audio Silver Series 6 and Silver Series 8 speakers are excellent, neutral, and fit your budget as well.

MusicDirect has closeout prices on discontinued Focal speakers that put them in your price range. Example: $3200 Focal Chorus 836V for $1799 (demo) or $1899 (unopened stock).

I hope you can audition some Rega RS5s.

If you have neighbors below your apt/condo, the stand-mounted Aon 3 would be advantageous over a floorstander by radiating far less directly into the floor. You can also sand-fill many stands, which further damps the speakers' bass notes before they get to the floor.

Personally, for the room size you mention, I preferred the Aon 3s over the Triton 7s. If needed, you can tighten the bass with an amp with a higher damping factor. The GoldenEars sing with tubes, but SS generally controls bass better.

No, I bought the Magneplanar 1.7s and couldn't be happier. I have enough listening space to have them about 4' out into the living room. I took my wife with me for final auditions and we played one of her favorite pieces, the opening to Mendelssohn's cantata, Elijah, which has full orchestra and a chorus singing 8 different parts. She could easily differentiate the inner voices on the Magnepans but not on the Triton Sevens. That settled it for us, and the imposing 19"x65" panel size didn't faze her at all when it comes to the music. She's a keeper.

I have heard the Regas several times, however, and they have a very natural presentation and good in-room dispersion.