Buying Bookshelves, I love B&W but....

Nautilus 805s should be on stands, and are great speakers if you have good equipment running them. I just heard a pair with the Ayre integrated and they were super. Also good with the Classe, etc, but I actually preferred the Ayre. I agree the less expensive B&Ws are not as much to my liking.

My speaker collection includes the 805 Nautilus, and Wilson Benesch ARC. Soon to add some ERAs for the family room system (also a HT). There are so many "good" speakers out there, it is really more a matter of personal preference and what you match with them.

As an aside, I would love to hear some Harbeths (I am fixed ont eh Monitor 30s for some reason), but noone around here sells Harbeth or Spendor, etc, Someday I might buy a pair used and try them out...

Good luck and have fun.

Not sure your budget but I own and love a pair of the original JMlabs Micro-Utopias. They're easy to drive with tremendous resolution and they look very WAF friendly. They fill my small room with all the sound I could ask for and even have surprising bass. They pop up used all the time, keep an eye out. Happy listening.

Thanks so much for the feedback, so far.I really value all of your suggestions and will look into each one.
To help narrow the incoming feedback:
I am running a Mcintosh 6300 and MCD 201. Have not gotten into cables yet.
My experience (generally speaking):
Paradigm is too bright.
MOnitor Audio, Revel and Canton are dull.
B&W lack the mid range clarity.
I'm not found of the design of Sonus Faber although they sound pretty good.
Rainmaker is good but lacks fullness and may need sub.
Vienna Accoustics Haydn are the front runner, most likely with a Rel sub.

I'd go with Eminent Technology LFT-16 speakers (check out my garage system in my Virtual Systems), if for some reason you don't like the ET's my second choice would be Totem Model One's. Some folks like the ProAc's, they're worth a listen too.

You should seriously consider a used pair of Tyler Acoustics Taylor Reference Monitors with matching stands. I had a pair that replaced B&W CDM1NT speakers on Target welded steel stands. They absolutely killed the B&W's in every way and actually made them sound quite cheap. They will work quite well in small to medium sized rooms. They also fit your listening preferences.