Passive Bookshelf Speaker Selection

Martin Logan Motion 16 bookshelf speakers were closed out by Audio Advisor and Magnolia  for about $450/pair. You can find a nice pair used for $300 or less. I use them in my bedroom system And have been very pleased every time I listen!

They are identical to the more expensive Motion 15 with a more conventional cabinet design. The Motion 15 have a sloped top panel.

+1 for the Elac Debut 2.0.  I bought a pair for $244 about three weeks ago.  They have about 60 hours playing time on them, and this morning as I've been sitting here listening to them, opened up further to a new degree of spaciousness.  The soundstage just grew in width and depth and the bass continues to be copious and tight (I'm listening from about seven feet away).  The other day I was feeling the pressure jets coming out of the front ports, but I'll be damned if I can recall what I was listening to.  They'll play plenty loud and clear, and I'm only pushing them with a plain Kenwood KR-A5060 receiver dumping 100 wpc into them (it hardly warms up when playing to 85-90 dB SPLs).  The speakers are getting plenty of good, clean power from this receiver.  Connected to a separate amp with even more juice would allow these to be used in a medium-sized room to good effect.  They are very musical speakers for the price (despite being touted by some as more geared toward home theater).  They're clear, detailed, powerful, have plenty of bass, and represent a killer value.  

Ellac or Advent 1

They're clear, detailed, powerful, have plenty of bass, and represent a killer value.  

@hartf36

or you are overexaggerating. The fact that you mention no downsides proves that. 

I’m pleased to share my opinion in an effort to be helpful but as we know, it’s only an opinion; it’s subjective...based upon my equipment (Arcam), my room (home office, about 12’x15’), my musical preferences and my ears. I’ve owned Klipsch, KEF and B&W bookshelf speakers and while all of them I found satisfying, of course each had their own sonic signature. Klipsch I found bold, forward and fast...great dynamics too, but I wouldn’t consider them “warm” or highly detailed. Great for rock and jazz; less satisfying with classical.

KEF, while a touch more laid back and less dynamic than Klipsch, had more detail and texture...with a deeper soundstage. Upper midrange was excellent, and vocals were clearer and more precise than the Klipsch.

Finally, while also less dynamic and forward than Klipsch, B&W for me had the best overall balance and a greater sense of realism. The overall presentation seemed more ‘right’ for a small speaker..with the widest and deepest soundstage, better and more clearly defined spatial imaging, and fluidity between the lower and upper frequencies. And yes, of the three of them I feel B&W has the most “warmth”.

i hope this is helpful. Enjoy the process, and I trust you’ll make the right decision...and love the decision you make.