Searching for new speakers: Wilson, B&W, ??

The B&W'a are a nice choice but are a little current and power hungry for your set-up and room. The Legacy Focus HD or SE models would be a good choice. They are efficient, have good low to mid bass and are extremely musical at low volumes. I have owned Legacy and know this to be true from a personal stand point. But keep in mind this is just my opinion. Good luck!

Well, as opposed to some responses here which don't answer your question, but merely implore you to buy the brand THEY did, I'll give this a shot. The B&W's are great speakers. For the price difference, try to go with the 803 as the extra bass is welcome and they are not too much larger. They are rated at around 89-90db and 8 ohms (but dip to 3 so use the 4 ohm tap on the VT. I also have an ARC VT100 and it will drive these fine. I would avoid the larger 800 speakers as these are bears to drive. The Wilson's are also great speakers and are decently efficient at 89db and 4 ohms nominal are not too difficult to drive, again, just use the 4 ohm tap on the VT. Please note that these are quite different sounding speakers made for different buyers. The Wilson's can be very unforgiving of setup/source,etc,etc. The B&W's are probably easier to live with for mortals...as always, try to listen to them in your own room if at all possible. Not easy with speakers this large though. Good luck!

My suggestion is to listen to MY favorite speakers...Vandersteen and Magnepan. I owned the big B&W's but tired of them soon.

I highly recommend the PSB line of speakers for your musical tastes and at a reasonable price. Their most expensive Synchrony One is a true bargain, but even their Image line has great bass performance and is smooth and detailed througout the range. I have the 4t, T65 and Stratus Golds and each is a great performer at its price range and the lasted Image t6 can be found for less than a grand and rivals anything close to its price.
That being said, if you can afford the Wilsons or the B&Ws and you like their look, go for it. They are great speakers.

Apples and oranges, or in this case, B&W's and Wilsons.
They are very different...VERY.
The Wilson is clearly a better loudspeaker, much more neutral...less fatiguing...fewer colorations.
I'm thinking that you HAVE what you describe that you're wanting. This may be a simple virus...the stereo bug, that you have...more than anything else...I recognize the symptoms. I've had that disease for more than thirty years now.
After the ML's...the B&W's colorations will make you nuts.

IMHO

Good listening,
Larry