Boutique or Big Brand?

Good post OP.  I am quietly shopping but with a wider price range and instead just focusing on what appeals to my ear in relation to cost.  There are many brands online but hard to find them local to listen to, and ordering and return shipping is too much work for me if I don't like them since the speakers can weigh over 60 lbs each.  I am trying to focus on the brands that I can listen to before I buy, which is hugely important for speakers.  I seem to be leaning to the known brands for resale and repair, but those are less of a concern.  Sound is the most important consideration and hearing is knowing. IMO, once you verify something is well made and will last, just focus on what sounds good to you regardless of if it is a large brand or boutique based listening.  I think the bottle neck will be what you can find to listen to.  When we/I go on vacation, I always try to visit a store or two to expand what I can listen to.  

To the other posters, great input and made me think of a few new things and reinforce some others.  

Big brands tend to give you more for you money sometimes. 
 

look at the build quality of the 800 series. It is outstanding, a small brand would be twice as much. I don’t like the sound of B&W but there is no denying the 800 have an amazing build quality.
 

 Then there are brands like revel. A true engineering powerhouse with real double blind testing. Their “cheap” 226be is simple great at $7000 I would put them up agents the focal Sopra line at 3 times the price. Is the Sopra better… yeah probably as it sounds more open but they are so close it might blow your mind at the price difference.
 

then brands like Sonus Faber look simply stunning. Wow, that finish would be crazy expensive from a smaller brand. They sound good too. 
 

so for me I would look at Revel, Sonus Faber or similar brand (too many to name) and if you don’t like the sound of those expand to other smaller brands. These two brands offer a lot for the money.  Used Olympica III are a great buy right now. Revel’s used prices seem a touch high to me but new they are a good deal.
 

lots of used Wilson out there too. Way over priced new but used probably ok and they hold their value.  

Why not have a look at some Tannoys? I think the Cheviots can be had for around 6500.....yes, a big brand, but with a sort of bespoke design and feel. Gorgeous speakers. 

1. That's a great range for a set of speakers.

2. I won't mentions brands I have purchased, owned... because there are so many variables. 

3. To your question, I'd add, check on customer service. I've had some products that needed service - good luck trying to get support AND some that had excellent service. 

4. Ask others who have the products you settle on and read reviews. 

If buying new I would go with a boutique brand. People say all kinds of BS about the Tekton’s cheap drivers and all that. They actually are pretty good drivers and implemented well. I doubt you could diy most Tektons for what they cost. My old DIs did some things better than way more expensive speakers. No I don’t think they were better than most 30k speakers as the hype says. They were however I’m pretty sure better than anything else at 3k or even in the ballpark. 
 

On the other hand if I was spending 5k it would not be new speakers. 5k gets you a hell of a speaker if willing to buy used. Think 10-12 years old speakers that were 10-15k at the time you can get for %75 off. Not much risk there. My Pioneer S-1ex are better than the Tektons and I paid the same for at the time. 
 

Ramping that budget up to 15-20k I don’t know. Probably some Focal Sopra.