Need Recommendations for a pair of Speakers around $1,000

Massive upvote to @danager - The Lii Audio F15 is worthy of in-depth consideration. I ordered an F15 pair directly from the manufacturer. Got em on sale for $399...that is still the price on the site. This gives you plenty of leftover money to build your own baffles or have a woodworker crank some out.

My living room is 14x16 and these drivers fill the space with the most detailed and airy soundstage. When I listen to An American Place, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, I can hear every instrument in its own space. Runs by the flute section move left to right and back across the right half the room. Timpani and gong hits come from a place deep in the concert hall....it’s almost like a massive worm hole opens up behind these drivers and the sound is transported directly from the Barbican Centre in London. Vocals, guitars, drums, modern, old, etc....everything I put through these gems transports me to the time and place of the recording.

Lii Audio sent me a complementary F6 pair as a gift for dealing with supply chain delays. For kicks, I set them up as a center channel...I might be onto something.

You can order the drivers directly from Lii Audio and baffles from Caintuck. Decware sells finished versions of this speaker starting at $3,400...the diy route will allow you to have a 3k+ speaker for close to your 1k budget.

Also, you can do what I did...just order the drivers to start. Rig them up to listening height and just see what happens. I put mine on a couple dining room chairs and propped them up with some books. Took a little tweaking, but the sweet spot wasn't hard to find. If you like them, move forward with the diy. If you are instantly captivated, sell them. Hell, I’d probably buy them from you for the right price ;)

Good luck

PS don’t listen to the full range driver haters. Most of em can’t even hear the hertz that are missing. I’ll gladly sacrifice all my dog whistle recordings to have highs and lows emanate from the same place.

Thanks BrianJM1 but I have grandchildren that come over and can't risk having that type of speaker. Too much is exposed....and kids are curious. LOL

Lil Audio Open Baffle speaker grandkid issue can be fixe for under $20.

https://www.uneeksupply.com/15-INCH-SUBWOOFER-SPEAKER-COVERS-WAFFLE-MESH-GRILL-GRILLE-PROTECT-GUARD-2-Pair_p_43238.html

Looks issue ???  A completely different problem

Here's a review by someone who listens to a lot of speakers

It depends on what you listen to in picking speakers out. At your price range I would recommend Thiel or Magnepan. 

I’m shaking my head at the small speakers others are recommending. To buy small new speakers for that large room, because you ’read’ new is better, is to shoot yourself in the foot. Restored Vintage, done by others, or you do it, will give you much more appropriate choices for that large room.

..............................

Case in point, to make my point:

the photos of those JSE Infinite Slope Model 2’s were horrible, perhaps this will give a better idea of what they are

meanwhile, the black ones with the lousy photos are exactly the same except:

high gloss black laminate

thouroughtly upgraded with the help of the original designer/manufacturer

all 4 woofers re-done by Audio Classics, the people who overhaul McIntosh equipment among others.

original design benefits from two unique patents awarded to Richard Modafferi, of McIntosh tuner fame.

1. infinite slope crossover 100 or 120 db/octave, amazing clarity

2. phase shift controlling the 12" and 10" ’progressively’ to provide amazing lows and smooth use of them together within balance of the upper mid/mid/tweet.

Those patents were originally licensed by JSE and now licensed by Joseph Audio

Someone has to need them who lives close enough. If I had room for them, I would have my woodworker sand the laminate and add a select, perhaps exoctic wood veneer.

Oh, yeah, change them to 3 wheels, put corner blocks just above the floor, no touch unless they start to tip during relocation, i.e. alternate positions/toe-ins.

here’s a review to their baby brother Model 1’s which also sound amazing, in a smaller space

talks about the two unique patents

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/jse-infinity-slope-model-1-486.html

I widh I had another room, or my son had already bought his new house