Buchardt E50 vs Fritz

I thank everyone for their replies. 

@mresseguie, I am hoping to buy a completely new system (although some components I might buy used) as a retirement present.  I currently have a cambridge cxc, chord qutest, audible illusions m3a, and belles reference 150.  I thought I should decide on speakers first, then sources and amplifiers.  I'm also planning to get back into playing lps;  I still have all of my originals, and have been buying new allbums when they remaster some of my favorite blue note jazz, joni mitchell, neil young, etc.!

@dwest1023, One thing that concerns me about the e50s is the need to bring them out into the room due to the rear firing passive radiators.  I'm not sure how much room I'll have to do so.

@mresseguie, unless you eq or dsp the e50 will pound you to death with that bass.Its hard for me to say how much into the room you would need. A lot depends on how your room sounds and your equipment. The regular BUCHARDT 400mrk 2 are no slouch and they seem to be less sensitive to room boundaries. You can try them and return if they don’t work for you. I have a pair of ATC 11 v2 and they are sealed speakers.  No problem with these close to the wall. Another speaker I own you might consider is the PS Audio FR 5. You can also return it, if not to your taste. I also like the Kef R3 meta. 
 

When you consider amps put the Electrocompaniet ECI 6. I have a Pass 250 and I find the  Electrocompaniet more engaging. It’s perfectly warm, detailed, and smooth. 

kb54,

A couple questions come to my mind:

Do you intend to supplememnt your future bookshelf speakers with one or more subwoofers? Have you considered slim(mer) front ported floorstanding speakers instead? What budget are you allowing yourself for this pair of speakers?

@kb54 - I have a pair of Buchardt s400 mkii in my office system. Wonderful speakers. They compete well with some more expensive speakers I own. From experience, I feel they are at their best with more powerful amps. I’m currently running them with a gryphon 120 integrated amp with a Merason Dac 1 mkii. I used to drive with Buchardt’s with a Luxman 590axii but now feel Buchardt speakers - like a lot of Dynaudio speakers - need more watts and current to really sing. 

I have read great things about the Fritz speakers. Their owners seem to really enjoy them. 

@mresseguie, Yes, I do think I might want to add a subwoofer if I move to stand mounted monitors.  I think that I would prefer that approach to slimmer towers, but you never know.