Speakers: What's MOST important to you?...

Other than the attributes listed above, I think overall balance is critical. Nothing glaring or exaggerated. I want the presentation to float unrestricted, like the opening of a window and the removal of walls in the room.

1) you forget about the stereo and listen to the music

2) the midrange quality because 90% of the music is there

3) it fits the music you like and the room

these are in no particular order

BTW you may want a speaker that is easy to drive as you will save lots of money on amplifier

Non-fatiguing sound=True time/phase design,low difraction enclosure=transparency...I can give up top-end "sparkle" and deep bass for a very cohesive,musical,and involving midrange...where 90% of music is produced....

The ultimate critieria for me is that the sound draws me into the music and makes me forget that I are listening to a pair of boxes with speakers and wires in them. When this happens, I know I've found speakers worth owning. Just my $.02 worth. ;)

For me, it's dynamics, "that old midrange magic", dynamics, smooth treble, dynamics, a bass that breathes (rather than "tight" bass), dynamics, coherence and dynamics. A speaker without proper dynamics just can't get my blood flowing, no matter how well it does everything else.