Just thought I would chime in here, since I am the guy that Jim sent the original e-mail to. I listened to a lot of speakers in the last few months and about a third of the way through, I gave up on finding what I wanted,
for under $2,000. Once I started listening to speakers that were more in the $4-5,000-ish range I started to hear what I was looking for. With Jim's explanation I realized that my initial search may have been a little naive. You guys can argue all you want about the practicality or necessity of what I was looking for, but the bottom line is: that is what
I want.
Thanks to all of you who stopped in over at AVS, and actually took the time to read my thread. My solution to the $2000 challenge was to forget the initial budget and spend the money to get what I wanted, soundwise. For me it was a pair of HT3's. Jim set up an audition for me with a local owner because he thought that the HT3's were what I was looking for, and that hearing them would be a good reference point for me as I continued my search. At no time did he try and "sell" me the HT3's, but after I had heard them I quickly realized that I would be happy with nothing less than a pair of my own. I gave him my deposit about a week after I had heard them.
Now I am anxiously waiting for the their arrival
Someone posted in the beginning of this thread about the DIY option, and it is my opinion that DIY would be the only way to get the sound I was looking for for under $2g's, even then that may be a stretch. The SongTowers came very close, as did the Totem Hawks, but once I had heard the HT3's there really was no contest. Game Over. I win, my wallet lost.
Thank you also for the continuing support and helpful insights of both Jim Salk, and Dennis Murphy that helped lead me to these fantastic speakers. You guys are great. I am proud to join the ranks of Salk Sound speaker owners.
Cheers,
Funk