Those Audio Grand Tetons look initeresting, but 5.25" may just not be enough to do it. Although, based on Swerd's recommendation, I did find an in-home dealer who demo'd the Joseph Audio Pulsars for me, which have 5.25" woofers also. Very impressive, but price is now up to $7700/pr new, making the used ones on Audio Mart at $4800 a great deal.
So, I've added the Audio Pulsars to my "short" list, which is now up to five, since I feel I have to audition the Dynaudio Confidence 1 Signatures. So, this weekend I'm going to do a blitz/dealer fly by on:
Revel M-106 ($2500 w/ stands)
McIntosh XR50 ($4000)
Totem Element Fire ($6000)
Dynaudio Confidence C1 Signature ($9000 w/ stands),
I hope to narrow it down to one or two for home audition.
I'll have updates afterward.
Thanks all, and would continue to appreciate input, especially on the speakers I'm targeting.
BTW, the dealer, who demo'd the Pulsars - Jeff Whitlock (AV Solutionsca.com), is a really good guy and carries absoute quality stuff. So if you're anywhere in the SF/East Bay area tell him that Jeff (me-the Pulsar prospect) sent ya'.