OK... I did hear some Pulsars... and... I'd say the Grand Teton's will "give them a run for their money."     But... if you can find... some Pulsars for $4000 (the price in your ad and a good price), then I'd be tempted to get them.  Just because they do look gorgeous and sound great too.    ...

Haven't heard the Pulsars... but... the Grand Tetons sound as good, or better than all my other speakers (i.e.  LaHave Melas, LS50's, Emerald Physics 2.3's, Magnestand 1.6's (Gunned Maggies), dc10Audio Berlin R's (Studio Monitors)... and... other's have reported they sound as good, or better...

It's very hard to beat the A21 with any set of speakers.  It makes my LS50's sound superb as well as my Magnestand 1.6's ("Gunned Maggies").  Though... I like my JC-1's even better, the A21 is a very close second.  Almost no amp in the A21's price range can equal it.  This is in part, because it...

Belated post...   As you now know... I bought Jonathan's Horwich's LaHave Melas (you mentioned above) in beautiful mahogany / burgandy color - true works of art... with a sound to match!   It was a great find - World-Class sound in an incredible package at a reasonable price.  Few speakers...

Well... I'm not sure I would say their sound is that much better than the RS-1's, or the PS500's.     If you find them at a big discount... maybe... but, otherwise... probably not.     They have a bigger soundstage, and a bit more prominent and refined highs... but... at a pretty high...

Quote:   Yes... the LS50's are definitely worth considering - when properly set up, there are few contenders.  But... they require lots of space to realize their potential.   http://www.head-fi.org/t/646016/does-anyone-have-experience-with-the-kef-ls50/60

Quote:   Sounds like a great set up all around.     Though... you may want to consider the Class D Audio amps - superb performance and incredible values.     And... the LS50 is not a "bookshelf" or "desktop" speaker - it is a superb "floor standing monitor" - best when set up of...

Quote:   And... even better... if you want an absolutely huge, life-like soundstage, with excellent resolution and precise imaging (a wall of sound) - even outside the focal seating position - just set them up on stands about 4' from the walls, about 12'+ apart, toed in a bit (maybe 15+...

Quote:   If you prefer a slight bit more detail and resolution - though, it's hard to choose which one I prefer.

Quote:   Great... compared to the RS-1!     A bit richer, bassier sound, yet with similar mids and highs.  Though, the RS-1 may have a slight bit more detail and resolution.     I really can't decide which I prefer... so... I've kept both.

Don't know about headphone amps... but... the Class D Audio brand of class D amps are reported by users (who have had both) to equal the finest high-end Class A/B amps out there (i.e. Krell, Levinson, Pass Labs, Rowland, etc.).  The one I have sure does - no aspect of the sound seems to be...

Right now... the sound I'm getting from this set up is "stupendous!"  Don't think it can get any / much better - certainly not for less than 10X the price!   Using the Sony  XA5400ES SACD/CDP (the best there is), into the Anti-Mode 2.0 as a pre and DSP to eliminate the "room boom," into a...

Quote:   Yeah... you want to stick with WAV, FLAC / ALAC for CD quality resolution.

Quote:   Yeah... there is very little difference that I can discern between the two.  I've tested the sound of the formats from WAV to Apple Lossless to AAC... and... there is no difference, until I get to AAC, where I can tell just a very slight difference (slightly less extension...

Quote:   Yeah... I would tend to agree... it seems almost too much to believe that they can best the 3.7's.     But... I also have learned the LS50's must be properly set up in the right room, with the right electronics, positioned properly, etc. etc. to sound up to their real...

Yes... finally got them set up and playing... and... they are fantastic speakers in all respects!   Great soundstage and imaging - they just disappear in a wall of sound.  Pretty amazing, really!   And... they do have lots of bass - certainly, enough for an apt / condo, where you must be...

Quote:   Here ya go...   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwnjKWWfg_w

Quote:   That's what I would do... it's a "tried and true" combination, which absolutely no one (that I've seen on this forum) has ever less than "raved about," as being, the best match for Grados.  Seem's like a "no-brainer" to me.  In fact, I often think I'll spring for a MAD amp myself...

Quote:   My experience... precisely... in 2008 when Senn first made the change to the HD650's drivers.  Those I have now... actually sound like Grados... or... very close - which is a good thing!   And... for whatever reasons... the HD800's I auditioned... simply had no "life" when...

I just bought the KEF LS50's, primarily for use in a condo, where I must be careful of the volume.  I haven't yet set them up, so I can't provide you any perspective of their sound.   However, there is a YouTube video of a pair playing several tracks of music... and... you can get a pretty...

Quote:   Absolutely - outstanding with the WA6SEm!      But... also great with the Burson Soloist - superb!  

Quote:   Well... you should know... since you build some of the best (e.g.  Millett Hybrid MiniMax, etc.).     And... I find Grados do match with some amps suprisingly well (e.g. some CMoys), while not so well with others (OTL tube amps, I've tried with them). I've found they mate...

Quote:   Dark Voice and LeFigaro OTL tube amps.

Quote:   Absolutely!   Until you've mated Grados with an amp that matches their electrical properties... you haven't heard them - not even close.  The DV amps do not... I repeat... DO NOT match Grados electrical properties - NOT EVEN CLOSE!     You must have an amp with VERY LOW...

Quote:   Agree... 100%.   The "new" HD650's sound superb with the right cable, and set up... much as you describe.  I prefer them to the HE-500's... but... then I've not tried the HE-500's with a well matched set up.