Sound and Vision rounds up the best speakers in nearly every class
Sound and Vision Magazine have put together an overview of the best speakers in nearly every class. It's a bit infuriating to browse — whoever decided to do a buyer's guide to high-end speakers as an image slideshow with 10 second intervals should be soundly thrashed — but it seems like a good buying guide... albeit, one for millionaires: the cheapest systems they recommend are over $1100, and can go up to $40,000.
Top Speakers in Every Class [Sound and Vision Mag]

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Generally, Sound and Vision recommendations are by a bunch of tools. If you shop carefully, you can find name brand speaker systems that meet or beat the stupidly priced ones in this article. I went with some higher end Infinity boxes for half the price of the 'penny pincher' and they're great (and physics-wise better) - but I had to (and could) shop around.
This list is bogus. Any speaker I can't afford -- sucks.
This list is bogus. Any speaker I can't afford -- sucks.... oh wait my speakers are on this list... I take that back.
I'd just go for a pair of studio monitors. From there, you get just as much quality with far less of the marketing present in the hi-fi market (not to say it isn't there).