Martin Logans and B&W's are great speakers. I have had the opportunity to listen to Proac 3.8 (simply amazing) and some Grand Utopia BE's (the best I have ever heard) at the last high end audio show here in Montreal.
For a 20k system check out some Mini Utopias (used) or Magnepans.

Bang's reputation of for creating good sounding artistic products. Sure, some of them sound good purely be a factor of their experience and design, I don't know how 'hardcore' they get. I've only 'played' with a few pair.

As for Bose, we have a slogan :No highs, no lows, must be Bose. But, as the largest marketing force in the home/mobile audio game it is inevitable that they will sell. Do you really think Nike makes the best shoes? The other thing we used to do when a customer asked if we carried bose, was to cup our hands in front of our mouths, as though we were warming them after coming in from the cold, and say "does this sound natural to you?". That used to get their attention..ahahah...

Two speakers well worth hunting down, JM Lab (and yes I am biased because I was at the Factory) and Gallo Acoustics. I used to use a pair of Solo1's for all my amplifier comparisons. Damn!

K&W seem to be great for that, I've always been very patient and helpful. Totems are great speakers, the ones I was looking at used either Dynaudio or Scanspeak drivers, plus they're Canadian. I notice that A&B have started carrying them, although K&W's prices are better.

Kieth, it sounds like you are having fun. I remeber doing the same thing you are doing, except after hours at the 92 Chicago Summer CES. Those were the days, manufactures used to have some great room parties. You used to see people with dollies full of equipment going down halls at 1am in the morning. I wonder what a Wadia transport sounds like with a Theta D/A? MMMM, what room is Theta in? We used to just go and pick the stuff up for a night of listening and take it back before the show opened in the morning. You won't see that anymore.

I remember playing pool in the hotel bar to see who would move the equipment to who's room. (speaker manufacture vs amplifier manufacture)

We used to move so much stuff back and forth between the Cary Audio room and ours, that we started booking next to each other for every show.

I could go on and on....

Thanks for making me remember Keith, keep having fun [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Adam

Hey you guys in the lower mainland, if you're looking for a good store for car and home audio you should check out Northshore Audio Video. It's owned by the brother of the Korbon Trading rep for BC.. Very knowlegeable and friendly staff...

I have yet to hear some amazing speaker setups, I need to get out more. :D

Keith if I had 20k and was shopping I would get advice (plenty on this forum), I would take my freakin time (rushing leads to poor decisions "oh I wish I had bought that"), I have planned weekend trips around stereo shop visits, I scout stereo stores on business trips, I bring my wife (she has good ears too and she has veto authority), I would use dealer networks and support them (they will let you take stuff home and audition it, online dealers don’t).
There is only one absolute in my stereo system- I love Magnum Dynalab tuners nuthin better IMHO.
Check out the Cable company- www.usedcable.com (800-fat-wyre) I have rented out dozens of their cables prior to a purchase and let me tell you it is harder than you think. The best cable may reveal things you don’t like in your system so beware.

How should I divide the money that I have percentage-wise between the various components???

What percentage should go towards the source, the wiring, the pre-amp, the power-amp, and the speakers????

Thanks to all for your replies.

Two philosophies: spent the most on speakers or spend a greater proportion on the source component.
My philosophy- find that component that makes you go 'oh my goodness that is the best I have ever heard' and move forward from there. This can bite you if you find that no matter what electronics you hook up to the speaker it sounds the same. That means the component in question is colouring the overall sound. Neutrality in a component is very attractive and as you upgrade one component you will improve the overall sound.
You have a limited music selection so big bombastic car audio type bass isn’t a tip top priority. Simply find products you like, or my litmus, find products that sound real and neutral. There are entire companies that cater to your music styles.
At the $6k price point there are some kick butt integrated amps and receivers (BAT, Rowland, Burmeister, Magnum Dynalab, Moon).