I would concur with the keep it simple approach, amplifiers only.
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Amplification pus balance control and a high-quality DSP software for bass management, if feasible, would be my recommendation.
I am speculating that a “full-range” speaker with built in bass management (something along the line of what Paradigm includes with its subwoofers), would fill a pretty popular niche. Throw in some balance control and such a speaker would likely excel at being placed in otherwise “difficult” rooms(?).
A vote for the KEF approach. Especially useful for second systems i.e. vacation homes, home office, etc., where the extra boxes and cables just cause a lot of clutter. I suppose the streaming module could be a factory option or a plug-in module.
Definitely a separate hub, allowing future upgrades. Speakers and amplification has been more of an evolution, whereas digital changes formats, new decoding, etc. More of a revolution
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That’s great! I look forward to the smaller version of Aspen, I figure which will be consistent with the XBL and x-over design as FR30, keeping the planar magnetics and two 8" woofers for the low range. Pricing perhaps around $10K? When do you expect to have the smaller Aspen(Stella?) ready? Can’t wait for it to come out, I’m more than ready to place an order!
Yes, new lower cost speakers from us are really exciting though I can tell you the next ones, the FR20s, will definitely not be able to come in at $10K. Probably more like double that.
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Interesting. A $20k speaker in PSA land is definitely still for (or at least most appropriate for imo) the BHK series owner, as opposed to the lower series.
Which speaker to release second must have been an interesting debate, likely including which can we get done first (suspect FR20 since probably similar to FR30) even if still generally same target purchasing group (likely turning on room size) versus a potentially more widely accessible lower cost model that might take longer to develop due to more differences from fr30.
Would have thought there’d have been many more test case user reports or beta or whatever called by now for fr30, as it’s June already. We’ve seen warehouse shots with dozens of new units so they must be somewhere. Are all the beta testers not posting impressions yet? The only ones I recall were the two personal installs by Paul and Chris and not sure how much those owners posted since but maybe I missed it. Usually in past when a PS product is released the forum is flooded with beta reports
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Will the flagship, cost no object speaker be the FR40 or some other designation?
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FR20 = $20k
FR30 = $30k…
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That’s what I was thinking too.
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FR1,000,000
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I think FR20 will only have 3 (or 2) woofers thus lowering the treble driver to be better align with the seating listener ear level height. It may be better than FR30 wrt top end extensions…
So the question is, which is better? FR30 vs. FR20 + a pair of subwoofers?
Am looking forward to seeing and hearing the FR20.
Looking forward to the FR0.5, 
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We need Dr. Evil pitching it. “This speaker will cost you one…million…dollars.”
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I bet a lot here are thinking, “when the fr5 coming out?”
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How much did the Wilson Audio Master Chronosonic cost?
Why wonder and wait. There are plenty of US$ € 5000 speakers out there. They just don’t have PS Audio written on them.
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Saw them at a dealer here in Scottsdale a couple of years ago and they were $384,000.