Under $5,000, floorstanding speakers deliver full-range performance with enough resolution to justify upstream electronics that cost more than they do. Multiple driver arrays split the frequency spectrum precisely, and cabinets are built heavy and inert to stay out of the way. Bass extends into the low 30s or below in most cases, which means music with real weight (orchestral, electronic, well-recorded rock) finally sounds complete without a separate subwoofer. This is the tier where a speaker can anchor a system for a decade. Maybe longer.
