Hi,
Well, I re-read my previous post & noticed myriad typos in it
The point I was making is simple. Often I have come across people confused between objective & subjective aspects - wherein one would solely go by 'graphs', other would only go by 'what he hears the best'.
Pl be clear, while objectivity pertains to machine (speakers in this case), subjectivity pertains to 'your perception' of the machine. Goes without saying both have their respective roles in determining appropriate "machine" for "you".
To present an apt analogy - Beauty is in the eyes of beholder. Agreed. But health isn't. Health is pretty objective & scientific. While choosing apt female, health is no less imp than beauty. However, in "love" usually beauty outsmarts health. But then they say - "Love is BLIND"
So either shortlist healthy females and then choose one you 'love', OR, among those you think you love, well they must be tested for their health. Either approach works fine - though in second instance, one's decision is often marred with partiality than practicality.
So going purely by your sensory perception (all though a key element), will land you with a blind speaker. Its important, I think, to know strength/weakness of what you're buying.
Key steps in finding speakers:
1. Decide budget (say £1000)
2. Get sound piece you know well (shouldn't just SOUNDS NICE to you, but you'd KNOW it)
3. In case, you don't have it (most don't), record your own pieces and use it as reference
4. If Pt 2&3 are impractical, go for most transparent/open speakers costing say £10000+
5. Compare your selected lot with this, whichever comes closer is your potential buy
Insofar as speaker list you've mentioned is concerned, one thing is clear - You like warm signature. Most of them (Reva, KEF etc) have warmth to them. PSB is Canadian, so not so warm. Haven't heard Motive, so cant comment. Concept 40 is well regraded and for price its definitely VFM product. That said, if one likes warm - B&W would surely be on list. Until last month, they were one of my favorites, but now they are not. Am still a novice, but can visualize what they are doing to sound & manipulations therein.
Though I don't like unusually bright speakers, I do like neutral natural tonality. Usually this 'warmth' we experience is, when speakers bypass 'harsh frequencies' (read B&W). In other words, speakers are not operating on a wider frequency spectrum, and not honest to how it was recorded. For ex: Say there's a sound piece such that - its warm & soothing, until there's a sudden car crashing moment accompanies with a screeching sound. An 'honest' speaker would show/try to show, both AS IS. A warm speaker (B&W) would accentuate warm/soothing part, but heavily downplay (suppress) screeching sound. It might still sound good.
That said, if you anyways don't listen to such songs & stuff, and prefer warm/soothing all along - I don't see reason why you'd want your speaker to yell SCREECHHHHH in your ears. Go for warm. Just as you like your coffee a certain way, so are speakers.
1. Reva: Warm & soothing. Brand value isn't that high. Haven't heard to be honest.
2. KEF: Warm is one thing, dull is another. KEF is DULL. I was almost about to pull trigger on 5.0 of KEF LS50 (looks stunning, and what great reviews felicitating them as mini-reference). It was a huge disappointment. Likewise was with R500, R700. If you have insomnia, KEF can make you sleep. Gotta love them for medicinal value, but not sound!
3. Motive: Is that Neat Motive? Well, I haven't heard.
4. Q Acoustics Concept 40: A strong contender. Certainly not as well established as its counterparts like B&W, Tannoy, KEF etc.. but most certainly VFM.
5. PSB: Its Canadian, so not so warm. I was little puzzled to see it, cus most speakers in your list suggested your inclination towards warm. That said, its not bright like Klipsch either.
From the above, "I" wont be drifting for KEF for sure. PSB series you mentioned isn't as refined, so out. Reva & Concept 40 sounds promising, and between these two, I'd choose Concept 40.
But my sole question to you is - Why are you closing your list this soon?
You may (should) hear following. They are in your budget or little higher (£1000 - £1150)
1. B&W 683 S2 (nice but operates on narrow spectrum)
2. Dali Opticon 6 (my choice so far)
3. Tannoy XT6F (yet to audition)
4. Monitor Audio Silver 6 (more detailed, little bright, best VFM)
Would strongly suggest you audition them before you pull your trigger!
Take care.