OK I have returned after more listening! This time not as many speakers.. only 3.
The whole experience was much nicer. The salesman I had at the store was the same one I had last time. He was willing to do whatever I requested, and at the same time kept very quiet. Only one little attempt at a sales pitch for the LSi9's above the 7's. I held my $2k ground, and he relented quickly.
I heard the LSi7's (Polk) and they were really nice all-rounders. Good bass, detailed midrange and hi-end. Compared to the LSi9's they were not as bassy. Everything else seemed about the same.
I heard the Castle Warwick again just for fun (salesman seemed a little annoyed at having to go get them again just for the sake of getting them.. but hey..
I must still say the Castle are brilliant for voices. They beat even Proac bookshelfs hands down (IMHO ofcoz). Maybe a little colored, but they are very natural sounding. However they really dont have any bass. Apparently going down to 50Hz.. but at what? Probably like -6db... putting them up against the wall just destroyed the soundstage. Still no bass.
Pity. The Castle do have quite a stylish finish IMHO. At the moment I think Im sold on the Polk's.They are a 4ohm load which is quite a drive for my amps which already get very hot with 8ohm loads.
One store who said they would find out about some B&W's never called me back as promised. I have dismissed them anyhow. Monitor Audio have quite a name.. dunno how - their bookshelfs while sounding and looking nice are not worth their price tag./
yeah. The search has narrowed down a lot now. A few remain. Who will be the winner? We'll see over the next week!