best speakers for vocals?

Audition a pair of Spendor S 3/5's (originals, not the se version)with some medium powered tube gear and you will be amazed.

I must disagree with Jtgofish - I have owned many speakers over the years. Electrostatics (Martin Logan CLS, Quad 57's, Quads 63's) and heard many others. Also owned ribbons (big Apogee Scintilla) and planars. I have come to the conclusion that great dynamic speakers sound the most real.
I really cannot say what the best speakers for vocals are. There is no correct answer given all the system and room variables. There are so many things out there and everyone has such varied tastes. However, I can say that the Verity Parsifal Encores were spooky real on voices. However, I do not think it will do everything you are looking for (not as dimensional and airy as some).

The original Quad 57s. Nothing else, except maybe the big Soundlabs or the Beveridge, come even close.

Thanks everyone. My only problem with electrostats are their size and lack of bass...granted i have only heard the martin logans. but i agree the sound is crystal clear. one thing though, i did not find electrostats be as warm and emotional and I would have preferred. am i wrong?

I agree with Songwriter72 on this one. I own the Green Mountain Audio Callisto which are way under your budget. Live sound with voice like the band is right in front of me. Friends say the band is here. You could easily move up the GMA line. Give Roy Johnson a call at GMA.

http://www.greenmountainaudio.com

Merlins....very clear and real...

Nothing comes close to electrostats in these areas.Once you live with them for a while you come to realise how tonally wrong and box bound dynamic speakers sound.
Other than that the Edgar midrange horns are pretty good and if you really want box speakers the modern day derivatives of the BBC designed monitors [like Harbeth and Spendor] come closest.Also adding ribbon super tweeters to pretty much anything adds "air".
Artists such as Alison Kraus,Eva Cassidy,Mary Black,Frances Black,Mindy Smith,Casey Chambers are good tests for this.Many speakers kill the vibrato in their voices.

JT

I would have three personal favorites within your budget/listening preference parameters. One's just out, one is tried and true, and one is venerated vintage. Each different from the others in physical size and system requirements, but all with one thing in common: they're electrostats.

Green Mountain Audio speakers do voice scary well! In fact, they do everything scary well. Many times I have thought that sounds I was hearing in cd's or movie sountracks were outside because speakers cannot sound that real, right? Wrong. I recently ordered the first pair of the new Calypso's and am eagerly awaiting their delivery.
http://greenmountainaudio.com