Candidates for best speakers in the $2000-5000 market

Thank you for the thoughtful answers, and questions. Room is about 12" x 12" x 22", mostly hard surfaces, including the wooden floor, and opens onto three other spaces. Current equipment iinludes a PrimaLuna EvoLution 400, Audiolab 6000 CD transport, a Soekris dac2541, a DSPeaker 2.0 "room correction device, an SVS SB-3000 sub, and last but not least, a wife...in interior design. I'm thinking monitors.

@avanti1960 

+1 on the HARBETH M30.2 XD standmounts 

A used pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars would be worth considering, and while I’m no interior designer I think your wife would not be offended by their looks. If looking for new speakers I’d look at the Usher Mini-X DMD that uses the same top diamond tweeter as in their $28k flagship speakers yet only costs $3990 and is gorgeous and a great value. Usher is one of the few manufacturers who make their own drivers and hugely flies under the radar here in the US.  Best of luck.

Vandersteen. 

Within minutes at home you'll hear a presentation I'd call rightness. After a week of listening you should be able to hear the shortcomings of many other speakers in stores and at shows. 

Not a Vandersteen owner. 

All the best.

I saw a pair of KEF Reference 1’s go by a few months ago. Depending on your wants/needs , they are wonderful.  Keep an eye out.