Energy speakers

I would look into Sonus Faber Venere.  The new Polk Audio Reserve R700 are getting great reviews too.  

Energy had speakers in Best Buy, but they also made higher end speakers as well. You’ll find great used options out there if you find the Veritas line, their highest... or Reference Connoisseur (RC) series, their mid-level which was a super high quality/price ratio.

They are definitely smooth and not bright or brittle, compared to speakers widely known to be on the brighter side, but there’s nothing missing and they are very very good with imaging, tone and timbre.

Look for Veritas 6.2, or 2.3i, towers. And/or Reference Connoisseur ...RC-70 towers. Can’t go wrong, and will get a screaming deal (value) on some super speakers.

Energy...Mirage...Athena...All very good at their price points. So good that Klipsch (the very opposite of good) swallowed the company because they couldn't compete.

Less competition is always bad.

There's no lack of competition in the speaker market secret guy, and if you think Klipsch isn't good you haven't listened to the right one.

per the above, the veritas speakers from the late 90s/early 00s were seriously good--from what little i've heard the recent iterations not so much. for your budget i'd look at used proac, dynaudio, focal...