Speakers - Your "Safest" Choice

KEF Reference 5

Passives:

• Dynaudio
• ATC
• Spendor
• Maybe KEF's Reference series
• Martin Logan (only ESL)
   

Actives: 

• Genelec Ones (8351B or 8361B) 
• Dutch & Dutch
• Dynaudio Focus series
• ATC Pro SCM series (which look fugly) 

Hi, the question is way, way too open for you to obtain solid enough advice/recommendations not based on what the various respondents own/like. Ideally, and especially considering the $20k budget you mention, we need more information to be able to formulate as useful replies as possible.

In the end, as several persons have mentioned, nothing will replace you going out to visit stores that have and entertain serious listening rooms, or better yet, visit fellow aficionados' homes to listen to various setups in real situations. 

Of course, the best possible option is to work with outfits that offer generous in-home trial possibilities!

Ideally, you  want to try as many combinations as possible, in YOUR  specific setting, listening to YOUR favorite music, etc.

Having said that, I am fortunate enough to own the very first "prototype" pair of Clayton Shaw's new speaker sensations, the CALADANs!  At around $3.3k, these are wonderful open baffle speakers that work with all types of associated gear and music... (no commercial affiliation whatsoever)

https://claytonshawacousticlab.com/

Voilà! My 2 cents... enjoy and do share your adventure, we learn a lot from each other's experiences, trials and at times, tribulations...

JLR261 

Kef reference 3 meta

Some great products mentioned here, but speakers aren’t magic devices that work the same regardless of setup and room. I’d start with subs. That helps pressurize the room if setup properly. And that setup is very tricky. More elaborate subs may help with software or something. Yet then you can use all manner of products to fill in the rest, probably less money, because you are just trying not to screw up the recorded signal too much. Having been to the shows and spent much time in dealers, I find most setups lackluster. You focus on the unimportant parts, mainly volume. Well tuned setups sound great at 60-70 db peaks. And that keeps you listening longer and happier. It’s not PA at a club that has to compete with chatter.