Best speakers to buy for around $1,500

I would consider a bargain on rega rs5, as they are being discontinued. You probably can get them fro $1200 or less new, and they sound incredible low-midrange to treble, no one can argue on that. Bass goes low to 40, the quality is arguably good. I own them.
Magnepan .7 is another great choice, so is Vandersteen 1C (I have owned them). If you look at Focal, even at half the price, they are still ugly and hot in the treble, with no bass... never a bargain.

Another thought, if the Tekton Pendragon or Enzo are too large the Lore S is within your budget new. Last, and surprised this one hasn't come up yet, is the Monitor Audio Silver 6. Nice review in GoodSound. I think all the Tektons I mentioned and the Silver 6es would all be a big step up in refinement and provide you a much more audiophile-level experience overall while maintaining or surpassing the dynamics and slam you currently may have or want. Not a lot of speakers can do that (at least well anyway) at your price point IME. Again, best of luck.

no wrong or right answer of course, but if it was me i'd opt for a really good monitor like the kef ls, totem model 1, dynaudio, etc., rather than one of the good-but-not-great floorstanders you'll find at that range. you won't feel the need to upgrade as much and have a more portable thing you'll always find a use for

All I can say is if you like the Cerwins, go for the JBLs I mentioned. They can rock the house but are clearer and more defined. Some dealers are still selling them for $800 a pair.

Loomis, there are a few floor standers in this range that disappear like a monitor, but are fuller range. If you notice, the OP listens to a lot of rock and most folks who do, need those lower octaves to fully enjoy their music. I was a monitor guy for years too as I though they were more accurate and disappear better etc...., however with newer advances all around, there are manufactures (Vandersteen is just one that I'm very familiar with) that are most satisfying and honestly, they have as good a following and customer loyalty as most anyone (that's why the 2 is the best selling high end speaker of all time). I personally didn't like them that much years ago and it was because my local dealer didn't set them up properly. Once I heard them a couple of years ago, it was a no brainer for me in my quest for a great new speaker as I don't change my gear like most folks do.

What Vandersteen is able to to in the newest 1's is amazing for the price. I even know a few dealers who don't carry them, but have heard them tell me they are the best buy in the under 1500 range. To me that's very subjective as they aren't everyone's cup of tea and I fully understand, if he wants to stay in his range and get a fuller range speaker, he's able to do it without the sacrifice that nearly any monitor has to make due to the laws of physics. Jus saying you can only do so much to get da bass in a smaller cabinet at this price range.