Best speakers to buy for around $1,500

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.

I vote for Infinity IRS Delta's which can be found under $2k. My 2nd pick would be a pair of Infinity Renaissance 90's in exceptional condition. Ren 90's sadly rarely appear in genuinely excellent, unmolested condition these days. There are too many 'Franken' examples around being sold by scammers operating out of Texas. You need to carefully check the condition of the grills incl: the pegs (an essential element in the sound of these speakers, and now unobtanium) & foam transmission line as the foam on many examples has started to rot. Therefore despite the now unobtanium Emit and Emim drivers, a nice re-foamed pair of Delta's would be my pick ;)

Wow, check these out! Drop this guy a line!

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-jbl-ls80-loudspeakers-2015-08-03-speakers-92683-westminster-ca--2