12K new/used to spend

How about the Merlin vsm-mx?? I've never seen a negative review on them!

You should consider the Intuitive Design Summit, possibly augmented with a sub bass unit like a Rel. If you need to spend more money than the 5000 dollars they cost brand new, with stands, then you could opt for the matching amplifiers that Dale makes to fit into the stands, which are 4100 or 4200 dollars for a "standard" monoblock pair and 5100 or 5200 for the "high current" version.

My Summits sit on Stillpoints with inverse risers, four sets at 400 dollars each, or 1600 dollars. Dale has the amplifiers mounted FLOATING inside of the stands, such that vibration and resonance are non-issues. I don't even have his amplifiers (but I have great Odyssey Stratos Extreme monoblocks) and the set-up still sounds phenomenal, at least to me. I've posted an excruciatingly thorough review of the Summits on Audiogon.
-Bill

B&W 802D are IMO the best at anywhere near the price. The Stereophile review got it pretty much exactly right. I would only add that they sound great no matter the volume -- low or loud. Aerial 9's are nice but no match -- you would need to go to the 20T to get an equivalent in Aerial.

Usher Dancer 8571- I have lsitened to this speaker. It was at CES this year but was getting more playtime last year at CES. Its sounds great. The newer and bigger Usher BE-20 sounds even better though ( at 16,000 a pair). I would in an opnion only, rate them above Sonus faber offerings, but not as highly as some of the very interesting choices mentioned in this thread.

Cemoore, the 802d is a nice speaker, but its not the best anywhere near the price. B&W carry a premium price . They are good speakers .
Sonus farbers, Coincident,Merlin,Silver line are all as good if not better at lower price points.