In your price range, you might want to try mail order speakers from manufacturers and retailers that offer home-trial periods. Some specific models in your price range:
Ohm Walsh 2000 - follow the thread on Ohm speakers here. I am in the process of a home trial of the Walsh 2000s myself.
Reference 3a Veena (if you have no local retailer, they sell direct from distributor with a 30-day return option). based on the Grand Veenas, which i've heard, you might like the Veenas.
And I know this is way below your price range, but these $1000/pr speakers compared favorably to many I've heard in the $3K price range:
http://www.mitekfactoryoutlet.com/products/brand.cfm?brand=6&detail=ok&PN=TFE200&Site=1
Used, I have heard the Merlin VSMs at shows and they never failed to impress.
Although if you're unhappy with a used speaker purchase, you can usually recoup most or all of your cost by reselling them, you have to decide if you have the time, patience and physical stamina for numerous purchases and resales. Buying direct from places like Salk, Ohm, Zu Audio, AV123, etc. takes the resale part out of the equation. Just check on each seller's restocking fee policy before you order.
