New speakers needed on a budget

GregandMary writes:

...We have a budget of $800 a pair. They need to be floorstanding. Jazz, classical, rock, and a few movies are our listening pleasures, but are never played loud. The room is all hardwoods, and is about 18 x 27. ...

PSB has just come out with a new generation of their Image line, which means the remaining stock of the previous version (which the rest of the speaker-building world hasn't caught up to) is on closeout at nearly 40% off.

Check out these PSB Image floorstanders: T45 ($500/pr), T55 ($600/pr), and T65 ($775/pr).

18x27 is a big room, so the T65s may be the best fit. Bear in mind, however, that they are 20" deep. They also come with foam plugs for the ports to match the bass loading to your room.

These PSB's are pretty amp-friendly and sensitive, so amp-matching shouldn't be much of a problem even in a room that big. An Onkyo A-9555 integrated amp would be a good match. They are also very dynamic, neutral, and transparent in the midrange, making them particularly suited to the wide range of music and soundtracks you plan to run through them.

I have no affiliation with PSB or Audio Advisor. I have an audio buddy who bought a pair of T65s and an A-9555 for a similar-sized room and he's very satisfied with it.

New floorstanders for less than $800 is a tough proposition.I second all previous suggestions for used speakers(I love the Quads).
Michael at STO Sound and Vision does a great job with inexpensive floorstanders(sold at deep discount).He carries Mission ,Mordaunt Short and Wharfedale floor speakers that look and sound great for much less than your max budget.Wharfedale is made by the same folks that manufacture the Quad speakers.I have no affiliation with STO.

I picked up a pair of Totem Arro's here on Audiogon for ~$800.

Second looking into PSB very good speakers for the money especially at what Johnnyb states above

for your stated needs, in addition to the totem and psb recs i'd look at monitor audio rs6, rega r5 o rs5 or my personal faves, the focal cobalt series, all of which can be found used within your budget. you might also look at accessories4less for discounted canton gle and mordaunt short--both vg.