I need advice on which speaker

You have so many choices in your price range and without a doubt your going to get ton of responses. You state auditioning is a bit of a challenge but it is an absolute must.

I’m in a similar situation living in a rural area where auditioning is nearly impossible especially in my room. After countless hours of research I decided on a different approach. I took my original budget and divided it in half and purchased two pairs of speakers from the top of my research list. Then I started playing king of the hill (keeping the pair I liked best and selling the other pair).

Once I found a speaker that had the sound I was looking for I sold both pair and bought the best speaker in the manufacturers line. I must of cycled through 10 or 12 pairs of speakers that winter and not only did I learn quite a bit about various speakers I had a blast in the process. Hell I think I even made decent profit.

The best part about the whole thing was I ended up spending far less than I had originally intended. In fact I have done the this very same thing with my entire system.

Best of luck with your search.

If you like transparent sound with excellent imaging, dynamic sound at all frequencies, defined bass down to 24 hz., with the all important midrange to die for.  They have 40 inches of ribbon drivers for the mids and highs, plus two 10" woofers (1 mid-woofer and 1 subwoofer) in each speaker.  Read the many reviews--the VMPS RM40 is your speaker if these sound qualities appeal to you.  If you can find a pair with the upgraded TRT caps and preferably built after 2005, you can find them around $2200-$3200, depending on the upgrades. These are large speakers and they make effortless music.  They are also adjustable to any room--yours would be awesome.  There are pots on the rear to adjust mids and highs in very small increments.  The bass can be adjusted to sound about any way you'd prefer from very tight and punchy to more rounded and full.  They are 240 lbs. (66" ht.) each--260 lbs. each if you find the BCSE full blown edition Brian Cheney made.  The VMPS speakers are no longer being made since his passing, but there are many helpful people on Audio Circle--VMPS that can assist with any potential problems.  The standard VMPS speaker went for about $4500 new.  The BCSE edition went for nearly $8000.  No matter what other ancillary equipment you surround it with, the RM40s are more than up to it.  They sound fantastic with any type of music.  After buying a pair of the lowest cost speakers Brian made, I was so blown away I asked him if I could demonstrate his speakers in my own house.  I did so for the final 5 years of his life.  No one gives you more speaker for the money than VMPS.

With the HINT (I have one), in that price range, I really liked it paired with the PMC Twenty.24

thanks everyone, indeed it is a lot of choices... it’s going to take some work to find a pair that meets my need....
Oh yeah I have considered bookshelf speakers too

I like chrshanl37s’ approach. Best way to learn what one truly prefers regarding sonics of ones’ system.  However not so easy to buy/sell large speakers, given shipping concerns.