best bookshelf speakers for < $2000?

For a FLY-UNDER-USUAL LIST sleeper/wild card standmount candidate that is a "contender" and no "pretender" in your price range (+/-)for "new" speakers:     JMR (Jean-Marie Reynaud) “Bliss” Loudspeaker

check out the stellar reviews : very efficient   and easy to drive.

http://www.stereotimes.com/speak083010.shtml
http://www.amherstaudio.com/?page_id=42

NEWEST MODEL ON SALE in AGON:  

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-jm-reynaud-bliss-silver-monitor-speakers-free-shipping-20...

I've had a pair of Revel M106 for a little over two years and they have great bass response for a small speaker....I use a sub but run them full range.   At night I turn the sub off and the bass is still very satisfying.  They sound like a much bigger speaker without ever sounding boomy or bloated.  With a good sub they make for a great 2.1 system but I could easily live with just the two speakers.   I should note that I'm driving them with a 40 watt tube amp and they kick ass in my 17 x 15 room.  I have owned many high performance bookshelf speakers over there years and these are one of my favorites.  

I have Speaker Art Super Clef's in a 12x12 room. They never sound bloated or boomy no matter where the listener position is. I would venture to say that they produce as much if not more bass than many of the usual suspect bookshelf speakers mentioned on the forums. Bob Gross although not widely known is probably one of the best desiners of all time. Have to purchase new because you will never find a pair on the used market.

I have the roth audio OLi RA1 bookshelf speakers and they are brilliant. It does need an amplifier or reciever connected to it for it to work, but you can pick a cheap one up for around £20 like the lepai 2020a+ which is good for the money. 

I'm sure I'll get roasted, but nearly any top designer will tell you the same.  It's impossible to properly mate satellite speaker with a sub if they don't overlap by at least one full octave.  That's one reason I won't have non full range speakers.  You just can't have coherency adding subs to small speakers.  I just had this conversation to one of the most well known designers of speakers this past weekend.  There are so many small footprint floor standers to chose from at all price ranges that I'm sure you can find one that will make you very happy.  JMHO