Speakers costing range of 2500-3500 per pair

+1 Teckton Double Impacts. They are ridiculously good for the money!

I second "baranyi"... I sold a pair of expensive speakers and got those few months ago.  Read the review of Tecton Double Impact in current Stereotimes.com

You can build the Linkwitz LX521 for about $2800 in drivers, active crossover and pre-cut cabinet parts.  You'd have a loudspeaker that nobody here would even come close to surpassing, at ANY price.

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/LX521/LX521_4.htm

For $2k, I can heartily recommend the Silverline Minuet Grand. Easy to drive, dynamic, superbly coherent and naturally dense midrange. If you don't have a quality sub already, money saved could be applied there, or save up to upgrade amplification. I'll have a review coming out on my site soon. http://taww.co