Still looking for speakers in the 10-20,000 range

Hi Fast,
There are a lot of excellent suggestions here. I would wait if you can and try to test as many speakers as you can. After all it is a substantial investment in your hobby. 
 
Here is another company to consider, Specifically the Gibbon X or a used pair of Silverbacks if you can source them on Agon or other like-sites. Extremely musical.
http://www.devorefidelity.com

IMHO when considering such an investment one of the things I use as a guide is frequency response. The total environmental human frequency response spectrum - All IN -  is
15 hz - 150 khz. I believe there is only one company that just recently released a speaker that can accomplish this and the cost is way out of most everyone's budget.

If you have the money well ....If not then work towards that Spectrum use it as the base of information towards your end goal while adding  in your own personal likes and dislikes along the way. This will help ground your decision and stay within your budget. It will take time, but you end up making a solid decision that will last you for several years.  It is a hobby for most and the point is to enjoy the journey have fun along the way. 

fast wrote:

"Thanks everyone. Like many of you, I have to consider the WAF."

I have the Focal Sopra 3's in Imperial Red, and the spouse considers them as a piece of art. Yeah, they're *that* beautiful.

The fact they sound great is a bonus for her :-).

I don’t know what your listening to and how but Spendor, Focal, B&W I like Spendor with a nice Tube amp and Vinyl mostly British setup there.  Focal runs the home theatre setup, and the top of the line B&w and Focal easily out price your budget but as far as audio differences Spendor and mid level Focals have them beat or on same level.  Spendor D7 are around $7-8 grand and with a nice amp It is hard to beat.  If your looking for design within your home.  I like Focal all day long.  So it comes down to your preference & your ultimate use!  Good luck!  

As already mentioned, Daedalus speakers are well worth checking out. Very high quality and craftsmanship built in each design, not to mention wonderful sound that they produce.  

I have to go along with bassdude and the others about the Legacy Audio Aeris... If you listen to the Aeris (or pretty much any of the Legacy line up) your search will be over, then you can just sit back and enjoy the music. For the record I don't have the Aeris (yet), but I do have a pair of the Focus SE's and a couple sets of the Studio HD's.

My Legacy's not only blew away my Klipsch (RF-7II), but stomped a mud hole in them...

Also the wife factor will be taken care of, the wood work of a Legacy is top shelf, and with so many different finishes there is bound to be one that will fix your wife's decor.