It is not clear whether you are doing a wide-ranging search from scratch, or whether you have narrowed your interest to a certain type of speaker or type of sound. Are there other none sonic requirements, such as those dictated by limited options on placement of the speaker, no top heavy models that might be a danger to children, size of speaker, etc. Also, success with certain speakers require particular types of amplifiers, so it would help to know what you have and whether or not changing amps is a possibility.
The following list offers a wide array of speaker types and sound, but, I like them even though few of them actually fit my ideal:
Panel speakers:
Magneplanars--any model in your price range and tolerance for size will deliver room-filling, realistically scaled soundscape.
Sanders Sound (electrostatic/dynamic hybrids that deliver a lot of dynamic punch.
Soundlab-great electrostatic speakers, but they are huge in size.
Conventional Dynamic speakers
Any Audio Note model in your price range. If it is desirable to have the speakers in the corners, Audio Note speakers are designed for that placement. They are in the very warm and musical sounding camp, not the lean and "detailed" sounding camp, but, unlike some other warm speakers, they don't sound sluggish.
DeVore Orangutans -- in the warm and mellow camp.
YG Acoustic Carmel-- very much NOT in the warm and mellow camp, but, with the right electronics, they deliver the goods--very good with instrumental timbre.
Vandersteen Quattro -- kind of a Goldilocks speaker -- not too lean and analytical, not too warm.
SoundKaos 42 -- a two-way speaker that utilizes a full/extended range driver with a ribbon tweeter on top. A very musical sounding system.
Unconventional Speakers:
Charney Audio -- Shockingly good for the money single driver speakers. This is the only implementation of a single driver that I thought did not have problem areas that made them ultimately unacceptable even though the dynamics and liveliness of this type of speaker is incredibly appealing. They don't deliver really deep bass, but, everything else is done quite well. The sound depends on the choice of driver--I personally like the AER driver.
Custom Design:
Deja Vu Audio -- Deja Vu Audio is a Washington DC area audio dealer that also makes its own electronics (all tube) and speakers. $30 k is at the bottom of the custom-built range, but even the bottom is really quite good. Most speakers are made utilizing vintage drivers, typically a large dynamic woofer, a compression/horn midrange, and dome tweeters.
