Thoughts on my speaker selection?

I tried the ML 60 Xti version. Much too bright/forward in my low ceiling space but very well built and fantastic bass response. Those could work for you, and Best Buy carries them and has a 14 day trial. I got mine from Crutchfield to try and it was $10 for each speaker to ship back. I kid you not. 

Glancing at your list and considering other reviews, my guess is the Ascend tower would be an amazing value. They seem to have great customer service and a friendly attitude. I had a couple exchanges over email with them and was very close to trying them. Read the blogs -- people love Ascend.

Any thoughts on the rest?

+1 Ascend, and I’d spring for the Horizon Center, which is critically important and probably the best center of all your options.  Best of luck. 

What would you say is the best option out of these sub $1k speakers?

• Model
  Price 1 Price 2 Price 3 Price 4 (per speaker price)
  

• Definitive Technology BP-9060
  $442 $456  

• MartinLogan Motion 60XT
  $606 $519 $582
  

• KEF Q950
  $642 $616 $835 $534

• JBL 590
  $1,000 $500 $440 $308

• Revel F36
  $750 $884 $809 $583 ($583*3, includes 2 F36 + 1 C25 center)

• Paradigm Premier 800F
  $781  
  

• SVS Ultra Tower
  $879 $750  

• Bowers & Wilkins 603
  $1,000 $800 $679

I am no expert but I love my JBL studio 590’s.  And I have a PS Audio s300 amp.  They sound great. A true story.  I was in the Harman store in NYC and they were demoing some nice popular well reviewed Revel book shelves that cost 4 times the price. We listened to Dark Side of the moon on some high end gear.  I told him my JBLs sound better. He said it was because my JBLs are full range flour standers. True story.  My only advice is obvious. Make sure you can return them after you listen to them.  Good luck. And have fun.