$2000 speaker help

I agree with the room/speakers being the most important. The Vandersteens are an excellent recommendation. But..., ultimately I prefer used Thiel 3.5's. The only caveat is that the Thiels prefer more expensive amplification. Not to worry, for roughly about $2500 for both speakers and amplification, you could have the basis for a system that (unless you need very loud bass), won't need a sub woofer, and would cost many times that amount to improve upon.

How about the GoldenEar Triton 2? List is $2500; you could probably negotiate down to $2K, and their demands are so modest that ancillary requirements are modest. The mid/tweet section is very well integrated and is fast, transparent, and yet smooth. It is an MTM arrangement where the tweeter is a folded ribbon in the tradition of the Heil AMT, but a newer, smoother, and better balanced version. The bass is handled by built-in powered subwoofers (good down to the mid-20s at least). Therefore you can integrate the bass level with room size. Front baffle is a mere 7" wide and imaging and soundstage are excellent.

You have to plug the speakers into AC, but the only connection you need between amp and speakers is a single speaker wire pair. No bi-amping, no jumpers, and no need for RCAs (though it provides for them if you want that).

The load is not demanding on the amp. Speakers easily reveal improvements in amp/preamp quality, but you can also get by with a 50wpc integrated. In fact, Sandy Gross, CEO and co-designer, uses a SET amp to power his.

I will have a pair of B&W 801 E-series speakers with stands posted here very soon. Need to get pictures taken. Great speaker for all types of music.
Lots of great speakers out there to choose from, tough decision to make.
Problem I live in Alaska. Shipping costs more.
Joe Nies

I agree with Polk432.

In fact there are many audiophiles who would say upstream is the most important.

To me Upstream is at least just as important as the others. It is all about putting together a complete system and having good system synergy. You can not have $2000 dollar speakers hooked up to a $2000 amp and then use a $200 CD player or turntable and expect that everything is going to sound great.