Best Speakers for around $2000

Look at the PSB imagine Ts, which cost around 2K for the pair.

Sounds like a difficult space.

I might be tempted go with Magnepan MMGs and a subwoofer in that room. There's a null in the output of the MMG at 90 degrees, so the tight sidewalls aren't quite such an issue and the sub will allow for some degree of bass smoothing via careful placement.

The Maggies are best placed a few feet from the front wall, but if that visual is too dominant, put 'em against the wall for casual use and only pull them out for critical listening.

A sub-controller like the Velodyne SMS-1 would probably be very useful in that space. The MMG is app $600/pr and the SMS-1 is $400. $1k will buy a very good sub, with some change back.

Marty

There's always someone who has to state the obvious "there is no best whatever...". No kidding, this is a subjective opinion that someone is asking for. Does that even need to be said???

Monitor Audio RX8s were the best speakers I auditioned when I had the exact same question a few months ago, speakers under $2,000. After buying them and breaking them in, they so much better than I originally thought. They have a tight but driving bass (out of 4" cones), but I like bass and they simply have superb sonics and imaging. I listen to music for up to 5 hours straight. Where the B&Ws got a bit fatiguing, these just get better the longer they play. I could not be happier that I bought the RX8s.

I don't think you could go wrong with used B&W 805s either, although I've never heard them, I've owned cheaper B&Ws which I love. I imagine the 800 Nautilus series is incredible as well.

For that space, I think you should be looking at sealed or front-ported monitors. I'd second the recommendation to go hear the ATC SCM11

High quality speakers for a 12x12 room? I can't think of a better reason to get a pair of Nola Boxers.

Professional reviews:

Absolute Sound
Positive Feedback Issue 46
Positive Feedback Issue 49
Absolute Sound Comparison of DALI Mentor Menuet and Nola Boxer

The Boxer also received five 2012 Editor's Choice awards from The Absolute Sound.

There is also a very small but balanced and elegant-sounding floorstander called the Neat Acoustics Motive 2 that retails around $2295. I heard these and they redefined for me what a speaker can do at that size and price. They have mid-30s bass extension in a 30" high mini-floorstander. Very easy to listen to and very room-filling dispersion. In other words, natural sounding and musically involving.