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.
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.