Sound Stage and Imaging

Lower-end Magneplanars.

But when it comes to soundstage, cables, room acoustics, & power conditioning are essentail.  You're talking about very tiny phase & amplitude

IMO you are just not going to get tall, wide, and deep soundstage anywhere near $2,000 a pair.

In that price range I'd think about Zu Audio Dirty Weekend VI speakers $1,600 a pair in black....or a few $$ more for wood finishes; 95 DB so really easy to drive, and a really fun speaker. They also have a large stand mount version called the DWX.....but I've only heard the floor stander. A friend has a pair in a listening room that I would call underwhelming, and they still sound really really good.....fun, dynamic, good imaging, and wide (if not deep) soundstage. Steve Guttenberg has a nice review here 

Also might try the Polk Audio Reserve 600 about $1,500 a pair, punch way above their price point....and should be really easy to demo.

Darko also has a nice review on the DWZ here 

My Ohm Walsh 2000s do what you want, as long as you don’t overdamp your room. $3800/pair new, but any larger Ohm Walsh speakers will produce similar results, and used, are often within your budget. Stick to models such as the 4 or 5, XO designation is a plus. Also 3000, 4000 or 5000, but they might be budget busters. The original, large F models are out there, and even refurbished pairs could be within your budget, but need powerful amps to sing. The future of the company is in the air since the death of founder John Strohbeen in October, but there are people out there besides Ohm that will repair these speakers if needed. I doubt you will do better within your budget based on your priorities.

Have never heard Ohm.

Vandersteen 1 and 1b locally, worth looking it?

Lower end Magneplanar or Best Buy Martin Logan?