Started with $1k speakers … what now?

+1 on the advice given by @hilde45. 

I own the Fritz Carbon 7se MKIIs. Fritz provides an extended trial period.

I  use them with amplification that is far pricer than the speakers.

Also I might recommend getting the book "The complete guide to high end audio" by Robert Harley.

There are so many speakers to choose from. Besides, budget, ohms, and power requirements. The most important thing is the room. My second system in my foyer is a Sonos Amp with Micca speaker cable and Best Buy Insignia book shelf speakers on stands. Because of the placement of this system it will smoke systems costing thousands more. If your system is going in a specific room then spend $5k on the room. First and second reflection points, diffusion in the front and back, and maybe the ceiling. I guarantee you will be able to put able to put a boombox in the treated room and have amazing results. Vicustics is a very popular brand. You can have a million dollar system in the wrong room setup or a $1k system in a $20k room that will sound amazing. 

OP,

If I were in your shoes, I would suggest used or companies that have a "direct to consumer" business model.

If you can find the Joseph Audio Pulsars (Soix posted a link), that would be my first choice. As many have posted, Fritz would be a great as would Philharmonic BMRs. Used Spatial Audio Sapphires would be worth looking for.

I would also consider the Clayton Shaw Caladan open baffle speakers, but I'd wait until people start receiving units and can post experiences.....I bought mine sight unseen of course, based solely on reputation; should be arriving in February?

Without a doubt, you can definitely get improved sound beyond those small 2 way speakers within your budget.

I always recommend trying to find efficient (high sensitivity 90 or above), so less amp power is needed. That keeps the amp size/weight/cost low and improves placement options, that may involve receiving remote signals.

I do not like ports, if so, front firing.

Also, efficient speakers make it much easier to try tubes, now or in the future.

How large is your listening space? What volumes do you like? makes a difference of course.

used or new. You can certainly get ’more’ buying used, IF you know they are in great shape. Shipping cost is an issue buying used, try to find something close enough to pick up and perhaps listen to before final purchase.

A great deal, add shipping cost is not a big deal, however who will package them? Original boxes?

One way is to use UPS’s ’Pack and Ship’ service. Seller simply drops them off unpackaged, UPS packs and ships, they are responsible for successful protection. Get size and weight from seller or specs on-line, get a preliminary estimate from UPS, decide, then upon receipt UPS gives you an exact price. I’ve used it several times, always successful. It is a way to get a ’local pickup only’ seller to simply drop them off.

hifishark.com; search for speakers, then set a price range, I would put in $5,500 max, you want to know what is available if you stretch your budget a bit.

Sort by price, or sort by first seen new first, keep checking until a great choice pops up, jump on it.