Best new/demo/used value for $7.5K range

My vote goes to GR-Research Alphas (think of a speaker similar to Pipedreams). I know of no other speaker that will come close to doing what the Alphas will do in terms of freedom from congestion, soundstage height, scale of dynamics and output or integration between drivers (anywhere near your $7k price point new or used). This design has many of the same attributes that the Pipedream's design has due to the multiple high performance drivers not being pushed anywhere near their limits and it being a simple two way design (which is MUCH easier to perfect than a three or four way design).

IMHO GR's speaker designer (Danny Richie) is a VERY seasoned, has a great ear and only uses the "best of the best" crossover parts in his Alpha design. I've looked at the inside guts of many of the well known big buck speakers only to be completely disgusted at the parts used in their crossovers! In fact, a couple of the speaker suggestions by other posters here can be improved with just a $100 of upgraded parts in their crossovers too! (i.e. those speakers were not designed with a "use the best crossover components" mentality- argh!). IMHO GR Research's Alphas are more refined than a pair of the big $75k+ Pipedreams!!

I like the used Sophia in your price range, although would swap amps to a BAT 75SE.

I also would listen to the Dynaudio C2, several of which have been on a'gon at this price. However, again would switch the Levinson to Krell or Plinius.

Levinson and Revel is a typcial combo, but i have never been impressed with the sonics.

As mentioned above, depends on your musical taste, room, listening volume, etc. A couple more to consider in your price range are: Vienna Acoustics Mahler, Talon Khorus X Mk II (love them or hate them!)

Good luck!

I'll add my two cents. VERITY PARSIFAL ENCORES

Ok, I am the person you want to hear from if you're seriously thinking of the Revel Studio!

I upgraded to the Studios earlier this year and have been very happy with them. (I paid $8,000, but they were brand new, still in the box). I also used a Levinson No. 27 with them, but only briefly. The No. 27 worked fine, but the sound was just not as dynamic as I wanted. I then upgraded to an used Levinson No. 23 ($2,000 - very similar sound, but with double the power (200W/ch instead of 100).
(If you have the money, and like the Levinson sound, go up to the 23.5, which is about $2,500 used.)
I really like the sound now. In fact, I consider it a real step up from my previous speaker (Martin Logan Sequel II).
The soundstaging is great and the dynamics are incredible. Bass is very tight, and plentiful, but it does not go as deep as the Salon. (But my room would not handle that much bass in any case, and the Salon really needs 300-400 W/ch btw.)
The HF is incredible, but I can see where someone might think it is too much. (Good thing the front and rear tweeters have volume controls! Although, I don't turn the HF down, as I am using a Koetsu cartridge that rolls the HF down a bit, and the plentiful HF from the Studio makes it a perfect match!)
You should audition them if you can find a local dealer who has them. (I found that to be a problem, as most dealers had the Salons, but not the Studio. I had to drive about 75 miles to listen to them.)

For your infomation, my system includes: an ARC LS-2 preamp, Arc PH-3 phono preamp, Sony 9000ES SACD/CD player, Basis 1400 TT, RB300 arm. I use MIT 770 CVT biwired speaker cable and a mixture of I.C.'s (MIT 330, Kimber Hero, Straightwire Rhapsody II XLR, etc..)

Regarding other speakers, I endorse the Sonus Fabers as well. The Avalons are good, especially the Eidolons, but not the Opus, and they seem to like lots and lots of power, more than your No. 27 has. The Wilson Sophias are also nice. I am not a big B&W 802 fan either.

Good Luck in your search.