Alas, my 22 year old Advents are seeing better days, and I've been granted a budget of $2k by the wife when my bonus comes in. I saw that Salk SongTowers have done well in reviews and speaker comparisons, but I was hesitant to go there without hearing them first. But I've warmed up to the idea after finding nothing "perfect" in my price range. I might be able to push that that a bit, but it also might mean waiting or hoping for a promotion:-)
But in listening to speakers at the store, I find something obviously lacking in this price range. Most speakers at $2k give an honest sound. They're not trying to make a big boomy bass or do the Bose high and low but no mids act. But in being honest they also reveal their flaws. The B&W CM series lacks clarity. The Martin Logan Motion 40s have amazing clarity but lack a little on the low frequency. Same with the Dali Ikon 6. Probably no mistake both of those have a ribbon tweeter, but I also worry that I'll tire of their bright sound even though I love it in the showroom. Others have the high and low but lack clarity in the mids.
I've notice if I go a bit higher in price, I can get what I'm looking for. I liked the Revel F208 and KEF R700 at around $3,500. And the B&W CM10 at the same price range seemed to overcome the clarity issues in the series. Maybe I just need to spend that money. But I'd love to find it in my budget. I looked for a while at used speakers and found some that sounded beautifully detailed with a richness that I didn't get from the $3,500 new ones. But I can't find them in a color my wife likes.
The obvious choice here is the SongTowers. It's right at my price range, it gets good reviews. I'm not sure if it will have the same issue at the low end. I'm not talking about bumpy bass that I can feel. I'm talking about hearing the detail in the bass voice of a men's choir.
The other thing that might make me pay more is that I want to make these speakers something I can build around. Eventually I'll add surround speakers, a better amp and a sub. I'd rather not curse myself in 3 years saying why didn't I buy those other speakers because they really would have made the difference.
SuperCharged SongTower: I like the idea of the lower frequency and ribbon tweeter but it needs to be natural. I listened to the Definitive speakers with the powered woofer in the cabinet and they were too boomy. Also the cost is pretty high for my budget, so they need to noticeably outperform the Songbirds.
Veracity HT2 and HT2-TL: It seems these are intended to have less low frequency and go with a sub. I might go for that if I listened to them and really thought "I have to have this. It's just that much better that I can't go back." But particularly the HT2-TL would be hard to justify at that price, and even the HT2 would be more than the other speakers that I mentioned were out of my price range, so it has to be that much better, particularly since it will probably need a subwoofer in the future.
A bit about my situation and likes.
I value clarity in my speakers and sometimes I think I'm a bit of a sucker for brightness in the showroom. But I prefer tight, accurate sound rather than lots of personality.
My room is 25 long by 17 wide with openings to the hallway and kitchen. Seating is 10-12 feet from the speakers. Hardwood floors with carpets. Most of the time the speakers will be about a foot or even less away from the wall, depending on speaker depth. When I want them to shine I'll pull them away, but the wife won't let them stay out all the time.
Primary use is home theater, followed by playing pop and dance music at high volume while working on weekends. However, while that is the primary use, the most important use is attentive music listening to jazz, choral, and light pop. This is where I want the speaker to shine and both low and high volume are important to me. For home theater and loud music I just want them not to suck.
My speaker test list, which gives some idea of the kind of music I want to listen to on nice speakers:
The Wailin Jennys: Across the Sea
The King's Singers: M.L.K.
Joni Mitchell: Both Sides Now
Aaron Copeland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto: Girl from Ipanema (or Desafinado)
Rush: Spirit of Radio
Modest Mouse: Lampshades on Fire
Nero: Must be the Feeling
The Who: Baba O'Riley