Thanks everyone for your input.
The last couple of days I've been researching speaker brands. I've been looking up specs and models of these brands: Thiels, NHT, PSB, Snell, Spendor, Axiom, Paradigm, SVS, Monitor Audio, Dynaudio, Sonus Faber, Meadowlark, Proac, Usher, Salk, Totem, Green Mountain Audio, Ascend Acoustics, Dali, Swan, Revel, Tannoy, Focal, Arx
I've weeded out those that I think are ugly, or otherwise don't meat my specifications (budget floor standing speakers, $1000-2000).
Those that I kept are:
NHT - 3.3 and also the new 4 seems good, but you need a poweramp of at least 200W to make them sound good.
Spendor - The A5 seems nice, can't afford the better A9 model
Axiom - you get a lot of drivers for your money (6 drivers, $1300) but I hear a lot of comment on how they sound overly bright and even shrill. Too bad. I figured, the more drivers the better.
Paradigm - Monitor 11 gets good reviews and isn't that expensive.
SVS - apparently good quality for your money, the MTS-01 uses high quality qpeakers, I'm only worried about the bass, as they expect you to get a sub as well. Anyway, I think this is more for home theatre use, not hifi. I'm looking for a combo, that can be used both ways, but will be used primarily for two ch hifi.
Proac - I can buy the studio 140 for half the new price from a hifishop because there's a new model out (studio 140 mk2). It's just that, when I see all those speakers using 5 drivers or more, it's hard to believe this one using only two drivers can be equally good (or even better).
Totem - both the Arro, Hawk and Staff seems within my pricerange, but again, so few drivers. It's hard for me to trust that the sound coming from them can be compared to the Dali for example.
Dali - uses a combo tweeter: dome and ribbon. The Ikon and Ikon mk2 series seems very nice.
Swan - Diva 6.1 and 6.2 use 4 drivers, seems like a respectable company and the specs are alright, but I need to go out and find some more user reviews.
Revel - The F12 falls within my price range, 5 dreivers as well, but the bass goes only till 52Hz.
Tannoy - what I like about them is that they're using dual concentric domes (mid + treble) for time phase accuracy like Thiel), and that some of their models are affordable (unlike Thiel). I was looking at their Signature series (£1000 - don't know the exchange rate but it's within budget I think).
Arx - I'm intrigued by their A3 design which only uses a ribbon tweeter, but it's a cheap bookshelf speaker, so I have no expectations.
The only time-phase aligned models are Thiel, Meadowlark, Totem, Green Mountain Audio and Tannoy.
I can affor the Meadowlark Kestrel, but since it has only got two drivers I suspect it might be lacking in bass.
The Salk Songtowers also seem desirable, but again - 2 drivers. It looks more like a bookshelf speaker on a stand, and I'm looking for a floor model that actually uses that extra space it has. Otherwise I might as well buy cheaper shelf speakers.
Over the next couple of days I'll be narrowing that list down.
