Speaker recommendation. have $2,500

My favorites in this price range:

Totem Forest (used)
Revel F32 (used)
Devore Gibbon 8 (used)
Dynaudio Contour S3.4 (used)
Usher Be 718 (used)

If your taste runs towards a bit more laid back presentation:

Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand (used)

For a unique presentation that some people find very musical, but very different from the C4:

Vandersteen 2ce Signature II (new)

I have heard the Contours with Simaudio gear and they sound very good. Others sound good with similar solid state gear.

Blazerfan,

Are you in Portland? If so, some great stores in your area to demo speakers - Fred's carries Gallo, Paradigm, Thiel and Totem. Stereotypes also in Southeast is a nice store with knowledgeable and low pressure staff that carry a number of the products discussed above. Pearl carries Dynaudio, which I assume you've already heard.

Yes, check them out.