As Kthomas has already mentioned above, your budget will allow you to consider the Vandersteen 3A speakers, which retail new for $2800. If you are willing to buy used speakers, then you can often find the Vandersteen 3A Signatures (retail price $3500) for around $2400 (and sometimes less). At the $3000 point, you owe it to yourself to audition the Vandy 3A / 3A Sig's, even if you ultimately decide they are not for you. (As an aside, the Vandy 2CE, 3A Signature, and Model 5's are all included on TAS's "Recommended Components" list, and the 2CE's and 3A Sig's are chosen as "Best Buys".)
The Vandersteen web site has a list of their dealers around the country. For the dealer list, here's the link:
http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/dealer_dist_intro.htm
The Vandersteen web site has a list of their dealers around the country. For the dealer list, here's the link:
http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/dealer_dist_intro.htm