Speakers free of grain, glare and steel?

I spent 3 days recently listening to Reference 3A MM deCapo's and was totally impressed with the sound, especially in a less than ideal room. Used they are in your price range. There is even a pair listed here right now. Outside of that a set of Spendor Classic series like the 1/2e should qualify.

Speakers produce the end result of all that has come before. If your components are hard, grainy, steely, etc., you would choose a speaker that compensates for that so the end result is listenable. This philosophy is enough to drive us audiophiles nuts. I subscribe to the philosophy of getting all the components as flat, free from distortion, etc. as there is (including all cables,). If price is a problem, wait until its not. Compensating for errors farther up is a no way street, and you will never be happy...you will just depleat your bank account looking for perfection.

I'll add another vote for Spendor. I had s5es, not the Classic Series, but I also once auditioned the whole "A" series, and I think the Spendor "house sound" meets your criteria.

The Harbeths are really nice and Merlins are as well. I have not heard the other spekers you have mentioned.

Shelby + Kroll...I ended my search with a pair of the Nano Monitors and (2) Woffer Monitors. The cleanest most natural speaker I have ever owned. A pair of B-stock Nano's and one Woffer might be had at your $2000.00 price point. I'm driving them with an ATC SIA2-150 integrated ss amp, and will be upgrading my digital front end soon. Even still they sound great with a $300.00 stock cd player.
Good-luck,
Chris