Considering Towers in the $3000 range

A big room?  Efficient needed.

Horn speakers can be high priced based on your budget.  I bought Crites.  They require finishing(possible show stopper for some.  Currently they are $2200 delivered.  The speakers set up properly are very good sounding and 100 dB efficient.

I have seen these veneered and they are beautiful.  Mine are clear coated Baltic Birch.  My last speakers, unless I  move to smaller place.

MA for sure. If you HAVE to have a tower.

+1 I go with Double Impact or Moab.

I agree with the Moab's, however, if size is an issue, then definitely consider the Double Impacts or the Pendragons; right in your price range. Incredible value and incredible products. I own a pair of Moab's with the Be tweeters. Could not be happier, and I've owned some impressive models of other speakers over the years.

Just purchased Martin Logan Motion 60XTi. Very efficient,Sensitivity 94. Plenty of bass,FR. 35-25,000 Hz. and the vocals are really good... We like them.