If you had to narrow your choices to 4 - 5 speakers

pigeon holed into what they have

more and more companies sell online only, and there are less and less dealers and so they have fewer brands to offer. The age of amazony retail.

Perlisten for sure. The top of the line s7t is in your price range

I would also be curious on the new PS Audio speakers

Bache (for the plasma tweeter)

Borresen

Joseph Audio

Legacy Audio

Salk Sound

Revel (curious if the "BE series" is worth twice the price of the Performa line)

@bobag - Where are you located? If near L.A., seek out Upscale Audio and demo some Tannoy speakers. These are favorites of Nelson Pass and Kevin Deal. Been around since the Twenties. 

Aerial Acoustics