Have the itch yet again. $5-6k budget for floorstanders.

I bought a pair of Yamaha ns5000’s for my tv room and reading your description of the desired sound you want I think the ns2000’s, if they are similar to mine might work. Clean, tight and fast. Maybe the opposite of your kef reference 1’s regarding the mids. The Yamaha’s on the crisp side of neutral where the kefs hold onto the notes a bit longer. Idk, those new SUV’s towers look like the bargain of the decade.

@stere5 - The neat thing is the OP can listen for himself and decide what he likes.  But you are right, the GE I heard were not exactly bright so much as the opposite of smooth performers. If you are generally attracted to B&W style treble they’ll be just what you want to hear.  

From that list Klipsch

Breaking news. Auditions today at Hifi Sound in Mpls. Didn’t have enough time but got to 2 on my list and a new one. I played 2 cuts I know well from their Roon setup: opening track to Greg Foat, Interstellar Fantasy. Also a Poll Winners cut. Those 2 cuts on 3 speakers / 2 rigs.

• Dali Opticon 8. In the smaller room. Way too nearfield for my usual setup. Rotel gear. Rich sound. Disappearing act. Def livable.
• MOFI 888. Next to the Dali. Rich bass, tight. Needed more time (I had to get home bc the window guy was coming to do a replacement, gak).
• Now the unexpected curveball. In the ’big room’ which has the sweet Mac gear, treatments, everything dialed in, Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2. Fab to look at. More fab to listen to. So meaty the sound I was dazzled. However, everything was optimized: the amps, room, etc. 
• Back in the small room I noticed big Klipsch in the corners, not setup, not even really accessible to listen to. Yup, Cornwall IV. The sales bloke said they need to be in the corner which I know for fact ain’t so. Klipshorn yes, not CW. Sidebar: I bought Heresy back in 1988 and they’re still kicking; gave them to my poor public service buddy who’s grateful. Along with a Yamaha stage monitor amp I bought on eBay during a drunken blackout (never drink & eBay. That should be taught in schools). Let’s focus.
• Ergo when the owner is back from holiday next week gonna tell him a) I need to demo the CW & b) get them out in the big room, or preferably my house, where I can demo them proper. 
• The Dali & Mofi wanna hear again when I’m not 6 ft away, my main room is more spacious than that.
• Actually, I want to demo all 4 at my house. I'm going to tell him that, and pinky promise that I will buy one of the four, which I will. Maybe 2 at a time for a week or two. Hopefully he goes for that. He does know me, been buying from him since the late 90s.
• Oh and, talked to separate dealer today on the blower, they have one remaining pair of T66 in red. They're way across town, but wanna hear them also. So many choices!

Zufan

Here are two great options, both used and new listings.....but they won't be around long

Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 $4,000 https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650237985-rosso-fiorentino-elba-2-walnut/

Volti Razz $5,000 https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650252241-volti-razz-v3-mahogany-beautiful-free-shipping/