Speaker Help Please: Floorstanders around $1Ok to fill very large space with no sub

Does your friend want to sit in a sweet spot or to have speakers that he can listen to while moving around or sitting off to the side?  And is he willing to bring them out into the room, or do they have to be placed near walls?   I would suggest something like the mlb 101Es (used, unless he has a lot of money) if he doesn't need the last octave of bass (below 32 hz), can bring them out a little into the room and wants something he can listen to off axis.  Of course, he'd need to spend a bit on amplification for them too.  Otherwise, you're getting a lot of good suggestions here.

Try the Goldenear Triton reference speakers. They are very good and play loud enough to fill up a large room.  They include built in subs that can play way down.

I would recommend a broad dispersion speaker like the Focal Kanta 2 or 3

You  can pick these up now for about 60%of the original retail 

Relatively small footprint but big sound 

Good luck on your hunt 

Look into old school ESS AMT MONITOR or ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR-9 both will fill most large rooms

lots of good recommendations already.

I would suggest the Vandersteen 5A speakers.

Used pair probably $5 - $6K.  Built in subs so you can dial in the bass.

Nothing at this price will beat the sound they produce.

Here is the real benefit, Vandersteen supports their speakers and they have available parts for them if you should ever need them.  You can get shipping boxes from Vandersteen also if you need to do so.

With the right amplification, you will be in heaven.

Happy Listening.