Help with speakers in 1500- 2000 range

$1250-1500 Meadowlark Audio Kestrel and Kestrel Hot Rod
$2000 Audio Physic Spark III
The Sparks are Gorgeous and sound fantastic. A note to be sure to budget an extra few hundred for very good stands if you are thinking about monitors, B&W etc... I like the smaller floor standers you get some nice bass and you don't have to shell out for expensive hunks of steel to put them on. These speakers are also very easy to drive.

Go with used speakers, that is my best suggestion.

I have auditioned the Shearwaters and the 805s but like you with different front ends. The 805s also had a subwoofer in the system. I had a chance to audition the Shearwaters at home for a week with an Audiomat Arpege(integrated tube) and am in the process of buying that combo. I have found this combo to present mids and highs beautifully. Acoustic guitar is wonderful. Jazz is great also. I found rock to be missing abit at the bottom end. However the system I used had limited hours on it and supposedly the bass will fill in. Everything I have heard or read(Audioreview.com) about the Shearwaters tells me it take awhile them to break-in. They sound so nice new however that I have decided to go ahead. I auditioned the Hot Rod version(biwired).

newformresearch.com and links to reviews in/on audioreview.com
Also search for postings in audioasylum.com
The R630 or R645 are worth checking out.
The bad news is lead time, backordered till may, so instant gratification is out of the question.

I think I saw a pair of R630's used on Audiogon for around a grand if they are still there, the 645's were sold the first time I even saw the listing!. Of course, at $ 2245 delivered new for the 645's(more efficient, better bass) you
can't go wrong. They may not have the highest SAF, but who cares when they sound that good. Not much in this range that will do more magic, and still like your non-tube integrated.