Best bookshelf speakers <$2000

@audiotroy Quad is affiliated with IAG as is Audiolab, Castle Acoustics, Luxman, Mission, Quad and Wharfedale.  IAG creates and Quad uses as do all the other brands part of IAG.  I am curious how these loudspeakers differ, or a they just the same with a different shell and marketing scheme.

I have green mountain audio monitors on Skyland stands (EOSHX), driven by a oppo 105 and LFD integrated amp.  Anyone in the SF/Sacramento area can come by for listen.

If they can be found I recommend the Callisto speakers.  I have seen them used for around 1k.  6moons gave them a review in 2005.  

"Tiny companies" that buy drivers from OEM driver manufactures such as Seas and Scanspeak, which are held by larger companies, seam to do just fine in R&D. Not sure if you call Devore 'tiny' but they buy some of their drivers from Seas and their speakers seem to be highly thought of.  Zu uses /Eminence drivers and they are a major player in making drivers and seem to be well thought of by musicians who use their drivers in guitar amps and other A/V implementations.

Just like other industries, many speaker companies are subsidiaries of other A/V companies with most manufacturing in China.

Heck, B&W was bought by a automation company (EVA Automation), former 49er owner I believe.  Not sure what their plan is, but they have no experience in speaker manufacturing.  I presume they want to use the B&W name and integrate something with streaming and home automation.  Is their R&D going to driver development, or something mainstream that brings in revenue along with some automation plan.

I think implementation and integration of the speaker is more critical than a 'in-house' driver technology. 

My issue with small companies is resale and a legacy plan if by chance the owner becomes ill, or retires.  I am aware Madisound has driver matching, but I am still concerned the replacement driver may not have the exact same measurements of the original.

I agree with moto, let your ears be the deciding factor based on your buying criteria.  

  

I think you should throw as much money at the speaker you feasibly can to prevent the immediate upgrade bug.  Selling speakers are a pain and I consider speakers furniture/art.  

Depending on your room it is one of the 1st items people see.  My main music room is off the foyer in what is traditionally a formal living room.   There have been many speakers I would consider, but am concerned about their looks.  

I use the virtual system portion of Audiogon to find speakers that I find appealing in a room with similar style. It is one of the reasons I am looking at the Devore o/96.  I think they are very nice looking speaker.