Floorstanding towers

2nd the Double Impacts. I don't think you will come close to these for the price range you are shopping in. 

I second the Ascends. I own a pair of Sierra 1's and recently auditioned them on some tube amps. Amazing results! You won't believe what you get for the $$.

Hope you gentlemen don't mind if I chime in. Just bought some b & wcm 9 s1 off audigon. I'm going to upgrade my surrounds. Would you buy b&w 683's , cm 6 s2 or any suggestions. Amp is anthem 225. 200x3 for fronto and use marantz sr 8001... 120 watt for rear surrounds. I'm a real old rookie. Don't even hook my stuff up.....just love good surround an good music. Thanks to All

I second the Vandersteen recommendation.  Would also suggest Magnepan (Several new or used models in your price range), or a used pair of Quad ESLs, either the 57 or 63 (and its later derivatives).  Dipoles do really nice things vis-a-vis room interaction.  I  like some aspects of the Martin Logan presentation a lot, too, but you'll have to listen and see if you hear the transition between panel and woofer ... I suspect ML has gotten better at this since I last heard them in the late 1990s.

The Tektons are potentially interesting too - big, efficient speakers do things nothing else does in terms of dynamics, scaling, and lifelikeness.  It might be worth emailing Tekton to see if there's somebody in your area who'll give you a home audition.

I'm a shill for Salk speakers having owned 6 pairs. For the money - can't be beat.

I also third the Vandersteen recommendation. The higher end models are sublime.