help narrowing down my list of speakers, $2500

Check out Audes The Blues speakers. 2200.00 new you can find them cheaper used. Check out the reviews on audioreview.com.
Good listening
Brian

Hmm, I was really looking at floorstanders. As for those bi-amped speakers, no thanks. I like being able to alter the sound of the speakers by using different amps, that part of the fun of audio.

-Jamie

I have a speaker for you to checkout. It's a bit more than the $2500 but you may get lucky and find a pair at a discount or used. It's called the Genelec HT208B. It is already actively biamped. So you do not need the amplifier(you could sell yours). Just hook up your preamp or cd player with volume control and you are ready. It has all sorts of adjustments on the rear.It can be tweaked to sound good in nearly any room because of this.This speaker can hit 120db peaks. It has a 120 watt amplifier for the 8 inch driver and a 120 watt amplifier for the 1 inch tweeter. Don't let the HT fool you. A friend and I including the dealer listened to this speaker up against dynaudio 1.4SE hooked up to MC1201s( Mcintosh 1200 wpc monoblocks). The Genelecs spanked that ass!! I believe they retail for $4800.00 a pair. This is the brand used in many recording studios. The sound is uncoloured, precise and the soundstage is huge!!Rock sounded absolutely fabulous on these speakers. Come to think of it everything did. Hunt them down and have a listen before you narrow your choices down.

Good Luck!

You may be missing the best of the bunch: Focus Audio FS688. List $2990 but can be had for around $2500.

An article in YK Audio in Hong Kong stated they thought they were possibly the best bookshelf speaker ever made.

If you could get a pair of the Aerial Acoustics 7b's at your price I would jump on them.
Also, Von Schweikert and Tyler Acoustics would be a good choice, among others.
Best Regards

Just so you know (this will sound stupid, because its something everyone wants) I want the most "real" sound I can get for my rock. A speaker with great seperation and depth. One that will grip my soul (emotionally involving)

Add Von Sheickert and Soliloguy to the last and take a few weeks to track down and listen to all the speakers on your list. That's the best way to find something that fits your taste. We all have different rooms, opinions, listening experience and hearing.

Good luck,