GregandMary writes:
...We have a budget of $800 a pair. They need to be floorstanding. Jazz, classical, rock, and a few movies are our listening pleasures, but are never played loud. The room is all hardwoods, and is about 18 x 27. ...
PSB has just come out with a new generation of their Image line, which means the remaining stock of the previous version (which the rest of the speaker-building world hasn't caught up to) is on closeout at nearly 40% off.
Check out these PSB Image floorstanders:
T45 ($500/pr),
T55 ($600/pr), and
T65 ($775/pr).
18x27 is a big room, so the T65s may be the best fit. Bear in mind, however, that they are 20" deep. They also come with foam plugs for the ports to match the bass loading to your room.
These PSB's are pretty amp-friendly and sensitive, so amp-matching shouldn't be much of a problem even in a room that big. An Onkyo A-9555 integrated amp would be a good match. They are also very dynamic, neutral, and transparent in the midrange, making them particularly suited to the wide range of music and soundtracks you plan to run through them.
I have no affiliation with PSB or Audio Advisor. I have an audio buddy who bought a pair of T65s and an A-9555 for a similar-sized room and he's very satisfied with it.