Pairing Bookshelf Speakers to my Yamaha A-S801

I'd say go for a new set of KEF R3 Meta. Couple of hundo over $2K but superior to the others in many ways. They are really VERY good and the Yamaha/KEF pairing has been a match made in heaven all the way back to the 80s & the Tweeter Etc days when they used to pair them together in almost every full system they sold; and that was a lot. There's a lot of info in this review... have at it.

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2023/05/05/kef-r3-meta-speaker-review-juicy-beats/

It could be a longshot getting a pair in the $2K range, but you should definitely check out Van L Speakerworks Quartet speaker:   (http://www.vanlspeakerworks.com/)

The owner's name is John Van Leishout and his shop is in a Chicago suburb.  There are several articles about him and his designs on Google. Very nice guy to deal with and the Quartet is an amazing speaker.  Retails (but not widely distributed outside his ship) for $2900, but he usually has a demo pair or two for sale that may meet your budget.  Trust me.... definitely worth checking out.

KEF LS50 with a subwoofer is also a good option. I have the LS50W meta in my bedroom system, and my son has the LS50. We both enjoy them a lot! The Absolute Sound gave a great review of the Yamaha A-S801 back in 2016, using the LS50 with a subwoofer. You can get the LS50 on sale for around $1299 or less, leaving you a budget of around $700 for the sub. I use and like the SVS SB1000 pro, but there are many good subs in that price range, including KEF and REL.

OP do a little research before considering ANYTHING with METAL drivers!
 Do a Google search for "speakers with natural organic tone"...Opinion after opinion will show you a common theme that if you want relaxed,organic & natural warmth,you want a speaker with wood pulp/paper,Carbon Fiber or Kevlar mid bass drivers & textile(silk)tweeters...Think about real musical instruments..Have you EVER heard a metal instrument(horns,flutes a Dobro guitar, etc..)that have natural warmth?NO,they are brash,etched & in your face,There is a REASON violins,cellos,guitars etc.are made of WOOD!!!
 

These are some great recommendations - I appreciate it. 
 

I had not heard much of the Yamaha/Kef lore. Very interesting. I have a pair of KEF reference speakers from the 70s that are in a state of disrepair. The woofers are fine but the tweeters sound terribly off. I don’t really have a positive or negative opinion about them as I haven’t really heard any other than my broken ones. I do like the look of the LS50s @acguo - really beautiful stuff. 

I also hadn’t really considered Sonus Faber. I haven’t listened to any in truth, but they certainly look fantastic and the specs seem impressive. That’s a good shout thanks! 

Many of my audio colleagues have referenced being around for The Tweeter Days(TM). A part of me thinks about hifi of many moons ago in romantic terms (having never experienced them). Then I think better of it as I remember how incredibly good components and speakers have gotten. 
 

I should add more detail about the system for reference:

All components are wired with audioquest, including the video sources (the Apple TV, BRP, and sometimes a computer, are routed through an hdmi switcher).

The speakers, ironically, are wired with clear jacketed rip chord. I know, I know. This will change eventually. They are bi wired atm. 

The speakers are on a custom piece of wood furniture. They are not sat on it wood-to-wood, so to speak. They have small feet put on by the previous owner. I’d call it a couple millimeters height off the top of the cabinet. Stands are ideal, I agree - but the space doesn’t really allow for it. 
 

A sub is definitely in the cards, but I’d rather spend the cash on the bookshelves initially, and then save up for a nicer sub. I was thinking something from JL. Do you guys have any personal experience with their subs? 
 

@nicholsr I like their business philosophy!