There is no unheard safe choice. There's a thousand great speaker options out there to even mention in that price range, especially when you consider what you can also buy on the used market for that price. You're just going to have to do the leg work and get out there and listen to as many speakers as you possibly can and make a choice. There's no substitute for hearing a speaker in person.
Speakers - Your "Safest" Choice
Hello All: Many of us have limited access/ability to audition multiple speakers brands. That got me to thinking- If one had a budget of $20K max, a solid state amp rated at 125WPC, and listened to all varieties of music (primarily rock, pop, folk), what speaker(s) would you be most willing to recommend to that person and feel confident they would be happy with the purchase?