Joseph Audio Pulsars used -- about $4-5k. A truly excellent speaker, especially for its price, shocking about of bass for a stand-mounted speaker. Amp: used Pass Labs 250.8 (about $6K used). That is a great combo for about $10K and the Pass will power any speaker that you might want in the future. I had this set-up and it was great! I ultimately sold the Pulsars for what I paid for them, and moved up to the Wilson Sabrina X's -- great speakers but way out of your stated range.
The $10,000 Question
I've upgraded my upstream components, and am in the hunt for a new amp and speakers. There is a dizzying array of choices, and one could go bankrupt with the buy-try-return method. I'm looking for some guidance on amp-speaker combinations, either used or new, in the $10,000 range for both. If I can narrow the search down to two or three amp/speaker choices it would make the buy-try-return plan much more reasonable.
I prefer tubes and space is limited to an integrated amp. My room is 15'x15', and and I primarily listen to classical music at modest volumes (which would allow conversation if my wife yells at me to turn it down). I'm replacing 20+ year old Forest Totems and a Prima Luna Dialogue One amp. My upstream components are a Cambridge CD transport with a Jolida Glass FX III DAC, and a refurbished Sota Star with a Jolida JD-9 phone stage.
Thanks in advance for your insight and guidance.
John Cotner
New Ulm, MN