Here's a decent primer regarding well respected (mostly) vintage speakers. I think I've heard almost every speaker on the list and agree that they are all special in their own way.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-12-most-significant-loudspeakers-of-all-time/
My current speakers are vintage Infinity RS 1.5 (large bookshelf) and I really enjoy them. I have them paired with an Arcam Alpha 10 amp and the combnation is stellar, especially for the price I paid within the last year. The speakers were $265 and the amp was $250. The sound is well worth multiples of those prices.
I would love to have a pair of the big Infinity IRS or the RS 2.5s, but I don'thave enough room tosupport them.