Considering Towers in the $3000 range

@somebike how big is your room? We are all making recommendations based on you wanting floorstanders, but then, some audiophiles of late say you can get more bang for your buck (better imaging if that is important to you) by going with bookshelf speakers and 1 or 2 subwoofers strategically located.  Of course that depends on how big the room is and how dynamic and how loud any bookies would play for you.  Good luck! 

I just did a bit more research on your Cary Audio setup and most likely the Polk R700 might not be the best match. Most reviewers have recommended higher wattage amps for those. They just aren't very efficient. So in the end while you have an excellent front end, you might do better with some more efficient speakers, especially for your large room. Good luck in your search.

@moonwatcher The room is 22 x 12 x 9.  For what it's worth, my speakers in my secondary system have a sensitivity rating of 87 dB and I recently brought them to main listening room and the amp can drive it with plenty of volume to spare.

@somebike good that you have a real world experience then with some 87dB efficient speakers to know they will play loud "enough" for you.  I know specs are specs but often it seems subjectively that "tube watts" are weightier than "solid state watts".  As you have noted, there are lots of recommendations here. Those Dali Oberon 9 look impressive (downright pretty). Others who have them swear by the Tektons if you are willing to wait 6 months for delivery and never get any grilles until you are one step in the grave...(just kidding, sort of). The Tektons may be well worth the wait after some break-in. 

Oh, in your room, will the speakers be on the 12' wall or the 22' wall and how far away from them is your listening position? Hope you find something you will like and can live with for a long time.