I should also point out that I'm not into home theater...I just do two channel audio. FYI.

ProAc
http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/

Good one. So, did you ever make it to the shop?

I'm surprised no one's mentioned PSB yet. I have a set of bookshelf speakers and I'm quite happy with them. Very nice highs, good midrange and surprising bass from 5.25 inch drivers. You should be able to find a set of really good towers for <$2000.

I also like Thiel. Not sure of their price range, though.

Also, don't forget to budget for decent cables. They actually do make a difference.

ditto on the cables

check out http://av123.com
I have these and am very happy. I was going to go with B&W, which I find are excellent for my ears (not that I'm any expert), but these sounded just as good. Yes, it's an internet only company, but you can try and ship back no questions asked. Mark (the founder) is a great guy and a pleasure to deal with.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1145910907.jpg

Are you a do it yourselfer at all? Have you ever done woodworking?

If so, do some searches, and you can start with speakerbuilder.com

Interesting sight. You can buy better speaker frames than any but the top end finished systems.

For $2000 you can build a pair of absolutely awsome speakers. And truthfully for under $1000 you can build a pair that would retail for over $2000. Over the years I have built two pairs, and my better system has a 15" woofer, a pair of 5" mids and a horn tweeter for each channel. A fellow I met on the internet designed the crossover, and sold me the components. Woofers $200 each, mids $100 each and the horns were about $200 each. Crossover components were under $100, or about $1300 for the components, and I built the boxes.

Just like building your own PC. You cannot build one for $300, but you can build a $3500 PC for $1500, with all the best stuff in it.

Michael what NHTs are you using? NHTs are definitely not bright like horn speakers.

If you are into DIY...I can point you into numerous threads on the subject!!! I got into it in a BIG WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff

All I can say is that dollar for dollar (with two channel) the Harbeths are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool. No, I haven't been to the shop, have been tied up trying to buy the house that the speakers will go in. After I do that, I will be poor, so DIY is a distinct possibility. I am not an expert woodworker, but do know the basics and have built some little stuff (tables, etc). I recall building a subwoofer in grad school (15" woofer, was pretty good) and used to have a book on speaker design (maybe could still find it somewhere). So I'll PM you guys about the DIY stuff, later. Thanks.

Just going next week to pick up a pair of flat panel Bang & Olufsen speakers. Internally amplified and they hang on the wall, they sound very nice.

A good set of speakers really make a system shine...

The HiFi world is full of religion.
People buying and replacing their different components. Trying to compensate flaws in the amplifier with a $500 low level signal cable, getting another flaw that needs another sets of speakers with other flaws to compensate the first.... 2 wrongs don't make a right.

The best investment you can make is to dampen your room. The most important thing is to cover the entire floor with carpets.
Its also my belief that you will never get a good bass with a subwoofer, at least not one (two maybe), and certainly not where your wife/spouse will accept it.