[jyl]

I'm looking for a set of living room speakers. It's been a long time since I was an audiophile, so I know what I want but not what's available. Here's the "want" list:

- Really crystalline, clear, overt highs. I like my music with more treble that most. On jazz tracks, I'm not happy unless the high hats sizzle and the cymbals shimmer.
- Next is a good, smooth midrange.
- Bass should be solid but needn't be more. In a live club the acoustic bass has a distinct line but doesn't shake your table, and that's what I want.
- Good imaging, separation sound stage - whatever its called nowadays.
- Not too big. No more 6' towers. A sub + satellite system would be fine, or a pair of slim 4' towers. I'd consider sub + in-walls too.
- If they're on the larger side, then an interesting look would be nice to have.
- Not too difficult to place. These won't get their own listening room with acoustic foam and a central listening chair. They're mostly going to be placed where furniture allows. Unless they're wall mountable, then I'll put them in the "optimal" spots.
- Not too picky about listener location.
- Can be driven by a conventional 100-150w/ch amp. I don't want to have to buy some exotic electronics to power the speakers.
- Source will be CDs or iTunes/MP3s
- Under $2,000 the pair.

When I was younger, I really liked the sound of acoustatic panel speakers (Acoustats) but the ones I knew back then would fail all my other criteria today.

Suggestions? Pics of your sound system?