One other speaker to consider is the Whardale Linton Heritage towers - $1500 with stands. Measurements by @John Atkinson here.
I've had mine for a couple of months in a 2.0 configuration in a fairly large room with a low ceiling, driving them with a Vintage Sony amp that can handle the low impedance. These speakers are, in my opinion, an excellent value for the price. They have handled every genre I've thrown at them and can get plenty loud. I haven't seen the need for a subwoofer, but they would pair well with one in a surround setup.
I've had mine for a couple of months in a 2.0 configuration in a fairly large room with a low ceiling, driving them with a Vintage Sony amp that can handle the low impedance. These speakers are, in my opinion, an excellent value for the price. They have handled every genre I've thrown at them and can get plenty loud. I haven't seen the need for a subwoofer, but they would pair well with one in a surround setup.