I have Klipsch Reference Premiere 6" bookshelf speakers. I really like them. The RP series is not overly bright at all like a lot of horn speakers.

If you have the room go with the 8" towers. Paducah Home Theater gives significant discounts but you have to call Cory to get them.

As already mentioned, go forth and listen. Take music you know and will listen to. Listen for separation, detail, highs, lows, and natural sound (as you know it).

When you have escalated to the point you have ceased hearing any difference, you have saved money for ammo. No harm in admitting that many might be surprised at what they cannot discern.

The level that speakers produce complete sound is critical. My McIntosh come up a little short in highs at low level. But crank it up and it's all there. At low levels I do switch on small Elacs or Klipsch to get full sound. Source is McIntosh with mostly CD off a Rotel and some vinyl off B&O. Yes. Old stuff.

At my kids place they get impressive sound with their SONOS and wifi setup.

B&W or Paradigm speakers are great amongst others. Problem is that now you are looking at items that were not available in big box stores.

Good luck in your search. Be sure to bring some of your own music to test out.

Suggest to find a small independent shop. Disregard every brand that was mentioned on this thread, disregard everything you've read about different amp designs, speaker designs, disregard reviews... Bring in your favorite music, take your time, trust your ears! I'm several years removed from working in one of the top independent Audio shops in the country. I was never able to hear the difference between components reading a spec sheet. We were around the stuff 40+hrs a week, listening. For the most part we liked different brands, especially speakers. Trust your ears.

If you don't mind a project. There are some fantastic DIY speakers out there.

~List of speakers~

Check out these puppies!!
DIY Line Array

I recently bought these: Yahama NS-6490. I really like them for $130/pair. Spinning platters, do you need surround or will two speakers suffice?

One of the most overlooked factors is room acoustics.
Sound is physical, analog, movement of air.
Reflection, refraction, deflection, absorption and attenuation of the sound wave is affected by surroundings.
You can do some room modifications (curtains, rugs, where you listen) to affect the sound to a moderate degree.
Other things are out of control > size of room, where the wife says the speakers go, etc.
So when I was in the audio business many years ago we often let our customers audition in their own environment aka home.
You can't simply truly evaluate a speaker no matter how well made or expensive it is by listening in a showroom or even worse buying because of specs.
True other factors such as quality and type of source material aka music and properly matching the electronics can also affect the outcome but to a lessor degree.
It is all part of the engineering/science of sound so don't overly look at one component.
The more you listen the more educated on sound you get (like drinking Scotch ).
Like what offgrid says above > trust your ears and the more you listen the better decisions you will make.

quote:

Originally posted by offgrid:
Suggest to find a small independent shop. Disregard every brand that was mentioned on this thread, disregard everything you've read about different amp designs, speaker designs, disregard reviews... Bring in your favorite music, take your time, trust your ears! I'm several years removed from working in one of the top independent Audio shops in the country. I was never able to hear the difference between components reading a spec sheet. We were around the stuff 40+hrs a week, listening. For the most part we liked different brands, especially speakers. Trust your ears.

Excellent advice. And listen to lots. If they are good speakers, you'll like all of them, because they are all pretty good. But listen to lots and hear what small differences really appeal to you.

My only advice: A lot of speakers emphasize the very high end and very low bass to give the impression that they are "full range".
But "the music is in the midrange".
So listen closely for detail and realism.
Close your eyes:
Good speakers can make it seem like the jazz quartet is right in the room with you, and you can "see" where each musician is sitting.