Im not in that price category, but I am in the $5k range. I auditioned probably 14 pairs of speakers from many different brands and ended up ordering Salk Song3's with no audition. Why? Mostly because of user reviews, Audioholic's review of Jim's speakers, and mostly because of Jim's philosophy...which is, a speaker should not color the sound at all. That is his core when he designs speakers. To me, that is the ultimate goal of a perfect speaker. Flat, with no coloration. That way you hear what was recorded and nothing else.
Now, I may be a small guppy in the large pond of audiophilia, and dont claim to be any more knowledgeable than anyone else. With that said, the work ethic and the sound goal that Jim puts into his designs, in my mind, is perfect.
Soundscapes have been mentioned, and the 8's are $8995, and thats with standard finish. If you review any of his speakers you will find many people saying the speakers are the most beautiful piece of furniture in their house!
OK, in conclusion, Im not trying to be a Salk fan boy here. Im just sharing my experiences in speaker selection and recommending you take a look at Salks.