Which ones are available in the $1000 to $2000 range?
Yeah, 2-channel or 5-channel is sort of important to know. For a pair, the
Salk SongSurround Plus and the
Supercharged SongSurround should be at the top of your list. The
Selah Audio Tono and
Anniversario would also be worth considering, although with their low impedance you might need an integrated amp, or at least a better than average receiver, to drive them. The
Philharmonitors are also available in front slot-vented cabinets built by Jim Salk (the builder of the SongSurrounds). Interesting bit of trivia, Dennis Murphy, the designer of the Philharmonitors, also designed the crossovers for the SongSurrounds if I'm not mistaken.
If you're looking for 5, then the
WaveCrest HVL-1 come to mind. There's also the
HTD Level Three. The
Fluance Signature Series is also front ported, but I've read mixed reactions about them. The
GoldenEar Aons employ side-mounted passive radiators, so they'll still work where rear vents will not. The
Monolith K-BAS would also be a good choice if you don't plan to use a subwoofer.
@shadyJ reviewed the K-BAS.
If you intend to use a subwoofer, you might also consider sealed as an alternative to front ported -- something like the
NHT C3 or the
Hsu Research CCB-8 (also
reviewed by shadyJ) with their included port plugs for a set of 5; or the
XTZ Cinema M6 (very favorably
reviewed here) or the sealed version of the previously mentioned Philharmonitors if you're shopping for only a pair.
