I can recommend to you the best value and sound possible for a given price range, based on my extensive work and knowledge with speaker design and the related perceptual research that dictates human auditory response to measured objective parameters.
1) B&W 805S Speaker pair: $2800/pair
2) Dayton P/N: 302-810 pre-finished Sealed SWC-2 2.0 ft³ Subwoofer Cabinet pair: $320/pair
3) JL Audio 10W7 pair: $800/pair (Alternately, get the 12W7 for a little more, and get even deeper bass response and more SPL capability at lowest frequencies.)
4) Speaker Stands for 805S: $??? Your Choice.
5) Yamaha P2500S amplifier: 250x2 @ 8 Ohms (for 805S speakers): $400
6) Yamaha P5000S amplifer: 700x2 @ 4 Ohms (for JL10W7 speakers): $600
7) Behringer DCX2496 crossover/loudspeaker management DSP: $275
Total: $5195 + shipping, taxes, etc.
Now, for some basic explanations.
The B&W speakers above have much lower resonance as compared to most high-fi bookshelf speakers. Critical for mid-range realism and timbre accuracy. They have a very flat amplitude response and fairly good off axis symmetry. They have drivers with very little resonance. These things are critical to give you a neutral response mid-range and treble module that will allow you to adjust it's sound to your preference.
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THE BOOKSHELF SPEAKER WHEN USED ALONE WITH NO DSP. What is critical is that it is netural - a blank slate to start with - so that the adjustments to your preferred sound is possible. Hardly any speakers are well suited to this task.
You will use a Behringer DCX2496 to apply tonal modifications. It is a precision, high grade device. It will allow you to achieve any sound signature that you desire, when used on an extremely neutral speaker. I will, if you need, describe exactly, the filter settings to use and how to adjust them to find your preference.
The subwoofers are simply a good investment here. You will only have to do one thing: cut a hole in each cabinet and attach the drivers. The cabinets are fully assembled and have a pained finish applied. You don't need any special skills! Or you can pay a car audio shop to cut the holes for you. Probably $20-$30 charge if you don't want to do it. The drivers I picked are ideally suited for small sealed cabinet, and will have perfect fidelity at virtually any SPL you could desire, regardless if it's low or high. Even if you don't think you need subs of this capability now, you will be future proofed, and you simply won't get pre-made subs anywhere near this quality for this price. You will get inferior product if you by pre-made subs of the same price range, and even if you spend considerably more, the commercial subs will not match these, until you get to vastly higher price range, in the range of 3-4x the dollar amount.
You will use the DCX also, to cross over/cut frequencies to each of the mid-treble modules and the subs, to allow them to combine with each other with absolute perfection. When you have stereo subs, and each one is placed within a few feet of each main channel, and you have a powerful crossover, it is trival to get perfect integration so that they act as one speaker source. Also, the DCX is powerful to the extent, that you can adjust and control the subjective 'tightness' of the bass signature to get your preferred bass. A feature everyone would love, but most don't even realize it's possible.
The amps are absolutely transparent that I suggested. They are pro amps, so they are an excellent value compared to home amps. At the same time, they are manufactured to a better quality than most home amps, as to be more reliable and endure professional use/abuse. These amps will not activate fans in home use. They are totally silent.
If you were to compare my above suggestion to full range speakers, on a potential sound quality comparison basis, then I can safely tell you this would likely equal single solutions costing in the 15-20K range, easily. This is because you are combining the most critical aspects, and then applying custom adjust ability to fit your preferences.
BTW, don't forget the room treatments. A critical key to ideal sound quality for any speaker.
Please, ask any questions that you need answered.
-Chris
