@Dave & Troy - Have you actually heard the current line of Ohm Walsh speakers? (To quote JGH, "if you haven't heard it, you don't have an opinion.") Yes, they are not everyone's cup of tea, which is why I suggested a home audition rather than an unauditioned purchase for the OP (who, like anyone else, won't know if they love them or hate them until they hear them). FYI, the Ohms are not full omnis. They have attenuated rear propagation, and a conventional dome tweeter. IME, and I have owned the 2000s since 2009 when they first went into production, they are capable of producing fairly solid images of performers within the soundstage. No, these images are not lazer-sharp, but again, IME, they mimic the sort of imaging one hears in a live performance. Yes, much of the sound is reflected off of the room walls, but the designer clearly factored this in to the design, with, to my tastes, excellent results. I cannot speak for other brands, but owners of conventional and panel speakers who have been to my home to hear my Ohm Walsh 2000s have generally been impressed, although, as you said, they are not for everyone. No speaker is.
My impression of the Carver Amazings, which I heard at the 2016 Chester Group show in NYC, was very favorable. YMMV, of course.
To the OP: Auditioning is indeed extremely important. Furthermore, auditioing in your own home, with your own gear, and with your own music, is, IMHO, essential to making the best possible purchase of a loudspeaker that you will be happy with in the long term. If you go the B&M dealer route, insist on such an in-home demo for at least a few days if not a few weeks, not simply a brief in home demo with a dealer hovering, and telling you what you are hearing, rather than your own ears doing that. In your price range, you should find dealers who will accomodate this for you.
