Accurate speakers for a verity of genres?


Hello guys – I’m looking for L/R speakers to fill a 15x15 room – the budget is <4K (new/used). I’m not much of a PC user and was recommended by a good friend of mine to post here for advice.

I don’t have subs yet, so wanted something that could extend into the mid 30’s if needed. I will get subs next year so it’s not a big deal. My background is in music (have a degree from NYU) and come from a family or producers. Being that the speakers will be in my living room, I want something nice looking, and also capable of home theater usage and powered by a receiver.

I’m pretty young (under 26) and my musical tastes are leaning towards the more compressed side. Pop and some rock if I’m feeling casual, house or funk if I’m reminiscing and “real” hip-hop if I’m looking for stories or lyrical material. All mood dependent. I’m ‘classically trained’ and very critical in many genres’ being exposed to them my entire life though. Unfortunately, I do not listen classical music in my home although I do respect it. My instruments of choice are typically percussion based rather than string based and I really like both hard hitting bass and rolling basslines - but clean bass. Never boomy despite the musical choices.

Some examples of the types of music I listen to

Common – The People http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7B2VgRShew
The Roots – Boom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyLEgfp4b-k
Nicolay and Kay – As the world turns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-apEQa8Vg
Geoffrey Oryema – Piri Wango Iya http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL4F21FAD18930ECDC&feature=player_detailpage&v=HIoY_7qCOHk#t=68s
Afefe Iku – Mirror Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja1LS1AkN-Y&feature=related
Sigur Rios- Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpKOawpMtsk#t=309s
Nosaj Thing – Aquarium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfDjZAct-0
LP – Iridescent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYiIBCN9ec&ob=av2n
James Blunt - I’ll take everything http://www.youube.com/watch?v=LX9sn5aAp_8
Sublime – Santeria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEYN5w4T_aM&ob=av2n
Metallica – Unforgiven ½ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoTcb6vtGEo
Alicia Myers – I want to thank you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wGnnwBc9M
Jackson 5 – Hum Along and Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xRcmIDj2cc
Level 42 – Starchild http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOpYmMyo1FM

Strange eh? I enjoy an accurate sound, that isn’t harsh in the upper band. Perhaps I have sensitive ears nowadays. I know to appreciate flat req response, and smooth off-axis response, great crossovers, etc. Now the question is – Where do I begin looking? Thanks for your time!!!!
bthought
My experience is the only way to find the right speakers for you is to listen to a lot of them. Reviews are great, as are opinions, but that person might appreciate a speaker that you can't stand. For instance, I read a glowing review of the Totem Dreamcatchers, and went to buy some. Upon listening to the speaker range, I fell in love with the Rainmakers instead, and bought a pair.

Take your time, and really enjoy the process of auditioning speakers. This means local shops. I brought a CD with my favorite songs, and would spend hours listening to different speakers. Of course, this can lead to multiple systems. :-)

I have Mirage OMD-28s for home theatre, Quad 12L Actives for 2-channel, and Totem Rainmakers for my bedroom. If I were going to live with one pair, running off my Pioneer Elite SC-57...it would be Mirage. But to each his own.

Enjoy man,
Mot
forget the stuff you see here - it's not for you. Check out the Cerwin Vega 215s. Big bass, efficient, works well with receivers. You asked.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=304-030&utm_source=googleps
Well young man...consider yourself very blessed to have the means to buy 3-4k speakers in this crap economy...since bass is important to you and highly subjective...I would suggest auditioning planar, stats, open baffle, and conventional box designs...all have merits...Fwiw...a friend has paradigm studio floorstanders...his taste mirrors yours...and is happy
Thank you. Much appreciated. Like I said, accuracy is still important to me because I can understand the technical limitations. I've been told about Salk's offering (HT-2), Philharmonics', and Audio Soundfield 1, Selah Audio Circondare, KEF R series and many others. I'll work on the sub's later on and get something nice. My focus now is mids (vocal) and smooth treble. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you all!