bookshelf for classical music under $2000

I'd suggest avoiding speakers with any kind of metal drivers. You might like Linn Majik 109's. Unfortunately, I haven't auditioned enough other speakers recently to make other suggestions, but the Majiks have a very smooth and clear upper range, IMO.

I agree with Mateored: Avoid metal drivers, especially metal tweeters. Look for soft-domes (plastic, cloth, etc.), ribbon tweeters or the revived folded ribbon (a.k.a. Heil air motion) tweeters. Also, the sound that bothers you, which also bothers me, can result from poor crossover design or implementation, so just having non-metal drivers is no guaranty of a winner. Some brands to audition:

Reference 3a
GoldenEar (although they really don't have a "monitor" yet)
Silverline Audio (good luck finding a dealer)
Dynaudio
Mark & Daniel
Quad
Kirksaeter
Morel
Sonus Faber
LSA
Nola (Boxers)
Vienna Acoustics
Fritz
Spendor
Opera
Anthony Gallo Acoustics

Great list. I might also add Merlin TSM in one of its various iterations to the list. They come up for sale fairly regularly, used, these days on this website. They are very revealing and resolving and have a fabric dome Tweeter and are definitely not harsh or overly bright. They were, ultimately, not my "forever" speaker, but they are worth listening to. Worth talking to Bobby at Merlin to see what he can do for you. As for Reference 3a, I currently have the Dulcet which, brand-new, is within your price range and very special, indeed. In either case, check out some of the reviews online. Hope this helps.