Does this speaker exist or am I being ridiculous?

Here's an idea, but they're well below your budget. Silverline Prelude. They go only down to 35Hz, but you'll likely not miss the lowest bass unless you're a metal head (like me). I'm a bass hound, and I was darned impressed by these at CES. 91dB/8 ohm nominal...they can be driven by a wide variety of amps including relatively low powered tube amps (I'd guess 30+ wpc).

They cost $1200 new, and can often be found for ~$800 used. Heck, at that price, buy a used pair and try them out. If they don't work for you, then re-sell.

In our old place, we had out Von Schweikert VR2s about 18 inches from the wall. Not ideal placement, but acceptable. I have to admit they don't have the same pop w/o the subs, but they still do a nice job with the full range, and the WAF factor should be high. Plus, in your range, you could add the matching sub at some point if your wife would agree. Of course, I'm a big fan of VSA. We haven't auditioned full range speakers since '03, but we've been thrilled with our decision and felt at the time that the VR2s out performed a lot of more expensive speakers.

Tvad, I've got to agree with your post and I'm glad that you had the chance to audition the new Silverline Preludes. To me, they deliver reference quality sound over most of the audible frequency band at a very low price. But I do have a couple of quick points to add.

The current version has only been available since November 2006, so if one buys a used pair, it may not be the version you heard. The original Preludes were not quite as well-balanced and smooth in the high frequencies, but are comparable in most other ways.

They do not come in "real wood veneer" but the simulated vinyl veneer looks reasonably attractive (although the Rosewood looks more like dark Walnut to me).

Beyond that, bass freaks that require ultra-low, room-shaking bass can always add a decent subwoofer or two. I use mine with a sub about half the time, depending on my mood. As you've implied, bass of the Preludes is substantial, detailed, and satisfying without a sub on most material. This has as much to do with the high quality of the Prelude's bass reproduction as it does with its ultimate bass extension. Cheers!

Good points, Plato. Thanks for the clarification.

Sure can. There is a pair of Green Mountain audio Imago's up.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1171295826

7495.00 retail for 1950.00. It's actually one of Roy's better looking speakers. It makes a big speaker not look so big. It's a series II so there may be some upgrades available through Green Mountain up through series IV. Contact Roy if you need more info. Real 1/4" cheery wood panels float on sorbothane to give these a rich look without the woody sound.