Great bookshelf or small towers suggestions


I'm looking to upgrade my main speakers for home theater/music setup.

Currently have Sound Dynamic 300 ti's that are about 16 years old. I have a Marantz 5009 AV receiver and some Orbs for side and back channels. I have a sound dynamic center speaker too. The room is 11x15 with a fairly low 7' ceiling. I want to replace the LR main and Center speakers.  Budget < $5K.

floorplan:  http://tinyurl.com/zd68dqf

Soundwise I am after improved brightness and up front treble and mids. I am not the biggest bass nut - a) I have downstairs neighbors and b) I've played drums for 40 years and have heard it all. I hate being bounced out of my seat every time stuff explodes and mainly want to hear dialog better for TV and clearer more sparkly acoustic pianos and spangalang of cymbals like they're in the room with me.

So far from what I've heard in stores, I liked the Magnepan .7's a lot. But they just won't fit the space. Too wide and didn't pass WAF. I listened to a few other speakers - mid level B&W's, Golden ear, martin logan, and so far little compared to the magnepans except maybe the BW 805D3's - which are way over my budget. I thought about looking for used 805d2's. I did like a pair of Focal 714's and could probably live with them. But this is the last pair of speakers I ever want to buy. So I keep coming back to thinking about the new 805's or something close.

I've been interested in a lot of the factory direct speakers like the Sierra Tower & 2's but it bothers me to buy speakers I can't hear first.

Any advice appreciated.

Thx!
wolfernyc
Vienna speakers have a small footprint. I heard a pair at a dealer in Rochester NY they sounded very nice with a open large soundstage
Thx all. 

One has to start upgrading somewhere and for me the speakers seem to make sense as a starting point. They're almost 20 yrs old and I know their sound well. I'd certainly like to keep well below my budget if I can. Since I need LR and a center channel it won't be cheap no matter what. I also don't want to get on the upgrade merry go round.  I'll probably die with whatever I get. (I live in a 5th floor walkup! So when they carry me out, they can take the speakers too.)

There's nothing particularly substandard about the CD player or turntable. And the AV sources are what they are these days: Apple TV and the Cable box.   The receiver might not be the best but it doesn't seem to be a bad one.   I'll upgrade it eventually when the inevitable must have AV feature pushes me to.

I am looking into various speakers you've all recommended.  The Sierra 2's or perhaps the towers seem interesting as do many of the others.  But not being able to hear them first is a problem.  So I am thinking of looking for something used but that I've already heard or can find nearby, like the Sonus Faber's. 

The speakers don't need to be tiny.  The 300ti's on stands are taller and wider than many floor standing towers.  But being a small apartment, if they don't need to be big that would be great.

Thx




The mini Maggie system is better than any box speaker in the same price range. 
I bought some Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary speakers. They are wonderful and better many of more expensive speakers. More information can be found here:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/wharfedale-denton-80th-anniversary-a-non-professional...

good luck with with your hunting/purchase.