Best bookshelf speakers <$2000

Wilson Audio used Focal drivers for a long time. Dave Wilson obviously designed some very nice speakers. But when you get right down to it, his Focal driver designs didn't outperform the competitive Focal products going for less money. The Alexandria went for a cool $20,000 more than the FGU, didn't outperform them FGU, and certainly didn't look better than the FGU. 

And last I checked, DeVore, Wilson, and the like weren't selling factory direct. Buying incomplete drivers and completeing them is hardly the same thing as buying off the shelf drivers like Tekton does. John Atkinson would be the first to admit he's got nothing like the resources of Focal and B&W to measure speakers with. He's measuring those things out in an open field! 

As for print ads... Can't recall the last time I touched a print magazine. But Klipsch is all over the internet with banner and social media ads. Maybe you're unaware, but Jaques Mahul had to be convinced to sell the speakers he started building, and they quickly became a hot commodity. Focal never started off buying drivers. They started off making drivers. That company has exploded because of excellent business management, exceptional engineering, and products that earn very high praise consistently. All kinds of business sectors have followed that model. Honda pretty much did it the same way. 

FTR: Wilson used not only Focal, but also a lot of Scanspeak. Some of the most expensive commercial speakers I know of use Scanspeak including B&O, Wilson, and Gryphon. Magico uses Scanspeak tweeter motors with custom diaphragms.

Fritz uses a whole lot of Scanspeak. :)

Best,
E

Look at this new make/model, playing at the recent CAF.

Recognize the mid-bass driver??

http://qln.se/prestige-three/

@cd318

I have three pairs of speakers. Rogers LS3/5a in one bedroom (15ohm versions). Celestion SL700 in my master bedroom. And Zu Def4 in my living room. All three are great. I understand your concern that the drivers in the LS3/5a have never been updated; but sometimes a classic is a classic, and there were several versions manufactured by Rogers. The Celestion and Zu speakers best the LS3/5a in many ways. But given the OPs preferences, criteria, and limitations, I would put the LS3/5a on any shortlist.

I don't have experience with any of the speakers mentioned save for the KEF LS50. I was very pleased with them in a small listening area but needed more low-end. I had considered the KEF R300 but caught the LS50 on sale (back then) for $300 off making them $500 cheaper than the R300, which you can now get for around $1300.00. 
I also think the R300 (in walnut) look very nice. 

On another note, I have an ancient pair of Jensen bookshelf speakers with 8" woofers that sound incredible, so you just never know....