My Yamaha RX-V663 and...

Klipsch + Yamaha = too bright for me. I'm sure you could push those speakers really loud in that room though, they are super efficient.

Many people do not like the sound of the horns in a Klipsch (browse any of the many threads pertaining to Klipsch and you will see that people either love em or hate em). The previous poster thinks it's even worse with a Yamaha.

Have you gone to listen to the Klipsch yourself yet? Do you like them (are you in the 50% that's loves em or the 50% that doesn't)? What receiver was being used in the demo you heard?

I can't say Klipsch are bright or not bright, but I could believe their horn designs may give it a certain character.

I never found Klipsch to be too appealing when doing listening tests in stores (which are not real reliable.)

On the plus side, Best Buy replaced a blown Klipsch* no questions asked from their own stock. Fantastic policy if this is still the way it's done. My thanks to Klipsch for offering such a great warranty policy.

Most stores have a reasonable return policy if they don't work out for you. You can always tweak the treble a bit which could tame some brightness, but that's of limited value.

* I needed a cheap pair of monitors, and they fit the bill. I now use them for my rear surrounds

+1...

On a side recommendation, for the money, the Paradigm Monitor line is hard to beat, IMO.

YOU need to go and listen to them.

If YOU like them, 50% off is a great deal.

If YOU don't like them, it would be a waste of $1250.

With a reasonable amount of patience you will always find a good deal on something you like - but until you know what you like you don't know what deals to look for.

Under those circumstances, that would absolutely warrant a demo...

Besides my previous Paradigm recommendation, PSB and Energy have excellent speakers in your price range, IMO.