Active monitors, 3k used, great nearfield sound

I second looking at the AVIs. Very easy to overlook but the their active speakers are unbelievable. They are so good! Owner came from ATC.

Oh silly me i forgot to mention that the beolab 3s i was referring to are from bang&olufsen.

How nearfield are we talking about? Are you going to listen to them at high volumes? I am currently have the beolab 3s as my pc speakers. I am sure you can get them at 3k used on ebay. Its compact form and full range capabilities at low volume performance is the reason why i chose them. The acoustic lenses really help them work as nearfields. You have to hear them to believe how amazingly adapt they are for computer use.

Check out the AVI AD9T active speakers.

Mot

I own the Focal Twin 6's and love em'. You can get a new pair for a couple hundred more than you're looking to spend. It's nice to have that warranty.

I appreciate all the suggestions, everyone. I'll do some auditioning and make a decision. Thanks for the input.

Third the Genelecs. I have a pair of 8030A. Incredible sound. Pin prick detail and real slam (I have the 7050B sub to augment that).

Genelecs are almost standard for near-field monitors in mixing music, movies and tv shows. Huge following among professional recording engineers for their detail and consistency up and down the product line. They however are not "hi-fi warm' meaning less than stellar recordings don't sound great. My Led Zeppelin CD's are a good example. Dark Side of the Moon on the flip side sounds sublime.

Second Shadorne's rec. of Genelec. I only heard them in the store but felt they bettered Dynaudio, KRK, Mackie for natural, non-fatiguing sound.

Studio monitors-The mackies use a passive radiator to force extra bass. the weird location of the passive sends low end everywhere too, so I imagine it vibrates your walls at home easily.

To know what you are ready for depends on how you feel about the midrange of the Mackies. Do you want it clearer or do you want what the Mackies are with less low end?
Brad

Focal XS. There's nothing better for the money, it's a purchase you'll never regret.
http://www.xs-focal.com/

Try also Genelec 8040A (warmer than ATC but clinical). Focal Twin 6 Be (splashy and fun). JBL, KRK, Dynaudio and Adam also make good actives in this price range - so try to hear a few to see which sounds right for you.

For this amount the best on is Event Opal nearfield monitors. These professional monitors would sound more like high-end speakers.
event opal

I just received a pair of Spendor SA-200 actives. They only cost me $600.00 for the pair and are awesome. Yes they are 5 years old, but I am happy with the purchase.

ATC has a great reputation in active speakers if you like their sound. The 10s cost $5K new but there are a couple of pairs on here now for much less.