Book Shelf Speaker advice - Formerly Book Shelf Dilemma

I was going thru similar avenue seeking for speakers for my 1st and 2nd systems. I must agree with @kenjit that there are too many choices and you need to do your homework yourself first. Read reviews and shorten your list down to 3-5 speakers. Home auditioning is the key. I do not intend to abuse the favorable return policy but rather take a due advantage of it. Fortunately, I quickly settle with Wharfdale Lintons for my first system after auditioning two other floorstanders within my short list. I still enjoy the Linton each time I listen the music with them.

For my 2nd system in the bedroom, it is a much longer ongoing process primarily because of the restricted bass extension of the bookshelf or standmount speakers I was looking for. I was able to identify several that has good to excellent treble/midrange tonal balances, image and soundstage performances and brought them home for auditioning, including the most recent Wharfedale Evo 4.2. However, the lack of low end weight and agility just left a room to be desired. Right now, I was using with the vintage NHT SB3 bookshelf which gives me the low end satisfaction but I want more 3D soundstage performance with the room partially treated. Right now I raise my budget to $2k and, with the extended budget, more speakers with low end extended to 30-40 hz become available:

Canton Reference R9, Philharmonic BMR monitor, PMC Twenty 22 and Buchardt P300

Yes, agreed, the OP does have plenty of choices under his budget as mentioned if he/she does not desire for low end extended to 30-40 hz range.  For example, I would get raved Evoke 10 as you have suggested (or even Evoke 20 by stretching the budget) home for auditioning.  Crutchfiled that I bought my Linton from does have good return policy.

You did, @grislybutter.  In the past almost a year, I tried to integrate my 25 year old AR SW30 sub, SVS SB 1000 and SB 2000 with my 2-channel system using (1) speaker level input (2) line level input as well as (3) line-level input with HPF (fixed at 80 hz as provided in both SB models).  I do not have fancy DSP / eq to assist me taming down the sound fields but I have exhausted the sub placements to find that sweet spot.  With all these efforts, I was not able to achieve seamless integration (at least to my ears) primarily because of the disparities of the speed and texture  between the sub and main speaker drivers.  Admittedly, as mentioned in other posts, maybe the servo controlled sub will do a better job but I have deep doubts to proceed with experiment.  All I did just confirms what Sandy Grove was saying "It is almost impossible to integrate sub ..."  That is why all the higher end Golden Ear speakers has built-in sub.  Correct Mr. Grove if he was biased...

@grislybutter Don’t get me wrong. My reservation and decision not to add sub(s) as part of system is in a general term, not related to a sepecific model/brand of sub. As @soix mentioned, SVS is a good brand and SB1000 is a fine sub. But, a 12" woofer controlled by a separate (especially non-servo controlled) amp being slower than most of the bookshelf or standmount speakers with 5"-6" woofer is a law of physics. When there are busy bass notes, a sub lack of control (ability to "stop" the note reverb) will spin out a series of bass notes reverberating over preceding notes. That is the reason I avoid the sub. I would imagine though the smaller woofer drivers such as SVS 3000 micro that uses dual opposing 8" driver will render more speedy bass but digs deep as SB1000.