Monitor Audio RS-6 : What's better under $1500? ?

I recently heard a pair of Monitor Audio RS-6 ($1000/pair) after reading the Stereophile review(March 2006) The speaker was very good for the money. Most impressive: it sounded coherent through the midrange and most of high frequency range. Imaging and soundstaging also were good but not overwhelming, not much happening outside the boundary of the speakers--(they seemed too close to showroom's back wall) The SP review claimed otherwise.... That said... and if you have auditioned them, would appreciate opinions on what might be better in terms of coherency, bass, soundstaging, for between $1300-1500