Here's something else to consider -- Golden Ear makes three models of bookshelf speakers. I had a set of Aon 2s for several years that I used in an office system that I really enjoyed. They are $900 a pair new and they've been on the market long enough that there should be used models available. The Aon 3 is a shade bigger and costs a bit more. I recently traded my 2s for a pair of their new BRX bookshelf speakers which are listed at $1,600 a pair. They use the midbass and tweeter from GE's reference series and are another step up in sound quality. All of their speakers have passive bass radiators on the sides of the speakers, so can go on a bookshelf as long as you don't have anything against the sides.
My other speakers are Ohm 1000s and I've also owned Spendor SP1/2Es in the past that I really enjoyed, so that'll give you an idea of my taste in speaker voicing. I had to move on from the Spendors as my wife didn't like the 1970s looking box. I can recommend the GE bookshelfs.
My other speakers are Ohm 1000s and I've also owned Spendor SP1/2Es in the past that I really enjoyed, so that'll give you an idea of my taste in speaker voicing. I had to move on from the Spendors as my wife didn't like the 1970s looking box. I can recommend the GE bookshelfs.