Need Recommendations for a pair of Speakers around $1,000

You should probably define what you want them to Sound like, what type of music you listen to most often, and how loud do you want to turn them up.  Also, how large can the boxes (cabinets) be and still be acceptable?

You are going to get a hundred suggestions, ha!

Used is a good idea, because number of people that want full sized stereo is dwindling.  Perhaps search on Craigslist near you or Searchtempest for the whole country.  I recently missed an originally $6000 speakers for $800 because I reacted too slow.  For craigslist, sort by highest price first, then research some online reviews for whatever you find that looks good.

I recently bought a pair of Thiel CS 2_2 for $650.  Finished on all sides, wires connect under the bottom.  High quality light oak real wood veneer.

Caveats - a couple chips out of veneer on top of one.  Too heavy too ship.  Perhaps too old fashioned, unless you have Danish mid century furniture, ha! (a simple tall rectangle with front cut off to form a slope).  This is not a sale listing, just giving you an idea of what you could find on Craigslist.

If you are concerned about being up to date, there are several companies coming out with amplified speakers that also include room correction processing.  This is where the future might be heading.

Good luck!

Do you place a higher value on Bass and dynamics, or vocal clarity and accuracy?

I think we are suggesting used because we want you to be amazed with what you could get for the $1000.

Another way would be a KIT!

I would imagine CSS AUDIO CRITON 1TD-X kit speaker with the standard crossover for $934 would be difficult to beat as far as the sound goes.  YouTube guy Jay (used to be called Next Best Thing)  recently compared it with Sonus Faber $10k speaker and CSS won!  Admittedly, he spent $400 more for upgraded crossover, but that is only the last +3% tweeter definition, not really a different speaker.

So question to you - if you glued together pre-cut wood yourself, and painted the boxes to match your walls would that be acceptable?  How about with +$100 birch plywood and some wood stain?

The only reason I make this suggestion because I and many reviews say you would love the sound...

You asked to compare my suggestion to Golden Ear Aon3.

Note: this is only from reading reviews, albeit with a bit of speaker wisdom applied, ha!

Golden Ears are great for their price and for their size.  You can't go wrong.

They might have an advantage in the tweeter if you like AMT tweeters.

The CSS CRITON 1tdx would have the advantage in bass, and possibly midrange too.  CRITON tweeter is a soft dome with some modern features that lower distort ion.  From what I have read, everyone says they are good enough, one person said he wished they were more detailed.  One more (Thomas & Stereo) YouTube review said he initially wished they were brighter tweeters but over time appreciated them more and more.  He is self-proclaimed "Focal fan boy" (Focal is often regarded as highly detailed) but in the end he said sometimes when I don't want to analyze my music, but instead enjoy it, it is good to switch over to the CSS.

The CSS bass is legendary.  Not just for it's size.  CSS midrange was compared favorably to Sonus Faber (which exemplifies warm midrange). CSS treble does nothing wrong, is never offensive, although some people have different preferences about the treble,

to say the tweeter does nothing wrong - does not call attention to itself is a high compliment (quoting The Audiophiliac)

...to clarify or build on a couple points above:. Let me not apologize for substantially sized speaker cabinets.  In a big room you will appreciate some big speakers.

Next, I just watched a video from Danny Richey (GR Research).  He told the story of the $500/pr speakers at Best Buy that have to double in price TWICE before they get to you, so that the money spent on the actual woofers and tweeters in there is about $20!!!  There are a lot of different ways to argue this issue, but the facts are facts.  It could be the commercial speaker looks better, is easier to Re-Sell later, is supported by positive online reviews, etc.  But there is always the dream (psychosis?) of building Wilson Audio clones for $2500, hahaha!!!  

Laughing at myself for wanting the Wilson Audio clones, but the ability to get more for your money with kits is real, not laughing at that!  Good day

I have extensive listening experience with Klipsch Forte II.

If you like rock music they are AMAZING.  They would fill a large room with NO problem.  I have them setup in my father's barn (about the size of a 4 car garage with peaked roof and open area above having exposed roof trusses) and the place sounds like a nightclub!  The high efficiency gives them an aura of effortless power and dynamics.

They also sound good at low volume too, and have plenty of detail.

Some picky reviewers say they don't like the sound of horn loaded drivers, but these are definitely worth a listen before you cross them off your list. What they can do is awesome.  They would be an end-game choice for many folks.

You would have to consider the large cabinet size maybe being a negative.

I also like KIT speakers.  You can easily get TWICE the parts quality for the same money as retail finished speaker.  Helios I have just ordered from Meniscus Audio, is higher than the specified budget here, but just to the support the argument that YES I love kit speakers.