@vermeer I went through a similar exercise earlier this year. I spent a couple months listening to speakers at that price point. My end choice came down to 3 speakers, the Persona 3F, Sopra 2 and Legacy Focus SE. I took the Personas and Sopras home together for a side by side comparison. They were the two most detailed/accurate/revealing speakers I had heard. In the end I chose the Persona. The Sopra by comparison was flat and laid back. Both are very similar when compared to all others and it may have to do with the beryllium.
I chronicled my search here.
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30844-reference-2-channel-speaker-recommendations/
I chronicled my search here.
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30844-reference-2-channel-speaker-recommendations/