Speaker help - short list needed

Chad329, I heartily agree that Vandersteen speakers will NOT sound harsh or bright. Altho they're pushing your budget a little, I think you should look for a pair of 3As. There are always pairs for sale here.
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PSB Stratus Goldi - easily one of the best bang-for-the-buck values on the used market! ...can be had for $700 to $800ish with one of the "premium" finishes.

You'll need an amp with some oomph to drive the 4 ohm load.

A very good all-a-rounder!

Green Mountain Audio Callistos.

Good suggestions, I wish I could demo all of these speakers, but I cannot. I will be pairing these speakers with a McIntosh 2205 and more than likely an Anthem AVM40 or AVM50 (do not have the Anthem yet). The Vandersteen's seem to be a very good option at this point for the money. I have heard these paired with McIntosh in the past and they are very easy on the ears.

Keep the reccommendations coming....

If you can stretch your budget a little, Shelby + Kroll Nano Monitors and a Woofer Monitor in "b-stock" will run around the 2k mark. Very musical and fun. :-) If you are near or in NJ, drop me an email to set up a listen.
Good-luck