Can someone help me pick out my first speakers?

The Klipsch RP-600M at less than $300, really punches above its weight.  You will need a pair of stands to make this one sing.

Used Klipsch RP-600M $289 in eBay

What did the deleted posts say that would have scared the OP away?  Well if the OP is still around I saw a pair of the Polk R100's open box at Music Direct for around $300 bucks. Don't let the Polk name dissuade you, the Reserve series is a great bang for your buck type of speaker, well made as well. Emotiva B1+ is decent. I haven't heard any other speakers really around that price. I'd personally look for a deal on a vintage pair, but not knowing what to look for in your case would make that much harder. Good Luck 

I have been very pleased with a pair of Klipsh RP-600M bookshelf speakers, purchased a year or so ago.  Unexpectedly solid bass and fantastic all-around sound for the price.  The icing on the cake:  They are extremely efficient.  I would buy these again in a heartbeat (no-brainer for me) if I needed a second pair at a similar price.

Personally, I disliked the Klipsch RP600M so much. To me the Klipsch sounded thin and lifeless. The heightened treble fakes detail, I say this because the dry-sounding mids constantly remind you that you’re listening to speakers. I don’t think they’re a good speaker to start with. They don’t sound smooth or natural enough to make acoustic music and indie sound pleasant. Don’t get the Klipsch unless you only listen to female pop stars and hip hop. Trust me, you’ll want to upgrade the Klipsch as soon as you get them. And before you know it, you’ll spend $2k on a pair of Buchardts. The RP600M made me spend 2k on fullrange transmission line speakers because I was craving lush mids.

In the entry-level it’s not crucial to get the most resolving-sound. The opposite is true because you want a pair of speakers which will work well with any amplifier and any music (especially badly recorded music).

So what do I recommend?

Q Acoustics 3010. They’re simply perfect for the money:

- Smooth and natural sound. Great for all music, especially badly recorded music.

- Great design. Not an ugly black box with cheap vinyl wrap peeling off the corners (aka Klipsch RP600M)

- Works with any amplifier under the sun. A second-hand Yamaha, Denon/Marantz amp under $100 pairs perfectly.

- Cheap

@pehrafano  Come back and check out your thread. Good advise provided.