Quality Monitors?

Check on Sonus Faber. The best monitors I ever heard.

For your price range i would get the totem tabus not the model 1s or get the PMC LB1s. With a good amp the LB1s are some of the best you'll hear. Lastly if you can some how find a pair of talon khites for around your price, GET THEM!!! Not only are they really easy to drive, unlike the totems, but they sound much better than any of the aformentioned speakers and have bass rivaling many floor standers. I know they are a bit more than whay you wanted but most people prefer the khites to Sonus Faber Electa Amator IIs so maybe this will prove what sorta caliber they are. I hope this helps.... - Ian

I just got a pair of Mini Triumphs from Coincident for one of my systems and am amazed. The Triumphs are a step up and claiming to go down to 50Hz flat for $1100/pr. The cabinets are stones and the crossover work is tight with polypropylenes, air core and all the necessary stuff.

Very quick, excellent soundstaging, much like Spendors and Rogers.

Small Canadian company doing their thing.

I do also very much like the older line of Totem as they image well and provide very solid bass for their size.

I would second the Talons as an option but only if you prefer somewhat rich and forgiving tonal balance albeit dynamic and fast. The Khites are great speakers but if coupled with overly warm electronics and cables the mids can get too thick.

Mark

A pair of khites just came on. I would buy them without any hesitation. Worst case scenario if you dont like them you could always sell them again, for what you paid for them, but i assure you that they are head and shoulders above all of the other speakers mentioned. I would say that the PMC LB1s can compete and are a must buy at any price below 1200.00 but the talons are the real thing. I really hope you take this advice.