There's a lot to be said for starting small and working your way up, if and when you really have a reason to.
There is something of an embarrassment of riches in this category; tasty small monitors retailing at under $500.
One that I heard recently was the Epos ELS 3; delicious. I haven't directly compared the Epos side by side with others, but if memory serves it is great in its class. Also bought and still very much like the KEF Cresta 1 in that category. I thought the Monitor Bronze very good, with a little more throw weight, perhaps not quite the delicacy of the KEF. By all accounts there are lots of other excellent choices. Based on other Totem models I've heard, the Mites should stand up well too.