soft dome speakers

Another vote for Quad L series.

I can also recommend the Quad L series and Dynaudio Excite X12. I've had Quad 11Ls--great speakers, and a fantastic bargain used--and now have the Dynaudios, which are also great speakers and very smooth on the top end.

In your price range, I would also look into the Silverline Audio speakers. I think they use Dynaudio soft dome tweeters. I have the Minuet which is surprisingly good at $600 MSRP, but I got a good discount from a dealer. They got ones at $1000 and $1500 and I'm sure you can get the $1500 ones for $1200 with discount.

http://www.silverlineaudio.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2

I have a pair of QUAD 22L2 (not bookshelf though) and love them considering a cost of $950 shipped. Not harse, yet detailed, and good bottom end for a speaker on this size. I do have Velodyne sub set at the lowest cut over possible but find myself turning off at times since the QUADs perform so well. I'm sure there are other brands just as good or better but I can only speak to the QUADs. The only issue I've experience is that the spike threads are not in tolerance to the spike inserts held in the base. Too tight. Good hunting.

I've become convinced that it is impossible to pre-judge the sound of speakers based on the materials of the drivers. I've heard soft domes that "sound" like metal domes and metal domes that "sound" like soft domes. Keep an open mind