floor speakers upgrade

You really should listen to a speaker first. If not, you can make a big mistake.

If you have no choice, see if you can find a good used pair of Vandersteen Model 1's. Its a very neutral speaker and you can do a lot with it as far as altering the sound to fit your taste. Providing you like the way they sound, it will be a huge upgrade in sound quality for you.

What is your system comprised of, particularly the amp and preamp?

Thats my only issue is I wont be able to have a test-run with the speakers. Most of the electronic stores by me don't have much of a selection unfortunately.

Hi J...consider browsing the used stuff here to get an idea what some of your options might be. Also, explore the "Budget" virtual systems. Posting your other equipment will help people give you some more relevant suggestions but Zd542 is absolutely right...ya really gotta hear 'em yourself to know if it's a keeper and preferably in your own room with your own gear. There are some mftrs. and dealers that might work with you to arrange an in-home trial. I think Tekton Design was one such. Might be others. Not certain. Also, that link with the top 10 speakers? Gotta say, that list just didn't seem right to me. Names I would expect to see weren't on it. The names listed just seemed very mass market and I think you are trying to take a first step into something better. Finally, after doing more research, you might find you are better off waiting a bit and adding another $400 or $500 to your budget. Haste makes waste - I know...been there done that. Good luck in your search.

Agree with above posts. At least Tekton offers a 60-day trial period, although you'll probably be out some shipping dollars if you return them. The mini Lore and Lore Reference are in your basic price range and may be worth a look. Another choice, especially if you like the sound you're getting now, would be the Elac F5. Like your Pioneers the F5 was also designed by Andrew Jones but likely offers meaningful improvements in driver technology, cabinetry, etc. The other option is obviously to buy used, and then you can start looking at speakers like the Silverline Preludes or the Monitor Audio RX6. Not knowing your system or what sound characteristic are important to you make these blind recommendations, but at least you have some ideas to work with. One big thing is to make sure whatever speakers you choose match well with and can be driven by your amplifier. Best of luck.