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$800 to spend on speakers, $1500 on whole system

I am new to community and am seeking advice on my first good sound system. I am looking to spend $500-800 on a used set of two speakers for my living room, which is not very large. I cannot decide between bookshelf speakers or a floor speaker. I will be listening mostly to digital music, and I could use recommendations on a DAC and receiver. I would like the receiver to be bluetooth if high quality receivers come with this feature, but that's not a deal breaker for me.

My Ideal system would have two speakers at $500-800 and with receiver, DAC, cables, and anything else I would need totaling around $1200, but $1500 maximum. I figured I would start with speakers and go from there.

I like to listen to most music, except rap. Heavy metal, funk, jazz. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks

pawadalla
abl3rider
4 posts
 
I am very impressed with my vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amp I picked up on the bay for around 350 including walnut case. Sounds much better than my Denon 5.1 AVR. I've read reviews comparing it favorably to the Peachtree.  There are many among us who feel that some vintage models may rival or exceed modern equipment especially in similar price ranges. 

Dragonfly DAC. Polk RTi A5 speakers. Music Hall mmf 2.2. Modern Polks don't get much attention in forums, but I like mine at 350 each. 
herndonb
124 posts
 
Elac Uni-Fi F5, they will be the best speaker under 2k pair easily.  Andrew Jones is a genius.  Elac rules!

mesch
3,476 posts
 
I am confident that once I heard then I would agree that the F5s are a great speaker for the money, however I find it hard to believe I would find them to be the ‘best under 2K easily’.  
mesch
3,476 posts
 
Runnin, though I believe the difference between a $1800 and $1500 system to be marginal, upgrading ones speaker budget from $500 to $800 opens up many possibilities toward improvement, especially on the used market.
pawadalla OP
10 posts
 
Update: I have listened to many monitor and floor standing full range speakers. I listened to the goldenear Aon 2 & 3. Also totem rainmakers, some Martin Logans, and several others. 

I really loved the sound of a recent model Vandersteen 2C (I think 2Ce). They're too expensive, but I found a used mint condition pair of 1980s 2C speakers on Craigslist for $450 - was told this was the first 2C speaker made. They sounded excellent at the sellers house on a low power amp. I should have my peachtree amp in a couple days - can't wait to turn them on. 

If I have to do some surgery on it down the road, it'll be a good learning experience. For the price I loved the value of this deal. 
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