bookshelf speakers - what to buy?

There's a pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars for sale here now in your price range.  Pretty safe bet. 

for as long as i have been a member these questions pop up. i am going to vent a bit, i deserve it as trump is now going to be potus and i have almost popped an artery every time i turn on the news. we have no idea what you would  consider a great speaker to sound like. none whatsoever. all we do is offer personal opinions that mean nothing to the op. if you want specific reco's then include tons of detail on music likes etc. and even then its just a crap shoot of enormous proportions. obviously you have picked out the usual suspects that are revered around here but even then its just such a subjective experience that end of day its pointless. you will no doubt audition what is readily available in your area and the decision will be made on an impulse like all of lifes decisions are made in the final reckoning. and oh, before i sign off.. i think you will really enjoy the new model from....

That's why I say I gave him the best answer.

The OP gave us two candidates and I told him to pick the one that sounded best to him.  Not us.  I even assured the OP that his amp can capably drive either of his two candidates. 

What could be simpler than this?

paraneer +1!

In as much as I understand the issue raise by veroman, I must agree that the OP asked a simple question, to which paraneer gave the best answer.