In my small room I use Totem Arro's + a Storm Sub. Regardless of which speakers you get, If you don't have bass down to 40Hz, you should get a sub. The Storm has a built in crossover so I can let the Storm handle the really low frequencies and the Arro's handle the rest. The Storm's volume control helps me adjust for some of the worse bass in recordings.
As for the quality of recording, I agree. You will have better luck with the early vinyl. The original Vanda/Young AC/DC pressings are good (At least the Canadian and Australian), as well as Iron Maiden up to a point. Judas Priest were always terrible from the get go, even on vinyl.