Bookshelf Recommendations

Proac.  Anything in the tablette family, which sold for less than 2k new, so should be able to find used in the 1k range.   Great imaging.

They are one of the smaller of the bookshelves, which makes them easy for stand mounting.  I have owned numerous bookshelves and found some of them on the larger size to seem out of place on the stands.

be Sure to take time to set them up right.  Several inches can affect soundstage and bass.

Did the whole small speaker/high quality thing as well.  Results?  Small everything...you can’t circumvent physics.  Get a well made speaker with drivers capable of delivering the emotional and physical content of your music.  Think 12” woofer etc..  I’m still dumbfounded that my experiment with the JBL 4429’s has changed my perspective on the “High End” enormously.  Short of the $20k Speakers I’ve owned (which of course required oodles of cash for ancillary equipment) the JBL’s deliver an extremely uncolored, dynamic and extended presentation.  They can put you in the club with the musicians, if you understand what I mean.  They energize a room like few audiophile speakers can and do so without one having to break the bank on the rest of the setup.  

B&W Matrix 805's.  oldies but goodies.

At your price point, you might consider Axiom Audio M5HP 3-way bookshelves.  (under $1000).  They're more than adequate for your space, although could be considered "overkill".  They're reasonably sensitive (91dB/1w), but can handle lots of power if loudness matters, or if room size changes.  So may not have to upgrade for a long time...;-)I own 7 of them in HT and Stereo systems and have been very pleased with their performance.

My son bought a pair of Axioms, back in the early 2k's [don't recall the model]. They have certainly served him well.

Forgot about those...