Monitors for a small room - please help

Drdennis: The toys are tempting, but I have a feeling they would be very shy in the bass area. I'm not expecting to get a thunderous amount of bass from any monitors, but I think those might be a little too bass-shy for me. Other than that, I'm sure they sound great. From what I've read about Sonus Faber, they are outstanding speakers.

Jl35: I will check out the Haydns. I've heard good things about them.

Krell_man: I appreciate your suggestion and have no doubt that they are fantastic speakers for a fantastic price, but I have to keep my budget around $2000 for amp and speakers. I know that will limit me quite a bit, but I have obligations coming up next year that I will need money for, so I have to keep sane here and stick to my budget. I really would like to hear those Caravelles though...

I have Dynaudio Excite X12s (driven by a Naim Nait 5i) in a larger room and like them very much. Definitely smooth and detailed, on the warm side of neutral, with excellent, well-defined bass. They're also pretty easy to drive. On proper stands (mine are on a console), in a smaller room, 18-24 inches out from the wall, I think they'd be even better. Good reviews in Stereophile and Good Sound.

Lots of great recommendations here.

Drawing from direct experience and available listings within your budget...

The Naim NAIT 5 (with [better] or without Flatcap) and Totem Arro in a small room (mine was 10x13) is sublime.

Good luck!

I'll fourth or fifth the Dynaudios. I have the Focus 110 and an NAD C372 integrated in a 13x18 room and have been very happy with them, including the very tuneful bass. They do have a warm but very natural sound--and you could do the above combo for well under your budget buying used. If you could swing the Naim it would probably be even better.

When I downsized the Dynaudios replaced the Vandersteen 2CE Sig II in my system, and they're cut from the same sonic cloth. I owned the Spendor S3/5 in between and found it forward in the midrange and coarse in the treble in comparison.

The Opera Callas Monitors are great small-room, low-volume speakers. There's a pair up for sale now. No connection with the seller.