need to down size to monitors

You may want to consider a used pair of Tyler Linbrook Signatures... they are large stand monitors, but have bass down to -3db at 35hz. They should be around your price range.

The Merlins already mentioned are also superb speakers. They won't go as low as the Tylers, but have excellent resolution, IMO.

PMC DBi. if the small footprint units like Mapman suggested are a possibility than the smallest unit (GBi I think?) may work. May be too expensive though the DBi is in your range easily. Lots of good choices listed above. the pmc units leapt to mind as they are front ported with the transmission line thingy and you mentioned a wall concern. Myself I'm not sure about the porting sensitivity issue. I have some era D5 units that I'm really happy with and while they are rear ported I cant hear any difference at all until they are within one foot from the back and a few inches on the side. typical ymmv of course.

There are no finer sounding monitors than VMPS 626R's with auricaps, fst ribbon tweeter, sound deadening, and megawoofers. The clarity and dynamics will amaze you along with the beauty of the sound. They can go within 1 ft. of the rear wall but will sound even better away from the rear wall. The speakers are 24" H, 10" W, and 13" D and weigh about 56 lbs. The cabinet walls are more than 1" thick mdf.

I think in your budget Totem Mani2 is the winner.

I went from Thiel 3.6's to Focal Be 1007's about three years ago and have been very pleased with them. Listen mostly to Classic Rock(Zeppelin, Floyd, Nirvana) , Classical(Symphonic Works) and Jazz (Female Jazz Vocals, Krall, Barber) . I power them with a Cary SLI-80F1 and even with the amp in Triode mode (4o wpc) they will blow you out of the room with volume and bass. Not sure they fit your budget though (Used).

Chuck