Exemplary active nearfield speakers under $1k?

KRK RP8G3

I use small M Audio monitors in my home studio and a larger pair in my kitchen as a Sonos zone. Neither is truly an audiophile type product, but both are good performers that do yeoman's work in their respective application and IMHO represent excellent value. I preferred both to the KRK Rockit models and the Sampson models at the same (sub $500/pr) price points, FWIW.

I'm willing to go up to $1k, but if I can get the job done cheaper, so much the better. Above all, the desktop monitors have to be sweet to listen to -- an harmonically rich and detailed midrange, non-anemic midbass and a non-fatiguing high end. In other words, musical. Good imaging and air a big plus.

There are several powered monitors in the Emotiva Pro line that fit your budget and use a Heil AMT-type folded ribbon tweeter. I haven't heard these Emotiva monitors yet, but I've heard several speakers that use some variation of this tweeter by GoldenEar and MartinLogan. The treble on these is airy and extended, yet smooth and totally devoid of the resonances, ringing, and overshoot so common to certain pistonic dome tweeters.