Smooth/Musical Bookshelves upto $1500 - $2000

I think you would be very happy with a used pair of Merlin TSM's. VERY musical, but they are also VERY revealing.

+1 for Merlins! Superb.

While I don't wish come across like some crass chest-thumping douche, I feel like I may able to help you out here. I've owned literally dozens of monitors throughout the years. I also actively listen to pop / rock / dance / electronic, and so on and so forth. My (main) listening room is nearly the same size as yours. And I use the PC on one of my systems.

So having said all that... the BIG question is... will these speakers be used in a desktop application? IE: Located on your computer desk and situated only a couple feet from your ears? Or is this setup going to be more traditional? IE: Sitting in a chair that's at least 6ft away from the speakers?

Either way, my suggestion would be the following:

For the traditional application: Go with a set of Fritz Rev 5's. They are everything that you're looking for. Smooth (yet articulate and free of spikey treble). Sport a warm and articulate midrange. They sport the punchy kind of bass that compliments the kind of music that you listen to. And they have the kinda sound you can just sit back and vibe to... I honestly cannot think of a better match for your situation.

Now if your considering something for desktop use: I'd suggest looking at either a set of Sonus Faber TOY's (with a REL T5 sub), or a set of Harbeth P3ESR's. The little Sonus Fabers work well against walls and sound great in desktop applications. The only problem is that they are bass shy, so you'll likely want a sub to fill out the bottom end.

The next recommendation, the Harbeth's, may surprise a few people - as it's pretty well documented how limited these speakers are in terms of bass extension and dynamics. And while it's true that they wouldn't make you happy in a traditional setup, I find that their limitations become HIGHLY mitigated when employed in a desktop environment. Seriously.... I run a set of P3ESR's on my desktop setup, and they sound great with every kind of music that I throw their way. From Kanye West to Cradle of Filth to Lady Gaga and just about everything in between - they deliver the musical goods.

Anyways, that's my take on things. Hope this helps. Good luck in the search!

The perfect speaker in this type of set up is the Harbeth P3ESR. Their bass response is excellent - near field listening cannot be beat. They're broadcast monitors, so they're designed for detailed, musical, fatigue free listening, all day long.

I think the Harbeths won't have the bass response to accurately portray Hip Hop or Electronica. They are geared to vocals and piano and guitar. Bass and drums hardly ever shines with them. If you want a true English sound with bass, I again recommend ATC 7 and 11s or B & W 685s. Both are near field and offer excellent value to performance. One caveat, make sure you have 50 to 100 watts of amp power behind them.