Music lies in the midrange and achieving purity there goes a long way to making a speaker listenable and forgiving. When a speaker becomes less forgiving, it is usually due to problems in the treble, which can cause that grating, hard sound that annoys after a short time. For me, a speaker that is tubby in the bass, with one note flatulence is also fatiguing. I also prefer warmth over a clinical presentation. I want to feel the music, not disect it. So, the speakers I think do that best in your price range are:
Sonus Faber Cremona M or Elipsa
Aerial 7
Sonus Faber Cremona M or Elipsa
Aerial 7