I scoff at those who scoff whoever they are. We really do need a little more information.
If you can buy Von Schweickerts VR2s then buy them. I don't see them on the used market but they were very good nuetral sounding speakers in my set up. I drove them with a small (40 WPC) tube amp and that was plenty, you may find them in your price range! Some of the old mid fi companies like Sony and Pioneeer are getting good press lately, but I haven't heard them myself. I did find the Pareadigms to be more than OK and was seriously considering their larger model but that was some time back.