Best Monitor not over 1K, new ot used

Which Pre/Amp are you using? When I was shopping for speakers, I had a tough time because my listening tastes vary widely. I listen to everything from Diana Krall to Judas Priest. I'm also working with around a 14" height limitation, so I shopped a few different models of small speakers.

Just as food for thought....my system consists of a Nad pre and Aragon 2004 amp. What I had good luck with were....

B&W 685, System Audio SA-505, Peachtree D5, Paradigm Studio 40, Paradigm Studio 10. I'm running the Studio 10's now. The were a good compromise between size and performance. At 12" tall, I actually have them sitting in an entertainment center and usually don't run my sub with them. They may not be the best at anything, but they do everything that I've thrown at them well; from jazz at civilized levels to hard rock at very uncivilized levels.

Kef LS50.

Spendor 3/5's is what you are looking for! They go for about $700 used.

You really must listen to a pair of GoldenEar Aons before you buy. Depending on room size you could go with the larger Aon3s for $1K/pair or the Aon2s for $800/pair. I heard the Aon3s just this past February at a high end open house, and they impressed the hell out of me. That's saying something given that I'd just heard a demo of the new Wilson Alexia. The Aons have the dynamics, sensitivity, and bass extension of a small floor stander (real bass into the 30s), but the clarity and imaging of a standmount (which they are). They also have a very sophisticated folded ribbon tweeter with response out to around 40Khz, and the air and transparency that go with it. Unlike most piston tweeters, however, these ribbons give you treble with all the detail and air with none of the overshoot, ringing, or harshness we often hear with it.

There are many rave reviews out there about these speakers. I can't get them out of my mind. They have the inert cabinets, the speed, clarity, and transparency of much more expensive minimonitors, while also having greater sensitivity and bass extension than is typical of the genre. Easy to find locally, too.

At that price, check out the very refined Quad 9Ls or 12Ls (both powered). I own both.