Which desktop speakers to buy $800

The Emotiva AirMotiv series speakers (active speakers, amps are built-in) have been getting pretty good reviews and they have 2 models within your budget...

https://emotiva.com/products/emotiva-pro/powered-monitors-0

-RW-

I have Audioengine A5+'s and they just get better with play time. If you can be patient, keep listening.

I am completely pleased and have no desire to look elsewhere. The A5's are perfect for me. YMMV.

The best for $800? Audience The One, normally $995, available new, here, for BIN of $795.

Stereophile review
Hi Res Audio Central review
Soundstageaccess review
HiFi+ review

Also, desktop means nearfield listening, and the Audience The One has a single true full range 2-1/2" driver. No sound coming from the multiple angles of woofers and tweeters. The over-the-counter price of a pair of those raw drivers alone is $390.

So as others have mentioned, how many hours do you have on these? I have serious doubts it has anything to do with magnetically shielded shells. Really sounds like it could be a break-in issue, so give them at least a few hundred hours of play time.

And Johnnyb53, have you actually heard those Audience speakers? I had the 1+1s in my system and also in a friend's system as a double check, and our assessment was they were severely compromised in the upper mid and treble range, right where the OP is already experiencing problems. They sounded muddy and significantly dynamically constrained. At that price range, if it were me, I'd look at the Silverline Minuets. They're rear ported, so that might be an issue, but they're really great speakers at that price level. Or a used pair of KEF LS50s if they become available. Best of luck.