Speakers Needed: Audiophile Taste - Low Budget

If you're going to continue to use the Sony receiver I'd stay away from metal tweeters given your price range as most will tend to sound overly bright and/or harsh. I've seen Soliloquy 5.0s available for around $500 used and they do offer a center channel as well, but they need a few feet from the front wall to open up. They are relatively efficient and although detailed are more forgiving given their silk dome tweeter so they may make for a nice match with your receiver, and they're good enough that you can upgrade your other components around them for the future. Failing this you might check out Axiom speakers, specifically their M3ti($275/pr.) fronts and 100(around $200) center channel--you can try them at home for 30 days risk free and they have gotten great reviews. Best of luck.

Tim

Getting Vandersteens 1B or 1C is the great idea if you can stretch some room for them. Also check out Totem Arro that are tiny-tiny but the slam and the music realy can come out from them. Their new price is a-bit more than $1k but used you can get for $700.
Do your search and enjoy the music!

If clarity and tonal accuracy are important to you I'd strongly recommend Klipsch Heresy II's for your mains. You can use these speakers on a shelf, stand or better yet on the floor for best bass response. They are VERY efficient, so driving them will not be a problem. You would also have a classic American speaker that will hold it's value if taken care of. I've owned a couple pair of these for years and will always have Heresy's somewhere in my home. If you decide on these wonderful speakers let me know, I would sell you a pair that are in pristine condition well within your stated budget. Not meant to be a sales job, just fact.

Paradigm reference 20s - hands down. I have owned B&W and Vandersteen and just love the Paradigm Reference line - owning the Studio 100s now and am just floored by them. Now if you want an expensive name over excellent sound....

Paradigm Ref speakers are great speakers, and the 20s just got a good review in Stereophile (I think that was the mag). May also want to take a look at the Taylo Ref Monitors listed here in Audiogon. Give Ty a call, and I'm sure he'd provide a trial session. I'm just a fan of Ty's speaker line.

m-