Cwlondon, I'm a big fan of Green Mountain Audio speakers. These speakers are really well-made, drivers have been carefully selected & you get the full effect at low volumes because the drivers are sensitive enough. The older Europa model should be available for under $1000 - it used to sell for $995 factory-direct when it was in production. The newer model Calypso is another fantastic offering. My brother owns these so I've heard them many times. The latest model like the Rio is yet another fantastic offering. Just heard them at the Green Mountain factory just before RMAF2013. All of these speakers have superb & real & life-like midrange. They'll work for near-field listening as well.
here's a pair of Chroma's (next model above the entry-level Rio) for sale on Craigslist in Colorado Springs (this seller just happens to be in the same city as the speaker manuf):
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/ele/4186334823.html
here's a pair of Chroma's (next model above the entry-level Rio) for sale on Craigslist in Colorado Springs (this seller just happens to be in the same city as the speaker manuf):
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/ele/4186334823.html