Monitors that compete with quality floorstanders??

A pair of clean used De Capos for $1200.00 is not overpriced.

Vapor Stiff Breeze at 2k should bring you everything you are looking for and more !!

Maybe Merlin might be solution as well.

How can anyone say their speakers are the best for anyone else's situation when you don't know his room or the whole system they are using? That's what I never understood. Not trying to be a jerk, but if you ask anyone who knows, they'll tell you that room and the rest of the systems is everything. I've heard the same system in two different stores on the same day, sound totally different. Similar traits etc... but midbass to midrange were completely different. I've heard most of the speakers mentioned in this thread and some I have loved. I have liked a couple and not liked a few. Again, my ears are different than anyone elses...

Just an observation. This is a good starting point for him to go out and listen for himself. I personally have never heard a sub/monitor system that works for me. No continuity and I can hear it pretty easily. I have however heard subs work well with full range speakers to smooth the bass and augment just a bit. Anything is about proper execution a most know. Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes.

Here's the problem - bass response. The ideal here would/should be bookshelf sized speakers and subwoofers, but bookshelves are still all made for at least decent bass response when you really don't need them to get much below 80hz. This means that you will be hard pressed to find a 2 way that isn't made inefficient (less than 90dB) and doesn't allow for high power handling to give you this unnecessary low end. Find something like Gedlee speakers that are made to be used with subs as opposed to ones on the market that will be helped by subs but don't need them.