Help me down grade

Dekay,
Where have you been? I haven't seen you post on here in years! Good to see you back!

If you want to save lots of shelf space, get an iPod, a Wadia iTransport, and a Peachtree integrated amp with built-in DAC. Their DACS sound great. Load the iPod with ALC files and you'll have a rig that sounds better than all but the most expensive CD players out there (I'd still NEVER give up vinyl, though).

For speakers, right now Audio Advisor has Energy Veritas 2.2i stand-mounted speakers for $899, and the matching Veritas stands for $169 (down from $450). That'd be a great way to retain the sonic signature from your old system. And you could always add a compact sub to fill out the last 1/2 octave compared to your dearly departed Veritas 2.3s.

If that won't work for you space wise, get a pair of Mirage Omnisat 3 FS speakers and a small sub (their MM6 is a 9" cube). The FS model has a miniscule footprint, is wonderfully efficient (93 dB, which would work great with a 50 wpc Peachtree amp).

If you must go with wall mount (and at that point I think you're conceding TOO MUCH), get the Mirage OMD-5 or OS3 Sat.

As for your bright room, you could easily tame that with a throw rug, drapes, and wall hangings. You should do that anyway; it's much easier to tune the room.

I had small system like what you're looking for now a few years ago. Wonderful sound, beautiful to look at, and within your budget if bought used.
Quad 11L speakers, Antique Sound Labs integrated tube amp, and a cd player such as an NAD, Cambridge Soundworks, or Sony CD/SACD player would do the trick.

Hi SD:

Don't post often as I haven't been out there/active in the hobby, as far as new gear goes, for many years due to cronic migraines.

I sometime respond to posts on older gear, when I feel that I may be offering good advice.

In this thread/case, since I've down sized from a few nice setups over the years, and I've set up a few systems with "close" to wall speaker placement...figured I'd add my 2 cents.

I still enjoy both the music and the hobby, just @ a more subdued rate than before.

Best regards,

DK

Dekay,
Sorry to hear about the migraines. I suffer from them as well, but thank God i only get one every month or so. I work in the hospital and people don't realize how incapacitaing a true migraine is. I often hear people say "i have a migraine" and they are working like it's no big deal, running around, etc.
Best of luck to you!
Streetdaddy