[jrosenth]

I have to scond the Canadians brothers to the North - Energy, PSB, Paradigm

Oh yah, you can also order a kit from madisound if you can do a bit of assembly

 

[proglife]

Another recommendation for the ELS3's here. I have them and am more than happy with them. Great little speaker that deserves every bit of praise it gets.

Get a Toshiba 3950/60, an NAD integrated and those EPOS (and whatever cheap speaker cables you can convince yourself sound acceptable) and you've got satisfying sound.

 

[Ticky]

With a low budget, I suggest going for used (as you noted ebay) and you could try to get models that are non-current.

For instance, the Wharfedale Diamonds 8.1 or 8.2.

Other brands I would suggest that produce budget speakers (but are reputed makers):

- PSB
- Polk Audio
- JBL
- KEF
- AR
- Boston Acoustics
- Cambridge Soundworks
- Mordaunt Short
- Klipsch
- Acoustic Energy
- Athena
- Mission
- B&W

PS - you could even look for Denon speakers which are "designed by Mission." These bookshelves should be fairly easy to drive as they were designed for mini components.