Can you help or do I have to get divorced?

How are you planning on using a speaker like the Spendors? Your original post suggested that you couldn't put them on stands and seemed to imply that you had very little flexibility on placement. They're great little speakers, from all reports, but I can't imagine they're going to sound good stuck on a bookshelf.

They're hard to find and I don't know that they'd sound good for HT, but the Linn Kan Mk II's are designed to at least be put close to a wall if not actually on a bookshelf. They're very musical and very small. They usually run about $450-500 a pair used, so you could get 4 for your target price.

We're not giving you marriage advice, we're giving you audio-nut advice. It's a lot like golf-nut advice - if you want to pursue it with any real vigor, you're going to have to put up with a lot of potential friction with your significant other. Might as well brace yourself for it, but don't let it ruin your fun. -Kirk

I'm a golf professional so I can relate to the golf-nut stuff and I'm only in the beginning stage of being an audio-nut. I will put speakers on stands if it comes down to it but I'm at least trying to compromise by going to smaller speakers. Can you imagine what my wife will be going through being married to a golf and audio-nut. She may divorce me.

Your last name wouldn't happen to be Tolles, would it?

No, I'm not a tour pro, I'm a club pro.

What a shame - I thought we had a celebrity in our midst. Tommy Tolles has such a nice game! (I'm sure you do too - I'm a double bogey guy myself). I wonder what TT listens to?

Seriously, after you've sorted out your fronts, try a pair of Mission 77ds for rears (white, of course). Wifes love these because they are triangular in shape and blend right into the ceiling when mounted in the corners. They are dipoles and produce amazing "I'm right there" surround effects for HT. You can pick up a new pair on Ebay or the dreaded Ubid for well under $200 which makes them a steal!