Monitors and Integrated for $300-$500


Here's the challenge:

A friend would like to dump his aging and awful boombox, and replace it with a pair of monitors and an integrated amp. He only wants to spend between $300 and $500. The system is for a small room, and he wants a remote. I've got cables for him, and he'll use his DVD player to play CDs.

What would you recommend?
128x128dennis_the_menace
thanks for the advice everyone. the budget has actually increased now... $550 for the speakers, $300 or so for the integrated. i'm thinking some used proac tablettes, spendor 3/5, or quad 11L... paired with an arcam integrated? or the NAD?
The NAD should really be fine. I used it with a pair of Linn Tukans with good success. I actually liked them better than the spendor 3/5's.
Also consider the Tannoy Fusion 1's. Wonderful loudspeakers! Beautifully voiced and has surprising good bass response. Of all the small loudspeakers I've owned over the yrs., these are keepers. The Spendor are great loudspeakers, however they are very difficult to drive. Go for the Tannoy's and spend more on your amp. The Creek 4330 SE is a really good int. amp and used under $500 is worth considering as is Arcam, Classe, and others.