My favorites in this price range:
Totem Forest (used)
Revel F32 (used)
Devore Gibbon 8 (used)
Dynaudio Contour S3.4 (used)
Usher Be 718 (used)
If your taste runs towards a bit more laid back presentation:
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand (used)
For a unique presentation that some people find very musical, but very different from the C4:
Vandersteen 2ce Signature II (new)
I have heard the Contours with Simaudio gear and they sound very good. Others sound good with similar solid state gear.
Totem Forest (used)
Revel F32 (used)
Devore Gibbon 8 (used)
Dynaudio Contour S3.4 (used)
Usher Be 718 (used)
If your taste runs towards a bit more laid back presentation:
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand (used)
For a unique presentation that some people find very musical, but very different from the C4:
Vandersteen 2ce Signature II (new)
I have heard the Contours with Simaudio gear and they sound very good. Others sound good with similar solid state gear.