I 2nd the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary recommendation. They produce only moderate bass (and not terribly low) for their size but have surprisingly clean and open mids and highs. Female voices, in particular, sound quite clear. So do the upper strings of acoustic guitars. They throw a decent width soundstage and the imaging is better than it should be for a speaker at its price. I was very surprised at the neutrality of its sound. The Dentons can be had for $399 from time to time (normally $499) so they are well within your budget if you catch the discount and at it if not. One additional benefit is the visual appearance. Their wood veneers look better than anything I have seen for $399 or $499 Good luck..
