Helloskinny, My listening room is about 12x17 with my speakers along the long wall. I wanted the same bass as you without the need for a sub since I don't have room for a proper sub. I started out with a budget of around $700-1000. However I wasn't able to find exactly what I was looking for around that price range. That said for ~$1000 I found that the Vandersteen 1c was the best that I was able to hear locally.
Here's my journey for finding the best speakers for the buck starting with the thread I made at AVS forum:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1346513
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1&ctg&0&50&
Long story short I found the best pair of speakers overall was the Vandersteen 2CE Signature II. I found a pair here on Audiogon in great shape for just a tad over my budget of $1500... $1650 shipped.
Midrange and overall transparency is much better with the 2ce sig ii. Bass is also much better. It can also fill the room I have them in quite nicely.
Here's my journey for finding the best speakers for the buck starting with the thread I made at AVS forum:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1346513
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1&ctg&0&50&
Long story short I found the best pair of speakers overall was the Vandersteen 2CE Signature II. I found a pair here on Audiogon in great shape for just a tad over my budget of $1500... $1650 shipped.
Midrange and overall transparency is much better with the 2ce sig ii. Bass is also much better. It can also fill the room I have them in quite nicely.