Versatile, non-fatiguing speakers for a small room under $1500 used or new: advice needed!


Hi, first post here! And not a very original one, my apologies!:)

So after years of listening to music through miscellaneous mid-fi solutions, I am finally thinking about dipping my toes in hi-fi audio and putting together a dedicated stereo setup. Currently I am looking at speakers, and my head is already aching from the abundance of options, so I am looking for suggestions from you guys, primarily from those of you who have had first-hand experience building a stereo in a small room like mine and achieved results they are happy with.

My room is pretty small (approx. 13’ x 10’), and I will be placing my speakers along the long wall. My listening position will be 6 feet away, give or take; plus the speakers will have to sit fairly close to the front wall. 15 inches from the back of the speaker would be nice, but if needed, I definitely I could move them out farther into the room (up to 20 inches from the back of the speaker), for listening sessions and then move them back again. There are several rows of shelves , filled with CDs and stuff, in the middle of the back wall above my head (not wall-to-wall though) - would that work as dispersion? I’m thinking of applying some room treatment behind the speakers, and on the right-hand side wall as well (if needed) - on the left hand side is a window covered with thick curtains.

Budget: under $1500 used or new.
I listen to all kinds of music, primarily rock of all eras and subgenres (blues/folk/prog/hard/art/psych/indie, etc), jazz, blues, classical, acoustic, singer-songwriters, female vocal, 80s new wave/post punk, some heavy metal. So the speakers need to be as versatile as possible. As someone who likes rock music, the bass is important, but I live in an apartment (neighbors!), so I have to find the right balance there as I don’t want to overload the room - the bass has to be there but under control and not boomy. I want as big a sound as possible in my small room without overpowering it. In general, I’m looking for engaging, non-fatiguing, dynamic sound with good midrange and tone, with enough punch to rock out when needed, nuance to play softer, more sparse types of music, and resolution so the details in fast complex passages don’t get lost or smeared. Not a fan of excessive brightness, sibilance, or harshness in the upper midrange.

I’m primarily looking at standmounts, but maybe certain smaller floorstanders would be fine? I’ve seen opinions claiming floorstanders are the way to go, regardless of the size of the room. What do you think would be preferable in my situation - apartment with neighbors, 13’x10’ room, long wall positioning, distance to speakers about 6 feet, maybe less?

Thanks!
mermaid_smiles
Totem Arro (small floorstanders).  Eventually add a small sub such as the Rel T5i or Tzero.

The Arros have a reputation for excellent imaging and (for their size) surprisingly good (if not very deep) bass. Even after mass loading with 10 lbs or so of kitty litter (rice, or whatever) they are small and light enough to move around easily. High Wife Acceptance Factor (should that ever be an issue). 

I don't know whether they'd be better than, say, the Kef LS50. But they may at least deserve a look and listen.
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/photos-the-top-ten-greatest-audiophile-speakers/6/
(assessment may be a little dated)
daveman2,

Yes, I'm looking for recommendations based on personal experience in a similar situation so I can narrow down my options just a little bit. As for the budget for the whole system, I really don't know, we'll see. For now I'm focusing on speakers, once done with this, i'll move on to the amp and source. Since it's my first setup, I'm not really expecting to get where I want immediately, but I do hope to at least get to a very good level of quality that will allow me to enjoy my music for years to come without getting the itch to upgrade every two seconds. That would be perfect. If I can find something affordable that punches above its price, fine - that's partly why I'm looking at the used market as well.

Amp-speaker synergy? Good point, I'll keep that in mind.
@reven6e, thanks for the advice, much appreciated.  "On wall or in wall"? Interesting, never thought about that.
yyzsantabarbaraL: Siamese Dream is a fantastic album, I also use that album to fine tune my system. Great album from start to finish! 

To the OP, I lost count, but I think I was up to about 20 different speaker recommendations in the thread. Instead of me adding to that confusion by making another recommendation, I'll suggest to focus on speaker manufacturers that provide free in home trial, there are quite a few that do. 

About a year ago after reading review after review, I narrowed down my list of speakers by choosing my favorite one that also provided free / small-money in home trials, and I was fortunate enough to have fallen in love with them.  Good luck to you.