"i really do not want to spend more than $500 for the speakers"
There are many excellent front ported speakers available in this price range right now:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.2 - discontinued but available from Internet dealers for under $300 new, or much less used, great all-rounder
Usher S-520 - $479/pr. new, good for rock
B&W 685 - $650/pr. new, another alternative could be a used pair of old English built B&W 601's or 602's, preferably S2 or S3 designation, for much much less than $500 used
PSB Image B15 - $379 new, another good all rounder
Paradigm Titan v.5 - under $400 new from Internet dealers, almost full range
Monitor Audio Bronze BR2 - $450 new, sound expensive
Epos ELS3 - $399 new, not front ported but sound really, really good.
These are all very competent speakers and I think would pair well with the Decco for near wall placement. Many of these are the larger version of the companies' bookshelf speakers because it is difficult to squeeze a port on the face of a smaller speaker. While these larger "bookshelf" speakers will be more efficient, most of these boxes are pretty deep - something to consider if attempting to actually place on any bookshelf less than 12" deep. If space is a serious issue, I might recommend the Epos ELS3 or the Paradigm Atom Monitor in place of the company's Titan.
Good luck.
There are many excellent front ported speakers available in this price range right now:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.2 - discontinued but available from Internet dealers for under $300 new, or much less used, great all-rounder
Usher S-520 - $479/pr. new, good for rock
B&W 685 - $650/pr. new, another alternative could be a used pair of old English built B&W 601's or 602's, preferably S2 or S3 designation, for much much less than $500 used
PSB Image B15 - $379 new, another good all rounder
Paradigm Titan v.5 - under $400 new from Internet dealers, almost full range
Monitor Audio Bronze BR2 - $450 new, sound expensive
Epos ELS3 - $399 new, not front ported but sound really, really good.
These are all very competent speakers and I think would pair well with the Decco for near wall placement. Many of these are the larger version of the companies' bookshelf speakers because it is difficult to squeeze a port on the face of a smaller speaker. While these larger "bookshelf" speakers will be more efficient, most of these boxes are pretty deep - something to consider if attempting to actually place on any bookshelf less than 12" deep. If space is a serious issue, I might recommend the Epos ELS3 or the Paradigm Atom Monitor in place of the company's Titan.
Good luck.