Only way to go is test them yourself.

First question you need to ask yourself is: Is my room acoustic "clean" : Did you have any acoustic treatment in your room? If not, you don't need to buy top-range monitors 'cause they won't give you the extra bucks worth in sound due to the sonic behavior of the room.

Second you need to set your budget and select monitors within that price range. (no need to listen to monitors way out of your price range: they'll probably sound better and you won't like the ones in your budget anymore.)

Go to a store and have the salesperson set up the monitors you want to audition. Take a couple of CD's with you with music you really know. (originals, no MP3 or copied stuff)

Listen to each monitor carefully (ask the salesperson for a cup of coffee if he hadn't already offered you one: this testing may take some time!)
When auditioning the monitors don't go per se for the nicest sounding ones: monitors have a different purpose than hifi audio speakers. Hifi audio speakers are designed to give you a nice, "warm" and clear sound: designed to please the listener. Studio monitors are designed to give the "real" sound: a as flat as possible response.

A little "trick" I used to finally choose my monitors from the remaining two, was to find the one where I was best able to determine where each and every instrument on the virtual stage was and listen to that instrument
as a single sound-source.

No, I won't give you any advice on brands or types. I don't think you will find crappy units in the price-range you mentioned, so it all boils down to personal taste.
Good luck, have fun and trust your ears

Last edited by Mike sings; 03/15/10 12:56 PM.
Mike
www.mikewever.nl