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Wow, I just came here to ask the very same question, and it seems we are both on the same page here!
That's almost creepy...
Also finishing my undergrad and looking for first hifi setup at about the same price range, I've heard quite a lot about the kef ls50's.
From what I've read (but have yet to audition), a very interesting alternative is the wireless version of the ls50's.
Reviewers (DAR, Steve Huff etc.) claim these are a superb bundle for the price, and surpass in quality many combos (e.g. ls50 wired + peachtree nova 300 integrated).
For my needs, if indeed satisfactory in terms of sound quality, an all-in-one solution has much more pros than cons: eliminates the need to mix-and-match (which can be fun for a hifi hobbyst, but I can't afford to be one atm anyway), easy to set up, and quality DAC means I can use my computer as a source (+1 to convenience) probably without compromise on sound quality compared to CD players in the relevant price range (am I correct on that statement with respect to the ls50w's?).
Also, the ls50w's provide many features I find appealing such as remote control, lot's of connectivity options, and also DSP, which can be handy when the speakers are forced to be placed in a less-than-optimal space.
(I will probably be moving every couple of years in the near future I suppose...)
Another alternative I'm considering is the Devialet Phantom Gold/Silver (although the gold version is a little more expensive). I haven't read much about these yet (let alone listened to, which I realize is a must), but you might want to put them on your options list.
Finally, if any of you more experienced readers want to comment on the above, that'll be very helpful! Like I said, I came here to ask the same question myself in order to narrow my search down before I go to audition different setups, so none of the above I can back from personal experience, and I definitely don't want to give misleading advice.
Does anyone have any thoughts on comparable/superior alternatives in the same price-tag or on further considerations we need to take into account?