Instead of talking in generalities I'll offer two examples of exceptional under-$1K two way monitor designs, the Selah Audio SA-1 and the Ellis Audio 1801B. The Selah kit incorporates a 7" Vifa XT series woofer and a Fountek ribbon tweeter and sells for $595 with deluxe crossover parts. The Ellis kit uses a 7" Seas Excel magnesium cone woofer and a Hypquphon dome tweeter with deluxe crossover parts and sells for $750. I have heard the Vifa/Fountek combination in another speaker and the difference between these drivers and all the under $30 drivers I have heard is HUGE / ENORMOUS /AWE INSPIRING. I have not heard the Seas/Hyquphon combination, but I would expect it to be even better.

So assuming I know I will be using a good quality 50 watt or greater tube amp or a 100 watt solid state (eliminating the need for a high sensitivity speaker), would a line array or one of the two monitor speakers offer better bass control, midrange clarity, soundstage, imaging, resolution, musicality, air, PRT, or whatever criteria I use to define "high end"? At the $600-$750 price point a quasi line array would offer greater sensitivity and dynamic range plus a larger soundstage, but I still believe either of the two monitor speakers (linked below) would be the better choice for my listening preferences.

http://www.selahaudio.com/id46.html

http://www.ellisaudio.com/1801.htm