Dentons

You wanna match the retro style of the NAD C 3050? If so, Wharfedale Super Denton would fit your budget. https://www.wharfedaleusa.com/collections/bookshelf-speakers/products/super-denton-bookshelf-speakers-pair If you have the space for them, Wharfedale Linton 85th https://www.wharfedaleusa.com/pro

Wharfedale isn't playing around! I've not heard one yet that doesn't stun and please me. Tremendous value! Super Dentons are my end-game speaker for my den. Trying to buy less new records to save up. Doing kinda sorta OK.... lol FYI - while they last, Music Direct has new old stock of the 220's, (5.

Elac UBR62 can be found around that price. Potentially Wharfedale Dentons (85 or super Denton).

Maybe the KEF Q350 speakers (these are on sale, model is being phased out), Wharfedale Denton 85th Anniversary, Klipsch RP-600M II, Monitor Audio Gold 100 or a Paradigm speaker in the same price bracket.

If you're looking for modern speakers with a retro look, the Wharfedale Heritage series is worth a look, and you can often find a pair of Denton 80th Anniversary (new or used) for a low-ish price.

All those brands and their entry level products are going to be bright sounding products. Not warm like you want. And yes, to get to better sounding products, you usually need to go up to the next series up (from entry level). Take a look at e.g. Wharfedale Linton Heritage (EAC review), Wharfedale S

I didn't catch the lack of amp - that's my miss! And generally speaking, the speakers are going to give you the most "signature" to your sound. They should be about half of your spend, more if you can afford to budget for it, rough rule of thumb. But yes - with my recommendation you would need an am

WiiM amp with Wharfedale Denton 80th bookshelf speakers should fit your budget (and are exactly what I have in my living room). They sound amazing for the size, but if you can swing the extra cost, the Wharfedale Lintons are exponentially better and worth every penny.

Always spend the biggest percentage of your overall budget on speakers that you can possibly justify without feeling silly: A $500 pair of speakers powered by $120 worth of amplification will sound way better than vice-versa. My recommendation given everything you've said -- but it's just a stab in

Yes the JVC to start with will sound better than lower quality speakers such as shelf system speakers or other smaller lower cost speakers. Entry level vintage from the 70's can sound dull. If you like vintage then mid to high end vintage that have been refurbished and the crossovers recapped can so