[Wasatch]

What would be some speakers in the $8-10K range that would match up well with my Manley Labs Snappers. Why? My music taste's are Rock, Fusion, Jazz.

[jimdgoulding]

Check out the latest edition of The Absolute Sound.  Bunch of good stuff is pictured and described.  Have fun.  What's the wattage output of your Manley's? 

[Wasatch]

Check out the latest edition of The Absolute Sound.  Bunch of good stuff is pictured and described.  Have fun.  What's the wattage output of your Manley's? 

I just got the new TAS, have not gotten a chance to look at it yet, but the Manley's put out 100 Watts per channel.

[richidoo]

I had Snappers for a couple years. Great amp, I wish I still had mine. I used them first with Legacy Focus 2020, but the Legacys didn't have enough resolution for the Snappers, and the speakers wanted SS amp for the 1.9ohm bass dip. Then I tried Snappers with Quad 2905 after hearing 2805 with Snappers/Shrimp sound so delicious. A nice match actually, incredible playing Stravinsky chamber music up close and wide. Technically probably the best all around sound I ever had, but just not my thing, I guess I am too immature for Quads. The plasticky treble bugged me, and I couldn't really crank them up, so once again the speaker was holding back the amp. Then I bought some demo Usher Be20s. That was an excellent match. Snapper has plenty of power and plenty of detail to feed the Ushers. The Snapper OPT is supreme and can really kick ass in bass, and treble is sublime with the right tubes. If you are using stock EH 6CA7 you are missing a lot.  But with Snappers everything is up front, attention grabbing. You can't carry on a casual conversation with them playing in the background, if the tubes are right it is captivating.

Then I had tube problems with the Snappers, couldn't find tubes that I liked and could afford so I made the mistake of selling them. I should have just bit the bullet for the Gold Lions or Treasures. Then I couldn't find another amp that complimented the Ushers as well, so I sold those too. Not as big a regret, but they were an unbelievable pairing. Plenty of power to blow my hair back on gigantic symphonies, eurotechno dance showoff bullshit, shake the house organ music, and still the most exciting chamber music I have ever heard. Most detailed bass I have ever heard to this day. Natural, musical, extremely detailed and very powerful. 20s need a big room.

Be10s and 20s do pop up on Agon now and then. New price is a total ripoff, but they are worth about 45% of that if you can find one. The Be is as good imo as the DMD, some like it even better. The metal mid/tweet and rigid woof is the ticket. The newer cheaper smaller Ushers don't go to the same places. The stock crossover is the cheapest junk parts you can imagine, but GR sells an upgrade that everyone says is much better, I never heard it.

Good luck with your choice. Enjoy the Snappers - appreciate a truly fine amp.

[Ericus Rex]

Be10s for sale here on AC:


http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110982.0

[charmerci]

If I had that kind of dough I'd go for the Salk SS8's.

http://www.salksound.com/soundscape%208%20home.htm

Here's the AC- http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=g4mg1jkb7vg3trh9jevrph2gnbbdimg7&board=82.0

You'll have to ask to find someone in your area to audition a pair. (Sounds like you're in the SLC area.)

[persisting1]

What size room do you have?

Edit: Found info where I should have looked first.

Sanders Sound might fit the bill.
http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/

A pair of Super Vs?
http://gr-research.com/super-v.aspx

[Ericus Rex]

I would give these a listen if I had that kind of moolah.  I think new they're over your price range but you'd eventually find a used pair.  93db sensitivity with 100 tube watts would ROCK!

http://www.jm-reynaud.com/jmr_us/concorde.html


Or the Orfeo Supremes which are in your price range new:

http://www.amherstaudio.com/#JMReynaud


I've heard a couple of the smaller Reynaud models.  They've always been very musical and beautiful speakers.

[TomS]

If you're coming from the Joseph Audio 25's and they worked well in your room, the Merlin VSM-MXR are a nice option. They are very easy to drive so should be no problem for the Snappers and sometimes they come up used at very reasonable prices, well under your budget.

[jimdgoulding]

I just got the new TAS, have not gotten a chance to look at it yet, but the Manley's put out 100 Watts per channel.

Sonus Faber has a new line, Venera, I think, and with very attractive prices.  Pretty modern thinking has gone into the exterior design and materials.  Can anybody post a link to a review??  The 2.5 way floorstander is well under 3k, I think.  The smaller standmount, there are two models, is like 1.3k.

Those Reynauds look like very, very capable designs for a larger, but not insane, investment.

[borism]

I would also consider Daedalus Athena speakers in this price range (8-10K). They got great reviews at shows and the craftsmanship is incredible. Don't know how they would pair up with your amp and you might want to ask people on the Daedalus circle for feedback.

[JerryLove]

If I had that kind of dough I'd go for the Salk SS8's.

Seconded: or something like the Salk Pharos if you would like more volume.

I fell in love with the SS8 at a GTG back in October. Didn't have the budget at the time, but got SCST's as a consolation prize