Best speaker choice under $1000?

For me it would be a very easy choice. Get a pair of Vandersteen Model 1's. For what you are looking to do, its the perfect speaker. Its also very efficient and will work very well with your Manantz. It's really hard to screw up with a pair of Model 1's.

Sufentanil,

Please don't be offended, but you list some very odd choices. Out of the ones you recommend, I guess the PSB would be the best choice given the equipment and music choice. I have nothing against PSB, but I do find them to be a very boring speaker to listen to.

My apologies to the original poster, I misread some of your music genres as "rap" rather than "R&B, little hip hop" although I think they are close enough that my recommendations are still valid.

Zd, my suggestions include non-traditional (planar and electrostatic) speakers partly because of the OP's objective of "transparency and detail". Those type of speakers are typically strong in those areas. Other options include some of the well-done metal-domed tweeters (such as the Audio Physic that I mentioned) and ribbon tweeters (VMPS, Mark & Daniel, etc). At the risk of generalizing, these tend to offer good detail and high frequency extension, which may help with the impression of transparency.

I agree with Zd in that the newer PSB speakers aren't quite what the older ones were. But the old Stratus series, like I suggested, does fulfill some of those objectives, and in the price range. Even the PSB Bronze would be good for the stated objectives. Another alternative might include the Paradigm Studio 100's.

The Vandersteens are a good choice, although the ones I've heard weren't exactly what I would call transparent and detailed. Maybe other models (from what I've heard) or other speaker/amp combinations would produce a sound more to the OP's liking.

Michael

Sufentanil are you anesthesiologist?

Get Nola boxer!

Awesome

I will not recommend specific speakers when you go out to audition. Rather, listen to different types of speakers, find your preference in type and then properly match a specific model to the power output of your Marantz receiver.

For example, there are electrostats, Ribbon tweeters, Soft Dome tweeters, Metal Tweeters and compression horn tweeters. There are 4 Ohm speakers that require more power than 8 ohm speakers. After the ohms, speakers vary in sensitivity or efficiency. Each type sounds very different from one another. Its up to you to decide what type of sound you like best. Then we can suggest specific models to assist you. Hope this helps.

Reference 3A da Capo's

Des