Top monitors 3K - 6K range


Hello all,

I am looking into some flagship monitors and I'd like some help/recommendations. I don't have a single sound I like and my tastes in music are pretty diverse too. Currently I have a few nice speakers including Harbeth SHL-5, B&W 805N, Magnepan 1.6 and PSB Imagine B. These speakers are all pretty different and I do like them all. I have owned Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M which somehow did not do it for me, amazing imaging but a little thick. Also I have had the Merlin TSM MMI which was great but my amplification is SS which seems to cause some restrictions.

My room is 12x16, speakers on the short wall. I do tend to like a slightly warm sounds but I also love dynamics, pinpoint imaging and sexy looking cabinets.

I am currently looking into:

B&W 805D
Totem Mani 2 Signature
Dynaudio C1
Focal Micro Be
Usher BE-718
Volent VL-2
Evolution MMMicroOne

Any recommendations? Am I missing anything?
128x128michaelkingdom
Many thanks to Michaelkingdom for taking the time to provide such a well thought out analysis. I'm sure your post will be very helpful to those looking for a good monitor.
Those attending the upcoming Axpona show in Chicago are invited to visit our room, 902, to listen to the Transmission Audio M1i Reference Monitors. $4500/pair.
Thank you. I did post the response in it's own thread so that it can be accessed by people seeking comparisons of those speakers.
Have you listened to the Totem Mani-2? I have heard them on multiple occasions and I always thouhgt they sounded great. IMHO a little less analytical when compared to the C1 but they do sound more musical. From what I have heard. I would love to have a shootout between some monitor speakers like the diablo, C1 and Mani-2. To see how my dynamic solution master one speakers compare to these.
I have not heard the Mani-2 but I would love to. There really are so many great speakers in this price range. I'd be interested to know how the original compares to the signature version.