The best speakers in that price range. I've listened to speakers in the $10 000 price range and they don't sound as good. However, to get the best out of them you need a powerfull amp. I drive mine with a McIntosh MC500 and they also need very expensive wire. Although the price of the speakers is very good for the quality of sound they provide, you need expensive equipment to drive them. Overall, if you have the equipment they are simply the best. Otherwise look somewhere else.

My friend has a stereo with the Mani-2's and I have had quite a long time to listen to it, and here is what I thought. Both the pre-amp and main amp were passlabs, the CD player was a Balanced Audio, with $1700 interconnects, and $2000 speaker cables (not sure what they were). These speakers simply amazed me. For their size, they produced such a large amount of room-filling sound, and presented the largest range I have ever heard from a "bookshelf" speaker. The bass these things produced was almost unreal!!! When certain tracks of Enya were played, you could rattle something off a shelf in a distant room! The bass extened so low, and was clear as I have ever heard. This may be because of the unique interior speaker design?!?! Even when the amp was turned up to the highest gains, and the highest volume, the speakers never distorted, nor did they produce harsh sound. The louder they got, the better they sounded. I was compelled to sit and listen to every type of music I could muster up, from Goa Trance, to Christopher Hogwood Academy of Ancient music! Becuase the speaker is so small, there was never any over exerted noise that larger speakers can accidentally do, and it was so accurate, it felt like you were engulfed in a live musical event! For anyone who is looking for a pair of speakers to give the best sound of any speaker, regardless of price (I have heard $50000 speakers hooked up to $400000 worth of equipment), these are them. Set them up correctly, with the appropriate stereo equipment, and these are the best speakers I have ever heard. Congratulations for a Canadian company putting out such a fine product, and congratulations fo passlabs and balanced audio, for making such fine products. By the way, don't get the more expenseive "Shaman" version, they sound much worse than the littler dude, and cost WAY too much! A perfect rating!

I recently purchased a pair of mani-2's which replace my B&W 801 Matrix. I wasn't looking to upgrade necessarily. I just found that my 801's needed more space than I could presently afford them. The Mani's are perfect for my relatively small listening room. When I compare the two speakers, the 801's obviously have more bass prowess but that's about it. The Mani's have smoother high's and more natural sounding mid-range. The Mani's are also more dynamic and less laid-back than the 801's. I did not set out to upgrade as I already stated, but my ears and friends believe that I have.

Simply one of the best speakers I've ever heard. Incredibly revealing of the recording quality of a CD, which can give the impression they sound like hell. For the first time of my life, I find bass extension totally natural, and not exaggerated.Those who don't like them just have bad listening habits. But if you prefer Thiel CS1.5 and this kind of crap, that's up to you. If you're open to a musical experience that is about music and not hifi, buy them immediately. I do agree that in certain countries, however (in France for example), they are a bit expensive. But I don't know much speakers that sound so well, especially big ones!

well resolved bass that goes quite low with great treble and midrange to boot.

Extremely difficult to drive and long break in time.

Let me begin in saying that I have had the Mani-2s for over 4 years now and they are a great little speaker. They do most things quite well however a high powered high quality
amplifier is a must: such Sim Audio Moon, Levinson, Krell etc. High power is not enough to get the most out of these
speakers you also need lots of current and control from the amp, oh yes they will play with just about any budget amp of 100 watts or more but they will sound crappy.
It's like trying to put a pair of formula one racing tires on your family sedan!
. Also any other weaknesses in your system will be highlighted. I have heard these speakers in a variety of systems and in each case they will not perform their best unless you partner it with high quality components. A high quality tubed preamp will also improve on the midrange and treble. As for people who posted reveiws on this speaker based on a limited auditions at a show, how can you judge any piece of gear in a less than ideal set-up in such ashort period of time it can' be done.
As for the pea brained "Ken" who simply posted two negative reviews here simply because someone offended his choice of speakers this should not be tolerated. I actually own a pair of the Proac Response Two speakers as well and they are a fine speaker in it's own right, but in my opinion after living with both for several years , I prefer the Mani 2s they just have a better coherent presentation and are quite a bit better in resolving the low end. The proac's actually have a slightly smoother and defined treble which can make the Totems sound a touch drier and etched however as I mentioned a quality tubed preamp will take care of this nicely.
Are these the best speakers out there, of course not but I have not heard anything in such a small package come close
and yes they are pricey but they are worth it.

Similar Products Used:

Proac Response Two and studio 100 and a wide variety of audiophile speakers.

Good soundstage, full range sound for the size

Hard to drive (85db), sound is somewhat flat and dry

Heard them at the Montreal HiFi Show. Not impressed at all considering the price tag. I have a pair of Model One and they sound as good. The sound was kind of flat and tasteless.

For those listeners who prefer a more "live", rich and colorful sound, get the Totem Forest (3500$CDN).

For those who prefer a more detailed, clear and precise, get the JMLab Electra 920 (7000$CDN)... quite expensive but you won't regret it !!!

Similar Products Used:

Totem Sttaf, Forest, Model One, JMLab Electra 920, Cobalt 815