OK Audiogon, help me out please

here is the worst advice when you are focused on 2 models: checkout more. There are 100s of great speakers in your price range

especially used

https://speakerchoices.com/?pricemin=5000&pricemax=10000

@justlance  

What is the rest of your equipment, what is your room like?  What kind of music do you listen to?  Do you play it loud?  or at low volumes?  etc....

All of these things will influence what you hear.  Both speaker brands are solid and well respected with good customer support.  Both their "house sounds" are clean/clear/ precise and not overly heavy on the base.   And from my own experience with MA, they can be sensitive to the electronics feeding them.  The SF models I have heard, see to roll off the highs a little more than the MA's.

So, +1 on grislybutter recommendation, but don't dismiss the other electronics either.  It's all about the synergy of the whole system, including the room itself.

my 2 cents.... (adjusting for inflation, is that now 6 cents...)

The new MA Silver speakers seem like more of what you're looking for and cheaper. Also, matching is the key. 

@grislybutter 

Thanks for the link! I'll certainly browse the offerings.

Sonus Faber makes good speakers too.