Who makes the best mariomba - money no object?!

obviously a preference thing. but i enjoy marimba one the most. i feel that the tone quality is consistant throughout the whole range. and not only do they sound amazing, but they look beautiful as well. yahama is a close second.

I agree, personal preference is a major consideration. Some other characteristics are important though too. Marimba One is an excellent instrument, but the resonators aren't tunable. Malletechs are nice too, have brass tunable resonators, but the bottom octaves are very wide and can be uncomfortable to play. Bottom line, if you're looking for a high-end marimba, you really can't go wrong with any of the major manufacturers. (Malletech, Yamaha, Kori, Adams, M1, DeMorrow, etc.) Play as many different varieties as often as possible, and choose the instrument that best fits you. Some may be easier to transport as well, but we're talking about a 8-9 foot 200+ lb (5 Octave) instrument. They're all a pain to take anywhere.