Re: Sonus Faber - discussion thread

[bimmerman]

Big fat Krell huh? In this day and age of going green and watching that carbon footprint, those badass gas guzzlers seem so irresponsible and so politically incorrect. Well no, not really. It's that electric bill I fear most.

[azri]

one day, i will power amp krell

[car o scope]

Big fat Krell huh? In this day and age of going green and watching that carbon footprint, those badass gas guzzlers seem so irresponsible and so politically incorrect. Well no, not really. It's that electric bill I fear most.

Yes. The electric meter spins way way faster than 33 1/3 rpm.

[runemaster]

what about KT88?

[eagleray]

Hi .. I am currently running the Jolida 302 tube amp. Looking to buy the sonus faber Toy or Toy tower

Anyone running a similar setup ? or choice between the 2 ?

Is the tower an overkill as my room is quite small (2.5 m x 3m)

[wataru]

I owned one 2 years ago and have to admit it sounds better with ss amp. Initially paired with Audio Research CA50 mmmm.....no comments....then with Densen DM10....Excellent. If want to use tube amp it is advisable to use EL34 amp because it has alot more juice then other tubes....also cheaper cost. If properly matched it is wonderful in small room but you must use their original stands. RM2000 new. 40% inprovement. Remember my abovementioned advice.....SMALL ROOM.

Origianl stands can bring so heavy improvement?! i have some doubts.
Other sonus owner mind to share ?

[miketiew]

Yes, the original stands makes a lot difference. I m having a pair of Domus Concertino. Earlier, i was listening with a normal empire stands. I was running with Audio Research classic 60, exposure pre/power ss and also with Audio Space 300B monoblocks. All of them couldnt produce the sound to my likeing. 6 months later, i got myself the original stands. Wah..... suddenly there was a huge improvement. Its hard for me to explain or express but what i can tell u is instruments sounded more natural, i got better resolution, clarity,better stage openness and pin point stageing. After doing some research, i found out that these speakers was design to be tilted few degree upright to get its optimum performance. With these experience, i believed whatever speakers you re getting, its best to go for dedicated original stands. IMHO,its worth it.

[azri]

so its just about the tilting

[car o scope]

so its just about the tilting

I think the material also plays some important role.

[miketiew]

To simplify about the tilt is it will effect the vocal imaging. For example, with the dedicated stands you ll get better emotion and you could really feel 'Jennifer Warnes' is standing right infront of you singing. Wherears, if i were to ues normal stands....'Jennifer' is SEATTING infront singing.

[sab]

Dear SF owners out there

Need your views since I'm not familiar with SF speakers...there is a shop in spore recently advertising the SFGP Home for SGD2k? assuming if the condition is good, is the price reasonable?

thanks

[san sew]

No dont think so.

Better go for the 2nd hand proacs or a new revel ultima f12 for this price.

the new revel f12 is selling at 4.8k and is compared to the USD 20 000 higher end revel in stereophile. just check.

[san sew]

No way confirmed - no good

[wataru]

Sonus Faber Piano finish will be subtler, more bodied and slightly better timbre.

wao, many people said the Piano finish sound better, then better find piano finish one. Now new Liuto also piano finish and they dont make teak wood anymore.

[car o scope]

wao, many people said the Piano finish sound better, then better find piano finish one. Now new Liuto also piano finish and they dont make teak wood anymore.

You sure??
Sorry bro.. They do have teak version for the Liuto.
http://www.sonusfaber.com/eng/home.html

[sab]

Dear All

Thanks for the reply. will maybe look at other models like toy tower. must build the budget first...

thanks again

[car o scope]

There's a pair in the For Sale section recently but it aint Toy Tower:


http://hifi4sale.forumotion.com/audio-video-equipment-for-sale-f1/sonus-faber-concerto-grand-piano-loudspeakers-used-t6346.htm

[san sew]

Hi listened to the sonusfaber GP.

I definitely think for the price that is being tagged, other NEW speakers can win over the sonus easily. The speakers are new and considered to be world best like the Totem arro, Revel f12 and also the PROACs. Paradigm is anothe winner. And all are new speakers.

Dont know why the entry level sonus GP more than 5-10 years are being so much inflated on the second hand market.

[is_jalil]

haven't listened the speaker so can't comment much, but one thing for sure the look is impressive. Saw one in fs section - black piano gloss with leather - elegant

[ongaaron]

The saying goes.......dont make a pretty speaker your wife or you will suffer for the rest of your audiophile life!!

[car o scope]

But nice speakers will be easier to pass in WAF.
Sound wise, I would say it depends on personal taste and also boils down to how we match the system.

[eagleray]

Hi
Anyone knows where to audition the SF Toy Monitor in singapore ?
One of the shops in Adelphi on the ground floor used to carry them, but could not find the shop when i went there recently.
Tried calling the Singapore distributor based on the SF dealer webpage but could not get through their line.

[chenht]

Hi
Anyone knows where to audition the SF Toy Monitor in singapore ?
One of the shops in Adelphi on the ground floor used to carry them, but could not find the shop when i went there recently.
Tried calling the Singapore distributor based on the SF dealer webpage but could not get through their line.

I think Audio 88. in 1st od 2 nd floor. There is obe guy by the name of Brendan.

[mel249]

Hi all, New here! I've own a pair of SF concertino for many yrs, They are really very musical once i switch it on ,dont have the intension to switch off....

BTW anyone here have xperience with Electa Amator ii,,, read alot of reviews on these beauty, (all SF Speakers Are Beauty) but it all oversea reviewssss. Anyone owns a pair here. and how much will they cost...

Thought of changeing to EA2......Please advise??????????? THANKS

[bimmerman]

Problem is, it's not easy finding the Electa Amator II these days. Nobody will sell.

[hifikrazy]

I apologise first for rubbing any Sonus Faber diehards the wrong way, but I have never been able to see what the fuss is with this brand, other than nice woodwork and leather finishing. When my friend and I auditioned some older models some years back when Audio Image was still the dealer, his comment was that the bass was flabby like "two fat people f..king". Till today, I can still remember that comment because it was not only funny but very apt.

Turning the clock forward to current models, I have listened to models from Toy to Cremona M to Guarneri Memento and none have really impressed.

[mel249]

Anyone here own a pair of SF electa amator ii? How do they sound in general? Anyone have a pair to sell, how much will these speakers cost........

[sph]

As always, Google for the information you want - type in "sonus faber electa amator for sale" and you will find the answer to your question.

[kitahara0011]

tube amps has many personalities, not all tube amps are push over, my
friend has older BAT VK-60, 60W/CH, driving B&W 801, he like to play
loud & shake the house, and he can do it easy, by the way, he's bi-amping, but forgot the rest of the setup, have not seen him for a
long while.
i was using 8W/CH 300B mono driving the bi-wire Concerto, decided
to build better 300B mono(6W/CH) for keep, put in best parts i can
find, was happy with the new mono, until a week later, i finished the
2A3 2ch (3 1/2W/CH), my brand new 300B mono blocks has been in
storage ever since.
i like voice & jazz, as long as you don't expect small output tube (SET) to play like SS, there's a lot of music in it, but first of all, you
need to decide what is most important to you.

[kitahara0011]

sorry, my friend uses the biggest model of B&W, can't remember
the model number, but i just check, it's not the 801, may be the
901, anyway, it's the biggest in the B&W line up.

[kitahara0011]

it's the Nautilus 801.

[dheensay]

out of curiosity, has anyone paired their SF with a copland amp?

[cloud9]

I have SF concerto grand piano, first floorstander of Sonus
I have AB comparision between a class A 150W and 18W SET amp
The punch of SS obviously better but when comparing vocal, tube amp is the clear winner. I do found that SS tends to sound too bright when playing loud. As for tube, i can crank up the volume without fatigue.
I am using almarro 318B.

[kitahara0011]

Origianl stands can bring so heavy improvement?! i have some doubts.
Other sonus owner mind to share ?

i don't have the original, but adjustable height is important, SF recommend
the tweeter be at ear level when seated, and toe in toward the listener.
the girl at the store mention different stone base used with SFGP will
produce very different sound, i have not experiment with stone base
since i put the SFGP in storage only after 1 week, and use Concertos
ever since.

[kitahara0011]

Hi .. I am currently running the Jolida 302 tube amp. Looking to buy the sonus faber Toy or Toy tower
Anyone running a similar setup ? or choice between the 2 ?
Is the tower an overkill as my room is quite small (2.5 m x 3m)

it's more of what kind of music you like, T & Ttower most likely
similar to C & CGP, C is definitely for vocal, also jazz & chamber
music, CGP has a lot more bass, so rodk & orchestra work.
easiest to choose by listening to both at your dealer. bring your
own CDs.

[hushymushy]

reviving this thread....
SF owners......
whats ur take on below amp options for SF Domus Grand Piano

option 1:
Audio Research SP17 pre + VS110 power
both tubes.....
found used units in pristine condition, just used for about 500 hours

option 2:
McIntosh MA6600
200watts @ 8/4 ohms
brand new

option 3:
Audio Research DSi200
300watts @ 4ohms
brand new

having a headache between these 3 amps....
whats ur take?

[kkthen]

For my taste, I will choose Audio Research DSi200. SF internally uses SS amps to test/measure their speakers. I will believe solid state better match with SF.

[hushymushy]

bro kkthen....in that case...y not Mcintosh?

[kkthen]

Sorry, I though the Mcintosh dark & warm sound will make SF Domus Grand Piano over warm. After I see the video from youtube, I found Mcintosh actually match well with SF Domus Grand Piano . I will choose McIntosh MA6600 instead of Audio Research DSi200. MA6600 is more forward, DSi200 is more tame. SF Domus Grand Piano should be match well with MA6600. This is only my taste, I also using forward amp with my SF concertino.

[hushymushy]

hhhhhmmmmmm
went a few round testing....all 3 amps are great and very very close
i think i got fatigue due to over listening....so thats y in dilemma now

[brabusm]

Lads, know anyone with a pair of Guarneri for sale?

[brabusm]

Offtopic : I just read the earlier pages on Euphonic Research.

Amazing that there is so much degrading insinuations being said about the good Dr.

wabun, you are correct to point out the Krell swappers on the EAs. When the EAs were launched, a lot of Krell integrated owners were trading in their units with Audio Image in exchange for the EA amps until such a time that AI stopped the trade in as he had one too many used Krells Integrated.

It's true that the caps are from Panasonic but little is known that they were custom ordered Bamboo capacitors that is only made by Panasonic. A lot of thought has been put into the amps especially with the dc powered biasing. Most do not know that this is an inverse phase amplifier as most can't tell phase difference.

Keep an objective mind and listen with your ears. Eyes can only see branding.
For what it used to sell for, it's a bargain. Try getting a pair for bi-amping. I used to run them with my maggies and ls3/5a.

[bimmerman]

Hushymushy, now I have not heard the SF Domus Grand Piano but I do own a pair of SF Signums and with the Signums I would go for valves as an alternative to solid state.

The Signums do not have the traditional over warm characteristics of the vintage SF speakers. In fact I've tried them with 12watts of 6v6/6sl7 valve power and they were glorious! I've also tried the said 12watts on a vintage Minima Amator and while warm sounding was still quite charming to listen to. It kind of enhances the warm character of vintage SF if you like that vintage SF sound.

So if the SF Domus Grand Piano sounds anything like the Signums then going for valve may hold a rather pleasant surprise for you.

[hushymushy]

bro bimmerman.....thanks for your inputs
alot of people recommends valves.....
anyway...i decided to go for the AR SP17 + VS110
although used....i personally find that its the most pleasant to my ears...

once again...thank u so much for your input

[hifikrazy]

I would choose solid state (either Option 2 or 3) to drive the SF Grand Piano. I believe the Grand Piano is part of the "older generation" of SF speakers that can sound a little slow and flabby in the bass department. You need as much solid state watts as you can throw at them to control that.

[htkaki]

bro kkthen....in that case...y not Mcintosh?

This reminds me of another forum member.

Borrowed his photos :





Wonders how it sounds for movie...hmm...

[hushymushy]

oh...thats bro shuito from lowyat.net
i've met up with him personally....nice guy
tats a Mcintosh MA6900 i think

[flyfly]

Hi..

If someone here would considered SF Electa Amator II,i would suggest pls listen to Electa Amator 1 first.If you can get one..just grab it..its much more musical...

I sold mine 5 years ago..now in deepest regret..i used to drive it with china AMP 250W watter[ 500W/4 ohms] effortless. If you can find this amp[Korsun V8i- just grab it.....big performance at nasty price..very very silly $$ ]

Note: These vintage speakers require high power amp with good control...Power is nothing without proper control...Just like F1..

[shbehmal]

I agree with flyfly, I got a pair of amator I and a pair of extrema, the amator's midrange and high is even sweeter and more open then the extrema. I will only trade it if I can get myself a pair of quarneri. It really looks awesome.

[audiozone]

Anyone heard the SF Toy Tower before? Curious to find anyone who can recommend a value-priced integrated amplifier to go with it.

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