4 Speakers

[ajay124]

Recently while holidaying in Goa, I used the free wifi facility provided by the hotel, to catch up on a few speakers which have caught my fancy. It was raining most of the time, but I did not mind as the surroundings were lush green and absolutely quite,peaceful and beautiful.

And the cooked against pre order food and single malt were entirely to my satisfaction. I have come around full circle from my earlier foodie/caterer days of eating out virtually everyday, to now only eating food which is cooked in 'home conditions'. The idea of eating pre cooked/semi cooked and tossed up food, in other words stale food, is no longer appealing to me. Yes, this is what I find most commercial food to be. Stale food. Buffet food is lousy food, but a la carte is not much better. Doesn't matter where it is served. At a banquet,fine dine,speciality restaurant or a five star hotel. The food served at wedding banquets, irrespective of how much one spends is always bad. It has to be. There is simply not enough time to prepare so many dishes the way they should be. Invariably it is a race against time to prepare the multi cuisine disaster which the hosts have fondly ordered! Bad food, bad booze and baaaaaad music. Welcome to the Indian wedding!

I apologize for going OT with my ruminations about my ex-profession. That to in the very first post! To get back to the subject at hand. I wanted to surf and shortlist 4 speakers for a possible upgrade in the future. My 4 cdp search led to the Esoteric SA 10. Where will the speaker search end. Don't know. Don't care. The thrill of the chase is more exciting than the thrill of arriving. Arriving is a form of dying. It means you have reached a full stop. This is the end.... my only friend.... the end. Far better to keep moving, keep hoping, keep dreaming. Keep chasing that elusive pot at the end of the audio rainbow!

The shortlist. For the moment

Thiel 3.6 or 2.4
Magneplanar 1.7
ATC SCM 40
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M

A time and phase 'coherent source' speaker. A quasi ribbon planar speaker. An authoritative, no nonsense box speaker. And a beautifully designed stand mount.

 

[prem]

Do not know your budget but a Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento would be my recommendation. You can even get an used one.

 

[ajay124]

Do not know your budget but a Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento would be my recommendation. You can even get an used one.

prem

I am afraid that 15000$ new or even 8000$ used (presumably) would be a little outside my budget. Which is why I am dreaming small with the Cremona Auditor M

Sumiko Audio : Sonus faber

Sumiko Audio : Sonus faber

But I would appreciate any advise you can give about the Sonus Faber speakers.

 

[arj]

....The thrill of the chase is more exciting than the thrill of arriving. Arriving is a form of dying. It means you have reached a full stop. This is the end.... my only friend.... the end. Far better to keep moving, keep hoping, keep dreaming. Keep chasing that elusive pot at the end of the audio rainbow!

The shortlist. For the moment

Thiel 3.6 or 2.4
Magneplanar 1.7
ATC SCM 40
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M

A time and phase 'coherent source' speaker. A quasi ribbon planar speaker. An authoritative, no nonsense box speaker. And a beautifully designed stand mount.

something I agree to about the Thrill of the chase
Sonus fabers are musical instruments more than speakers and I believe will go really well with your setup and would have been an ideal choice for vocals/small ensemble music they not just sound good but look fabulous too.(hence you pay for their looks too)

But if you are looking at large scale preentation with the dynamics ..nothing to beat a thiel OR an ATC and both revel with good amplification which you already have.

since you are using a bryston, another speaker which suppsedly pairs very well with it is the PMC (there is an ownership connection as well). PMC is available in india(mumbai).
If you find a Thiel, my guess is you will just be happy.

BTW this looks likea Butt ugly speaker but this version of the ATC 50/100 are supposed to be the most revealing.

 

[ajay124]

arj

A major part of the music I have bought recently, and listen to most of the time, is large scale orchestral music. The VA's have great dynamics. Any upgrade would have to better that, in order to make sense.

Seen in that context, perhaps the choice would be between Thiel and ATC. A Dynaudio Contour 5.4 would possibly be a distant runner.

 

[arj]

If possible,please do listen to a Sonus Faber..they do have a certain magic. especially with Tubes.

 

[ajay124]

If possible,please do listen to a Sonus Faber..they do have a certain magic. especially with Tubes.

Have you heard the Domus Concerto's? There is a pair available. How would it compare with the others speakers mentioned here?

A Tube option is not under consideration. A vinyl option is also not under consideration! Vinyl seems tempting, but my CD collection is almost complete. I have burnt my boats and there is no turning back!

My system for many years to come would be:

Esoteric SA 10 (I hope it does not disappoint when I finally get it. I'm feeling a few jitters).

Bryston BP6/4B SST or Accuphase E450 . Right now there is no other amp on my horizon. I believe it is more important to get the synergy right, rather than buy some monstrously big, monstrously expensive and monstrously hot running vintage amp. I am willing to take a chance with a Thiel 3.6 after due diligence, but I would not take a chance with a vintage Krell, Pass Labs, Mcintosh or Jeff Rowland, simply because they are 'legendary' names.

Transparent Audio Cables and IC's (I would like to upgrade the Link 200 IC and the Wave 100 speaker cable to Musiclink Super)

Vienna Acoustics or ????? (If I could get a Thiel 3.6 pair in good shape and at a good price, then I would probably go for them).

 

[trittya]

Oh My God, I almost thought this thread was about a quadraphonic set-up. Yeah, okay, I now there's hardly any music recorded in four channel mode and all that jazz. But, I was mighty curious all the same.

Unfortunately, I am unable to suggest much for want of knowledge and (listening) experience on the subject.

@ajay124
Nevertheless, I strongly recommend that you try the sand and granite bit, (that I had suggested to you) on your VAs once before you sell them and/or relegate them. Chances are, you'll meet a whole new speaker, altogether.

Regards

 

[Rajiv]

Hi,

If possible,please do listen to a Sonus Faber..they do have a certain magic

I recently heard the Sonus Faber Liuto .They are a must audtion speaker for any one looking for speakers in that budget.

As Arj has rightly said they have a certain magic,they make music.

Regards
Rajiv

 

[square_wave]

Higher models from PMCs, Theils and ATCs.

The best speaker you can afford from the sonus faber line.

Blumenhofers.

If you are okay with buying without an audition, here is a speaker you could check out.

They sell direct.

Salksound HT3
HT3 - home

Merlin - the floorstanding model.

 

[ajay124]

trittya

I am neither selling nor relegating the VA's
I began this thread to prepare for the 'future'. Which will happen when it happens. I am happy with the VA's and in no hurry to change. Yes, the sand angle will definitely yeild results, as it is recommended by the manufacturers too. But as I told you, I am not a DIY er like you, and the task seems too overwhelming and complicated for my abilities

 

[pdhanwada]

Trying to buy big speakers in india is a problem. Either we have pay almost 30 to 40 % over the marked price in US or we need to get them imported from US. Importing an item which is over 70 lb is a problem. Most big speakers are in the same range.


Another issue being trying to buy without listening.

I know Audiopeople in chennai has thiel dealership but dont know the pricing.

 

[arj]

Have you heard the Domus Concerto's? There is a pair available. How would it compare with the others speakers mentioned here?
.

you will want a lot more bass extension than this. I have heard the older Concerto . I have always loved the sound as a music lover (i can get critical of it as an audiophile but that is besides the point)

from what i understand about how you like your music, you will pehaps want a lot more extension at the bass with a lot more authority

 

[ajay124]

Trying to buy big speakers in india is a problem. Either we have pay almost 30 to 40 % over the marked price in US or we need to get them imported from US. Importing an item which is over 70 lb is a problem. Most big speakers are in the same range.


Another issue being trying to buy without listening.

I know Audiopeople in chennai has thiel dealership but dont know the pricing.

YES! Higher price than abroad, paucity of outlets, lack of choice, difficulty in auditioning are a part of the Indian HIFI market. But Indian dealers are not as bad or unprofessional as they are sometimes made to be. I have more or less been happy with all the dealers I got in touch with, over the last couple of years. And that would include virtually the who's who of Indian dealers Audio People, Boomarang, A2V, Lakozy, Soundsmiths, Designer Audio, ARN, Absolute Phase, Sound & Vision, Cadence, Rethm, Sound Of Music, Lyrita, Bass & Treble, Pro FX, FXe and several others.

I had called up A2V/Mumbai and Audio People/Chennai to check up the pricing and availability of Thiel 2.4/3.6 and Magneplanar 1.7. I was satisfied with the helpful,patient and knowledgeable response from both places.

Prices quoted were:

Thiel 3.7.... 7 L+

Thiel 2.4.... 3.5 L +

Magneplanar 1.7....1.7 L

 

[prem]

Save up and buy the Guarneris. I had them for about 3 months at home. They are really really good. Very musical, very sumptuous sounding. At least the Guarneris can handle large scale. No issues. The Guarneris are right up your alley.

I do not like their new models. They had one more old model which was bookshelf and sounded very good. I cannot recollect the model name.

 

[arj]

Save up and buy the Guarneris. I had them for about 3 months at home. They are really really good. Very musical, very sumptuous sounding. At least the Guarneris can handle large scale. No issues. The Guarneris are right up your alley.

I do not like their new models. They had one more old model which was bookshelf and sounded very good. I cannot recollect the model name.

I think The Extrema ? now thats a speaker ! .. the older Sonus Fabers were amazing

 

[raj]

I have auditioned Cremona Auditor under non ideal condition. It was a beautiful speaker and sounded very good. Can't compare with the others in your list as I have not listened to them. This was a drool worthy speaker both in looks and sound. One of the few which would floor the spouse too. One thing to look out for: unless your room interiors match it, the speaker may make your room look bad.
I listened to Concerto too at the same time (six years ago) and had a kick-ass bass for the size - emphasis on the size as it is no match for full range speakers but such a small speaker, the bass was surprising.

 

[prem]

Yes Arj. It was the Sonus Faber Extrema. Great speakers.

 

[ajay124]

Hi,
I recently heard the Sonus Faber Liuto .They are a must audtion speaker for any one looking for speakers in that budget.
As Arj has rightly said they have a certain magic,they make music.
Regards
Rajiv

rajiv

What were the other components in the chain? What was the size of the room ? Did you play any music which required the speakers to work really hard? Can you post your impressions in greater detail?

I had auditioned the Sonus Faber Liuto's with a dealer in Delhi. I think it was Gemini Traders, close to CP. They were really very sweet sounding, musical and detailed. But I would rate the Vienna Acoustics Baby Grands I have, and the Liuto's, at about the same level. For build quality. And for sound.

I heard them for about an hour in less than satisfactory conditions. In a 10x12 room, with Cambridge Audio's top of the line cdp/integrated amp.

I have been listening to the VA's for a year now with Bryston, Arcam and better IC's and cables in a 25x14 room, with a lot of work having gone into placing the speakers.

Therefore what I remember about the SF Liuto's is merely a fading impression. A valid comparison could only be made if I heard the Liuto's at home in the same set up for a few days. Fat chance

 

[hifiashok]

Since u mentioned Cadence in the list of Indian AV, have u been able listen to the SC1?