hello to all sifus here...a couple of questions on my upcoming hifi setups

i used to be on home hifis...in fact was running on Audiolabs 8000 series together with Epos.....
then went into ICE.....am still in ICE...and now planning to get a better hifi set for my new home

i also noticed that quite a number here r SF fans and close to perfect hifi

i was browsing through the perfect hifi website and saw their SF Grand Piano speaker pairing with Audio Analogue.

Now....i've listened to SF Grand Piano in Bangkok, and i must say it just took my breath away. OK the Cremonas is abit pricey for me....besides..
i still love floorstanders...Cremona floorstander....wah...pocket beh tahan
d Grand Piano was paired with a McIntosh C200 and MC275 tube pre/power and also McIntosh cdp.....

I have two setups in mind:

Setup 1:
Densen Beat 150
Densen Beat 420 CDP
Focus Audio FS-688 SE
XLO Signature 3 cables

Setup 2:
Audio Analogue Puccini Settanta
Audio Analogue Paganini CDP
Sonus Faber Grand Piano
XLO Signature 3 cables

now i've auditted both systems and both hv their pros & cons which leaves me undecided. price wise...they r bout d same

i chose XLO cables over Transparent and Zu bcoz of personal taste of characters which i hv spent hours auditing with couple of frens

IMHO....the SF grand piano with audio analogue is sweet, smooth and transparent. abit laid back compared to the densen/FA combi.
the densen/FA combi has more dynamics, accuracy while it lacks the vocal smoothness and character.
The SF set seems to have my kinda of taste...just a little bit lack of dynamics and attack when i need it...

i must say both produced accurate imaging, staging, height & depth
for transparency i would vote the SF
for more accuracy and control..esp damping factor i would vote densen/FA
for vocals smoothes, warmth, character...SF would seem a better choice
FA lacks of very low bass due to bookshelves while the Grand Piano is good at low but lack of mid bass attack
d Densen produced better headroom compared to d Audio Analogue...but argueable due to different sound room

so i hope d sifus here can share their views.....
i hv spoken to alot of ppl....and d more dilemma i'm in now....

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Added on October 5, 2008, 2:22 amalso...my setup 3 option:

McIntosh MA6300 or MA6900
McIntosh MCD201
Sonus Faber Grand Piano
XLO Signature 3 cables