Welcome to Sonus Faber Fan Club. This would be the place where SF owners, supporters, fans and admirers come in to talk about those gorgeous Italian speakers.

Home:
http://www.sonusfaber.com/eng/home.html

The Distributor (Malaysia):
http://www.perfecthifi.com.my/

The Guardians:
1. PcWork (Concertino Domus)
2. auronthas (Concertino Domus)
3. mugenfoo (Concerto)
4. grandspy (Concerto Grand Piano)

Current Satisfaction Level
grandspy - Very Happy but can be better. Need an amp and correct setup


The Driver (Amplifier):
Owners, do state what Amp you are using at the moment, and what amp do plan to use int the future (if applicable)

Current
- Cambridge Audio 540A
- Holfi Integra 8
- NAD 3020a modified ver.
- Krell KAV-300i

Possible Upgrades
a) Krell KAV-400xi
b) Primare I30
c) Roksan Kandy KA-1 MKIII
d) Musical Fidelity A300 (2nd hand)
e) Musical Fidelity A5 (if I can find it)
f) Krell KAV-300i (2nd hand)
g) Bladelius Thor MKII
h) Audio Note maybe not.
i) Audio Research (which model?)
j)


The Placement:
How do you place your speakers? toe in? distance from walls? distance from each other? listening position?

auronthas
I have a rather small listening 'room' (3m (w) x 4.2m (L) x 4m (H) , my speakers are placed 1.2m and 0.8m from rear wall and side wall respectively, my speakers distance are approx. 1.5 m apart. My listening position is 1.2m from speaker with slight toe in. (usually, the listen position shall be 1.5m (golden triangle rule), however it was recommend by SF R&D engineer - Dr. Pablo to position 0.3 m closer towards speakers)

grandspy
to be updated later...


The Accessories:
Speaker cables, Speaker stands, Spikes, etc.

auronthas
Just bought Chord Carnival Silver Plus single wire speaker cables last week replacing Van den Hul Goldwater, still under burn-in period, bass and treble sound superbly well, however, i find midrange (vocal) a little bit dull, perhaps, after burn-in, it would be improved.
Normal and cheap speaker stands with 80% sand-filled on its columns and it comes with speaker spikes. Speaker stands are placed on 0.5 inch marbles with anti-vibrapod.

grandspy
Haven't though about this yet. Will do this last when everything is in place. Currently using the old Nordost Flatline Gold speaker cables : bi-wired.
Speakers standing on their own spikes.


The Pictures:
The real stuff...

This post has been edited by grandspy: Jun 2 2008, 08:38 PM

After a very long deliberation, I finally decided that it has to be Sonus Faber. I'm just not ready for Martin Logan yet... they can wait. Maybe one fine day I'll eventually get them. But now is the era of Sonus Faber.

I'll not make a review just yet, not when they're not properly set up. But, let me just say that they blew away my old faithful Missions to pieces. Just as expected. They melt my heart. Just as expected. Like all things Italian, they're drop dead gorgeous. Now I need to find an amplifier.... not just any amplifier but an amplifier that fits for a Queen. Should I go Tube?

Tube is the way to go for Sonus. Grandspy, going for Audio Note?

Besides tube amplifier, is any good s/s integrated amplifier?

I am also looking a good s/s integrated amplifier to replace my CA 540A integrated amp., most probably SS for Sonus. Below are few that i have shortlisted, hope someone can give us some tips and recommendation to share: -

a) Krell KAV-400xi
b) Primare I30


Cheers

Update: delete (d) to (g), as grandspy had included in #1 of this thread

This post has been edited by auronthas: May 27 2008, 09:29 PM

McIntosh also good match

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Added on May 25, 2008, 9:39 amyour shortlist is a bit strange!
roksan kandy is not same league with Krell KAV-400xi, Primare I30, how to compare?

In your list, Primare I30 is most musical, laid back, warm sound, but power not it strength.

Krell KAv-400xi is most powerful, neutral, honest, characteristic less. but some will feel not so musical.

If you like tube sound solid state powerful amp, I recommend you go to amcorp mall try the bladelius thor . one of popular int amp in malaysia now.

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 25 2008, 09:39 AM

Audio Note eh? I can't even afford the name plate
But yeah, my heart tells me to go for Tube, but..... I'm more comfortable with SS. Less hassle.


My extended list :
d) Musical Fidelity A300 (2nd hand)
e) Musical Fidelity A5 (if I can find it)
f) Krell KAV-300i (2nd hand)
g) Tubes??

I don't quite like the Roksan though..


Who has the Bladelius Thor?

i think sonus faber goes very well with audio research..

Who carries Audio Note here?

You may be right, Roksan Kandy may not in the same price group as Krell, Primare, but i hv studied reviews, Roksan Kandy do provide sufficient power to drive SF concertino domus. Nevertheless, RK may not have adequate power to drive others high range SF compared to Krell, Primare. In short, Krell, Primare can last longer.

Are you talking about Bladelius Thor MKII?  It's quite expensive, almost RM 20K, right? How about italian made tube solid state integrated amplifier such as Unison Research Unico Line or Unico SE?

I may think twice on Roksan then.

I have a rather small listening 'room' (3m (w) x 4.2m (L) x 4m (H) , my speakers are placed 1.2m and 0.8m from rear wall and side wall respectively, my speakers distance are approx. 1.5 m apart. My listening position is 1.2m from speaker with slight toe in. (usually, the listen position shall be 1.5m (golden triangle rule), however it was recommend by SF R&D engineer - Dr. Pablo to position 0.3 m closer towards speakers)

Just bought Chord Carnival Silver Plus single wire speaker cables last week replacing Van den Hul Goldwater, still under burn-in period, bass and treble sound superbly well, however, i find midrange (vocal) a little bit dull, perhaps, after burn-in, it would be improved.

Normal and cheap speaker stands with 80% sand-filled on its columns and it comes with speaker spikes. Speaker stands are placed on 0.5 inch marbles with anti-vibrapod.




This post has been edited by auronthas: May 25 2008, 07:17 PM

audio matic sales and services at Amcorp MAll got demo of Bladelius Thor.

Audio note(m) sdn bhd at plaza Mont' Kiara.

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Added on May 25, 2008, 9:12 pmWhy not Roksan caspian m1??

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 25 2008, 09:12 PM

Hey, don't discard the Roksan Kandy just yet. Just because it's not in the same league with the Krell/Primare does not mean that it's not good enough for your Concertino. It's all about synergy.

What?? RM20K for the Bladelius Thor MKII? If I'm not mistaken, it's sold for USD3000 in the states.

I saw Bladelius Thor MKII was listed 590,000 yen in Stereo Sound magazine, which is approximately RM 18k.

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Added on May 25, 2008, 10:16 pmI did not include Roksan Caspian M1 because its 70W/ch compared to Kandy MKIII's 120W/ch.

This post has been edited by auronthas: May 25 2008, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the info!


Hmm.. maybe I was looking at the old version of Bladelius. Well, if it's RM18K, I better get the 'cheaper' Krell.

auronthas, I've updated some info on the 1st post if you don't mind.

I used to pair SFCD with AR VSi55.

Be careful of Krell 300i. its review is so so only with some weakness mentioned in the stereophile. Krell 400xi is a better improvement. Second price between 300i and 400xi is wide spread.

This post has been edited by ccschua: May 26 2008, 12:04 AM

No problem, it's good to share among forumers and i want to know more from others too on your experience.

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Added on May 26, 2008, 6:02 amI read Stereophile Editor-in-Chief, John Atkinson's measurement on Krell 400xi that he encountered overheating problem, hence, i worry if Krell 400xi can operate for long hour, or it may need a good ventilation system. Just my concern.

This post has been edited by auronthas: May 26 2008, 06:03 AM

Bladelius thor may be 15-16k in Malaysia.

kandy sound isn't as refined or insightful as the Caspians, but it is exciting, with speed and vitality, the price is good.
It will be good match with your Cambridge audio CD player. even better than 640a. last time the dealer demo 640c + kandy far better than 640c + 640a.

Thanks for info. Was the demo on SFCD speakers?

Not SFCD but Polk audio bookshelf. But we prefer 640c more than kandy CD player.