Hi everyone,

This SF owner thread is interesting Please add me to the owner's group. I have a pair of Signums. I'll add a pic or two later

Let's keep this thread kicking!

Best regards,
E.T.Teoh

Looks promising (as with all Krells). So how much does this baby cost?

Go for it mate. I own a pair of Signums myself. Contrary to popular belief, they are not as hard to drive as everyone says they are (I think the two most thing that comes to mind when people mention Sonus faber is - POWER HUNGRY & HARD TO DRIVE) Anyway, your amp has more juice than mine and I'm more than happy with my setup. You won't go wrong. Just keep them away from the side and rear walls.

Cheers mate and have fun!

Well that is true. The Signums are extremely capable of extracting all there is in the music. I used to own a pair of Minima Amator (which the Signums replaced) and like the Signums, they do need adequate electronics to be at their best but they will still sing nonetheless with lesser equipment.

After selling away the Minima Amator (to a lucky Singaporean), a decision I very much regretted, I was able to once again, after experimenting a number of speakers, find solace in the Signums. They play all my music right, just how I enjoy listening to them and because of that, they will remain a keeper to me, a set of speakers that I will not give up.

While I agree they may not be at their best in my current setup, they, for sure, are speakers that can only get better as I upgrade the other components.

Bongbo, I have always heard talking about the Primare's tendency to favor ProAc speakers. I listened to an I20 powering a Concertino Domus and later a Studio 110. I have to say, the latter combo was a lot more satisfying. Despite that, please don't leave the Sonus clan...change the amp

I'm sorry the Signums didn't work out for you. Nonetheless, your Concerto is an excellent speaker too and if you feel it satisfies all your needs, then that is all that should matter. Happy listening and Happy 2009 to the brotherhood in Sonus faber!

Missed something?

Below 10K is already quite a budget. Many would vouch for a used Krell like the 400xi. After all, the combo (Krell + Sonus) is known to have very good synergy.

I forgot to mention this - some 7 years back, I listened to an unforgetable Sonus setup - it comprised of a Minima Amator powered by a Pass Labs Aleph Pre and Aleph 5 power combo. It was beautiful. To this day, a used Aleph Pre and Aleph 5 and/or 4 combo is still very much sought after...and one that is still within your budget

Yes it can be quite a task but you come by them every once in a while and if the timing is good, your friend could be among the lucky owners. Actually 10k is a good budget...it may not buy you the best amps in the world but it gets you to a place that is still envied by others. Every cent is hard earned money, which ever way you look at it. Your friend is lucky he has you to look after his best interests

Musical Fidelity and SimAudio makes some pretty good stuff also. Having said that, personally, I find there is a lacking of synergy between MF and SF. Not to say the MF is a lesser amp in any way but there is a reason why we audiophiles are so concerned about "matching" and "pairing" our stuff. The same MF amp can sound astounding with a different pair of speakers.

SimAudio, I have no experience with them so maybe the other Faberians can comment.

Good luck on your quest mate

Power is really a relative thing...there are people who enjoy their music soft and smooth and a mere 20 watter is able to provide them with all they need. There are also people like me who wants the most out of our little budget so we buy the best amp our ears like best within the money. Then there are also people who have a little bit more to spare, who can afford some level of luxury and would probably want the likes of Krell. In the end, it is all about knowing what you want, spending within your means and enjoying your music.

There are people I know who spent 20, 30 grand on their gears but enjoyed them far less than people who correctly assembled theirs for less than 10 grand. I can't say for sure the Krell is best for you or your friend but for what it is worth, it is one of the best amps your friend's money can buy...having said that, your ears will still be the one to decide if a particular amp is right for you.

It is good that your friend has already set the budget. Just take your time in finding the right amp for the job. Hi-Fi is never a rush job. Krell or no Krell, 20k or 5k, the best amp is still the one that your ears approve and enjoy listening to.

Good luck mate

If you're going down the Cambridge Audio route, make sure you at least get to listen to the 740A. I used to own the 640A V2 and while it did work well with easy load speakers, I'm not one to vouch for similar results when driving a Sonus. No they don't sound bad but a little subdued. Restrained. I'm basing this on my own experience but heck, our tastes differ from one to another. By all means, listen to the 640A V2 also...

Hey auronthas,

I used to own a complete 640 V2 combo. Had both the amp and CD player. The 640C itself already had some audible improvements over the 540C and I am certain the 740C chipset will be even better. I once hooked up the DAC Magic to my 640C. The result is a more airy presentation, better separation and more controlled bass. The DAC Magic is good no doubt. The mother of all CA players is still the 840C. Big improvements over the 740C. I would give anything to have that player...maybe a used one someday.

My current digital source is an Exposure 2010 but I found no improvements whatsoever with the DAC Magic. I tried a Proceed DAC and while it was nice, it was a little bit out of my budget

I've not listened to the DACMagic 3 before but if it similarly configured to the 740C, then it should be a decent DAC. The dual WM8740 Wolfson DAC on the 640C V2 is already quite a step up from the 540C's single configuration. The 740C DAC, although similar in configuration to the 640C, should sound better overall. It is after all a superior machine to the 640C. By how much, well, that's really an individual thing. Largely depends on what your ears pick up too. The 840C, now that my friend, is one hell of a killer player...I'll testify to that

I think one of the qualities (sonically aside) that Sonus faber speakers possess is its elegance and beauty. Every Sonus faber speaker is uniquely beautiful. While it may not be the last thing in resolution, it is like a Mercedes Benz in many ways. Not the best car on earth but never fails to draw attention.

Coming back to the Sonus sound we all grew to love, I really appreciate how they engage with me, emotionally. They never fail to consistently "communicate" with my sonic needs. Everytime I sit and play a few of my favorite tracks, I get the same satisfaction as though it was my first time with them. That is the beauty of Sonus faber, be it whatever model you own.

I may or may not get better speakers for my money, but if I had more to spend, I will spend it on a better Sonus faber. Else I will settle for one that my budget permits.

---

Added on March 22, 2009, 10:30 pmI agree. As a former owner of a Minima Amator, I will testify that you need decent amplification to get the best out of them. I used to bi-amp them in a Arcam Alpha 9 P x 2 combo. They were decent but they really sang with grace when hooked to my friend's Pass Aleph 5. I can still picture the way they sound At one point after selling them away, I missed them...a great deal. Thankfully my Signums were able to fill that void ever since I got them.

This post has been edited by etteoh: Mar 22 2009, 10:30 PM

Sonus faber speakers are generally not "fast" speakers. Take for example a pair of ProAc Studio 110 and say a Concertino Domus. The ProAcs are fast and cater to a different audience with different requirements. The Concertino on the other hand, is more fluid but some find them lacking in pace. It is not a good or bad thing - just how you like your music played back.

Warm up usually applies to your electronics - especially your amp. Play it at cold start vs 30mins later. The difference is a lot. Speakers, once they are broken in, they generally sound their best at any given time.

YAY! A fellow Signum owner

Alpha 8? Okay, I'll comment here as I have used a pair of 8Ps in the past to drive a Minima Amator. Easy to listen to but lacks the slam factor.

The 8Ps struggle at higher volumes. I am not surprised as the Minima Amator is one tough dog to drive.

I went onto the 9Ps later. Better overall but still lacks excitement.

Hope this helps.

It is the listening room that plays a big part in the differences that you are hearing, especially bass. Apart from the room, speaker placement and the distance between you and the speakers all play a very big role. Moving the speakers (or yourself) forward or backward as little as half a feet can make a lot of difference. At the end, it is all about finding that compromise between good low end bass and airy soundstage/dynamics.

It takes a lot of time and patience to get there but it is very rewarding when you get it right. Good luck mate

These are the basis for getting better bass response but speakers placed too close to the wall can yield some very nasty bass booms (sonic boom if you will), which are very unpleasant to the ears. Where you sit in regards to your room/hall is extremely important. Try walking back and forth while the music plays...you will very likely hear how the bass notes vary at different lengths.

In my case, I achieved the best compromise not by moving the speakers but by adjusting the sitting distance. The problem, for a number of people is not where their speakers are placed but where they sit, relative to their room/hall.

Hi Fi is such a bi*ch but in a good way

This is an excellent example...bass frequencies, while being non-directional, travels. "Good" bass response are replicated/audible at certain distances (again relative to your hall/room), which makes where you sit very, very important. We all know the basic fundamentals of how speakers should not be placed too close to the side and rear walls and that they should be allowed to "breathe" so that the lower notes do not overpower the imaging quality. What a lot of people don't realize is that the listening position sit is just as crucial as speaker placement. People spend hours, days, weeks moving their speakers all around, so much so that they forget the problem is likely their listening position.

Ideally the room should be rectangular-ish in shape. A longer room allows good bass response to travel and be heard at the right distance. A longer room also means you don't have to sit right at the end of the other side, next to the wall, which can create a lot of reflection in an untreated room. Understanding the boundaries, advantages and limitation of our rooms is equally important as that of our hi-fi equipment. How you "use" your room/hall can and will play a BIG part in the quality of your sound/music.