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Hi-Fi Sonus Faber, The artisan of sound

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kkthen
post May 25 2008, 08:19 AM

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McIntosh also good match


Added on May 25, 2008, 9:39 am
QUOTE(auronthas @ May 25 2008, 08:19 AM)
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
c) Roksan Kandy KA-1 MKIII

Cheers
*
your shortlist is a bit strange!
roksan kandy is not same league with Krell KAV-400xi, Primare I30, how to compare? sweat.gif

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. smile.gif

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 25 2008, 09:39 AM
kkthen
post May 25 2008, 09:02 PM

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QUOTE(grandspy @ May 25 2008, 01:18 PM)

Who has the Bladelius Thor?
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audio matic sales and services at Amcorp MAll got demo of Bladelius Thor.
kkthen
post May 25 2008, 09:04 PM

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QUOTE(jchong @ May 25 2008, 05:30 PM)
Who carries Audio Note here?
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Audio note(m) sdn bhd at plaza Mont' Kiara.


Added on May 25, 2008, 9:12 pm
QUOTE(auronthas @ May 25 2008, 06:17 PM)

I may think twice on Roksan then.  icon_rolleyes.gif
Why not Roksan caspian m1??

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 25 2008, 09:12 PM
kkthen
post May 26 2008, 10:57 AM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ May 25 2008, 10:13 PM)
I saw Bladelius Thor MKII was listed 590,000 yen in Stereo Sound magazine, which is approximately RM 18k.


Added on May 25, 2008, 10:16 pm
I did not include Roksan Caspian M1 because its 70W/ch compared to Kandy MKIII's 120W/ch.
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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.
kkthen
post May 26 2008, 04:47 PM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ May 26 2008, 01:33 PM)
Thanks for info.  Was the demo on SFCD speakers?
*
Not SFCD but Polk audio bookshelf. But we prefer 640c more than kandy CD player.

kkthen
post May 27 2008, 09:51 AM

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QUOTE(htkaki @ May 26 2008, 10:51 PM)
How abt Rega Apollo CD player?
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Rega apollo sure better than 640C, but in this price range it don't do anyting wrong but noting special make us surprise.
kkthen
post May 29 2008, 08:38 PM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ May 29 2008, 06:33 PM)
Haven't heard about Italian made Synthesis, but i heard Unison Research, another italian made tube amplifier used to test with SF speakers (heard from Perfect Hifi), anyone?

Agree with u, Grandspy, it's hard to choose amplifiers as listed, need to pair with your source and SFGP/SFCD and make some audition. Not sure if Perfect Hi-FI has various listed amplifiers to test? Hopefully, they can bring some amplifiers to my home to test.  icon_idea.gif

Also, thought of purchase Benchmark DAC1 to bypass CA 540C and Squeezebox internal DAC, will be the upgrading DAC has more improvement compared with amplifier? hmm.gif
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Benchmark DAC1 is good dac, But you need use good quality digital cable. For hifi, Source is very important. sometimes It may more improvement compared with amplifier.

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 29 2008, 09:10 PM
kkthen
post May 30 2008, 05:40 PM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ May 29 2008, 09:58 PM)
Thanks for yr opinion, kkthen.

Great, i have made some review and comparison among decent DACs such as Benchmark DAC1, Lavry DA10, Bel Canto DAC3, PS Audio Digital Link III DAC, etc.  Benchmark DAC1 still the most valuable one.

What's your recommendaed digital coaxial interconnect? How much?  Is digital coaxial better than SPDIF/toslink?

Cheers
*
I am not sure Coaxial or toslink which one is better. This is much depend your Transport & DAC combination. But normally good Coaxial will be more expensive than good toslink. The toslink is colourless & neutral. Coaxial sound like analogue cable, different brand got different color & characteristic like warm, cool, neutral.

If u want to use toslink you must use glass toslink. Glass toslink got 3x the bandwidth of plastic toslink for expanded resolution and reduced jitter. This the reason why some say coaxial better than toslink. Because plastic toslink not enough bandwidth for audio data transmission.

Length of digital cable is also very important. I got DH labs D75 coaxial in 1m & 1.5m each one.
1.5m length will sound more better 1m length. After i do some research, I found 1.2m length is optimum length digital cable. More than 1.2m will not much different. Less than 1.2m will be more jitter. DH labs d75 is good budget coaxial cable, 1.5m is rm160 ( default come with two canary plug). But please don't terminated with canary coaxial plug, sound terrible. I change the plug to cheap audioquest coaxial plug sound much better.

I got 4 different digital cable.

a)1.5m Dh labs d75 coaxial with audioquest plug- Musical, Good imaging, Thick vocal, slightly warm, but not very detail.

b)1.5m acoustic zen silver bytes RM950- neutral, colorless, sweet high, more detail, soft bass.

c) 2m Ebay Glass toslink RM125- Neutral, colorless, high extension not as good as sliver byte. but vocal thicker , Bass better than silver bytes. Detail as good as silver bytes.

d)1.5m stereovox xv2 rm850- Neutral, colorless, most detail, dynamic, good imaging, transparent, vocal not as thick as d75. Bass not as full as d75 but more detail.

In my system, stereovox is the best, second is Glass toslink, third is acoustic zen.

Cost/performance Glass toslink is best in my system.



This post has been edited by kkthen: May 30 2008, 09:03 PM
kkthen
post May 31 2008, 09:52 AM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ May 31 2008, 03:40 AM)
Wow, kkthen, what a review.  Thanks for providing detail review for my consideration.

What's your hifi setup like, perhaps can share with us. smile.gif

Cheers.
*
my system is very entry level. All is vintage level & second hand item,

Transport = CEC TL5100
jitter reducer: Monarchy DIP
DAc: Monarchy model 22 20bit DAC
Int Amplifier: japanese Cosmos 6bm8 tube amp (2x8w only) sweat.gif
Speaker: France small floorstand confluence solstices

My system only good in vocal. Not all rounded. Not dynamic to play rock & Drum.

My Transport also not good match with DAC. If i am not using Monarchy DIP. It sound lifeless,
even Standalone CD player like marantz 63se & 640c can beat it. Transport + dac not a easy task for my hifi journey,
it got matching problem with your tranport & digital cable. If i start over, I would rather get one
good single box cd player, life will more easy.

I believe your sonus faber is better than my confluence solstices. Hope one day I can come to your house to enjoy your system & learn from each other.

This post has been edited by kkthen: May 31 2008, 09:54 AM
kkthen
post Jun 1 2008, 01:02 AM

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QUOTE(grandspy @ Jun 1 2008, 12:26 AM)
Nice setup!!! How effective is the jitter remover?

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The jitter remover is playing main role in my system sweat.gif . Especially, when my transport is not match well with my old dac. Remove the jitter remover, high, vocal, bass, dynamic become noting in my system. sweat.gif
May be my dac is too old, latest dac like Benchmark DAC 1 got reclock function will solve the matching issue.


Added on June 1, 2008, 1:06 am
QUOTE(PcWork @ Jun 1 2008, 12:31 AM)
hey
how about a small gathering of sonus owner?
grandspy. wanna come over for listening my sonus?
i had tune it according to my taste.
it's very different with the one you listened at perfect hifi that day.
personally mine is smoother.
due to cable/ amp.
i has one epos ES-11 at my hand too.
=)
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PCwork Bro, i am not sonus owner. Can i join the audition? I really want to know the poison of sonus faber. biggrin.gif

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 1 2008, 01:36 AM
kkthen
post Jun 2 2008, 05:42 PM

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QUOTE(mugenfoo @ Jun 1 2008, 04:24 PM)
yea sure no prob.

I am also using a Monarchy DIP ( the very 1st Gen also)  and its now doing a wonderful re-streaming the output of my Apple Airport Express' S/PDIF output. Without the DIP, the Airport's stream makes the sound really rough and edgy. And this ain't serious listening but "convenience" listening to the stuff in my iTunes library. The DIP is totally awesome despite being 10+years old. Also great for converting Toslink to Co-ax or AES/EBU interface, if you wanna try different sounds.

Now the newer model DIPs should be even better owing to improvements in digital timing accuracy from higher grade clock chips/Crystals.
For serious listening,  I got a Theta Jade transport (the one that pioneered the built-in buffer memory to reduce jitter just like Theta's Jitter-Jail standalone) , Wadia 12 DAC, then Mr. Krell, then Apogee Slant-6 hybrids. All XLO Signature-series AES/EBU (balanced) links for digital and analog, then bi-wired to the Apogees.

All in a purpose built room with Robert Harley's top choice dimensions of 10-14-19.

Before the Krell, I was driving the Concerto with an Exposure XX. Very smooth, but not quite enough power and the Concertos are abit power hungry.

Incidentally,  both the Concertos and the Apogee are using the same 6inch VIFA woofer driver.
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Theta jade- wadia 12- Krell- Apogee Slant-6 hybrid

your system is high end. drool.gif
I also like xlo sound, neutral, clean & dynamic. But I am using low range xlo interconnect only. sweat.gif
I have no idea how good the signature series. How about power cord? which power cord for theta jade transport? Do you using any power conditioner for your system?

kkthen
post Jun 17 2008, 11:34 AM

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QUOTE(grandspy @ Jun 17 2008, 09:19 AM)
I'm using a RM1 per meter red and white speaker cable  blush.gif
The cables are the last thing that I'll look into. At least after I get a proper amp. They're more of a fine tuning stuff.
Do report back to us on your findings please  smile.gif
*
The Cable should not be last thing, It give much improvements to my system although i am using the cheap vintage int amp. Anyway try to find the cable as neutral as possible, avoid the cable which got network & strong characteristic, unless you want to tune your system.

I am also plan to get proper amp & start saving money for next year upgrade. If you found any good amp, please share with us.


Added on June 17, 2008, 11:38 am
QUOTE(auronthas @ Jun 17 2008, 11:24 AM)
Howdy grandspy, so long never hear from u. Where did u go?

Sure, i will report.  One of the weekend, i will make audition again in Perfect Hifi, but i would not buy int. amplifier until next year, so just take more time to make comparison.

Btw, last week i bought AudioQuest Copperhead analogue interconnect replacing my old Daytona analogue interconnect, after run-in for 50 hours, it sounds superbly great, warm, can match with VDH the Source.  Anyone has any good/bad feedback on AQ, please share.

Cheers.
*
I have heard audioquest king cobra interconnect in my friend house, quite neutral,detail & dynamic, But a bit thin in my friend system.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 17 2008, 11:39 AM
kkthen
post Aug 1 2008, 07:47 PM

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QUOTE(PcWork @ Aug 1 2008, 12:55 PM)
i tested krell. not sure which model. but it's intergrated in perfect hifi.
pair with my own pair of SFCD. seriously nice.
speed. transparencies. smooth is top notch i ever heard from my own speaker.
the only amp that i like more than the krell is audio research. it's matching my personal taste more.
*
Audio research which you mention is integrated amp or pre/power?
kkthen
post Jun 1 2009, 06:11 PM

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hello bro:
I just bought one pair old sonus faber concertino (biwire version) yesterday. May I ask few question?
a) My speaker tweeter position is not at center. I heard some use inner tweeter , but some prefer outer tweeter, which is one is standard one from factory?

b) I know very difficult to get the original stand for old version concertino . what is best alternative stand for this speaker. how height of the stand should i use?

Thanks for your help.

user posted image

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 1 2009, 06:13 PM
kkthen
post Jun 2 2009, 12:32 AM

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QUOTE(mugenfoo @ Jun 1 2009, 10:22 PM)
according to the old "Concert Series"   (1st Gen Concerto and Concertino) manual,  it says to place tweeter on the inside.
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Thanks a lot Mugenfoo, This is important information for me! biggrin.gif


Added on June 2, 2009, 12:35 am
QUOTE(PcWork @ Jun 2 2009, 12:01 AM)
if near. then u have to use outter tweeterl
else u will feel the sound is cramp together. congested. =)
trust ur ear. ur ear seems lead you to the right path. hahaha.
*
Thanks for your info, I am nearfield condition, but i dont feel sound is cramp together when using inner tweeter. Lucky.


Added on June 2, 2009, 12:48 am
QUOTE(car_o_scope @ Jun 1 2009, 09:00 PM)
kkthen,

Get a nice a pair of stands for them as they deserve it.

I, myself, also itching to get a pair of SFCD..  laugh.gif 
But still afraid that I will look for more oomph to drive them after that and ending up looking for amp replacement too.
Double pocket koyak...  sweat.gif
*
Dont be afraid for SFCD. SFCD is easy to be drive. I try my 60w integrated amp to drive sonus faber concerto domus floorstand with 9 o'clock volume is loud enough. But old concertino is terrible, I increased volume more than 10 o'clock also not enough. But sonus faber vocal is poison, even concertino bass quality & quantity also far better my existing floorstand speaker.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 2 2009, 12:48 AM
kkthen
post Jun 2 2009, 12:54 AM

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QUOTE(auronthas @ Jun 1 2009, 07:39 PM)
Congrat, kkthen.

IMHO, the tweeter height must match with your ear level, so the stand is depend on your listening chair.

Auronthas
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Get it, I try my best . May you share to me, what speaker stand do you using?
kkthen
post Jun 4 2009, 05:41 PM

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QUOTE(car_o_scope @ Jun 4 2009, 04:16 PM)
That's why..
They are not bad too..  blush.gif
ES11 are big and nicely made too.
Mine are not black colour and they have ori stands.  smile.gif
Bought them so many years back when I was still a secondary schoolboy.  biggrin.gif 

I just need to know the gap between SFCD and ES11.
Have to find a time to check it out.  brows.gif
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You are lucky man, secondary school already got a set of hifi. I got my first hifi set when i am 30years old with all second hand vintage hifi set. I love Epos ES 14 sound.
you should bring your amp + epos to hushymushy house to AB with SFCD . You will know your final result.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 4 2009, 05:54 PM
kkthen
post Jun 9 2009, 09:23 AM

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QUOTE(car_o_scope @ Jun 9 2009, 08:20 AM)
Well, he sleeps well after more than 10 hrs of listening on the 1st day.  laugh.gif

Let's have a look at the Italian beauties....  drool.gif

user posted image

So many things to write about them..  cool.gif
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Congratulation. rclxms.gif Welcome to be new member here. Waiting for your exposure + SFCD review. What different between SFCD & epos es 11 in your system. smile.gif

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 9 2009, 09:24 AM
kkthen
post Jun 9 2009, 02:13 PM

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QUOTE(car_o_scope @ Jun 9 2009, 01:25 PM)
I have taken a few photos comparing ES11 and SFCD side by side, dimension wise..

Actually, I was in a haste that day and have yet to define the best placement for the SFCD. Dont care lar.. Listen 1st...  laugh.gif

Right. Back to the music reproduction between the two.
These are my findings..

I would say the vocals from SFCD are just so much smoother and sound 'thicker'.
Try imagine a singer in a concert hall...  (I listened to Jacky Cheung's)
When he is talking to the audience, you can actually 'feel' that he is there standing in the middle of a hall.
There are the slight echo of the hall and also the presence of the microphone. Really becomes more accurate coz in actual he is really using a microphone.
And also can hear the audience reactions clearly from different parts of the hall.

These are some of the things that I have never heard from the ES11, even after I tweaked their positions.
Vocals from Epos ES11 are 'thinner'. 
The ES11 have less control in vocals. Not as smooth as the SFCD.
But they do excel in bass and fast pace musics like Rock.

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Look like sound stage, imaging & Vocal is strong point of Sonus faber. biggrin.gif

kkthen
post Jun 9 2009, 05:22 PM

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QUOTE(nicholas_1213 @ Jun 9 2009, 04:10 PM)
Aiyo I miss my SFCD.. amp sent for repair, any kind soul mind to sponsor me an amp? tongue.gif

Also, planning to have an upgrade for the amp (currently using NAD3020i only), any good suggestion? Car_o_scope currently which amp do you use to drive your SFCD heh? And how do they match so far?
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Try looking for krell 400xi. I like this combination. smile.gif


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