Does the original Sonus Faber Amati Homage Rock?


I need some advice , I have a chance to buy a set of SF Amati Homage speakers from a store in MICHIGAN for 12k shipped the speakers look fantastic near mint!.  My concern is  all that I have read says that there bass shy , last fall I bought a set of Daedalus Audio Ulysses speakers version two used I over paid don't think the Ulysses speakers came close to my long-term Tyler Acoustic linbrook signature floor standers,  I ended up losing almost 2k on that deal I play mostly Rock music and some Jazz anyone still own these speakers and will they play Rock music well   like Pearl Jam, Alice in chains, the Beatles ect. Any suggestions for me also am I over paying if I buy, thanks for any Help 
128x128goofy
Well these were 20k when new and are going on 20 years old. I would say that yeah 12k is absolutely too much for them. If looking for speakers good with rock Sonus Faber would be way down my list.  
Check out hifishark and type in any speaker you are looking at. Even if they dont have any for sale you can pick to show older listings and what they were asking. Sonus Amati Homage seems to have a median asking price of around 7k. 
Agree that $12K is too high for that speaker.  $7-$8K sounds about right.  I've not heard them... but a friend had them for a brief time and said the treble was too hot and the listener fatigue was unbearable.  Based on that feedback and my aversion to hot treble, I would stay away.  

Recommend you research threads on speakers best suited for rock music to get some ideas.  

BTW, I had Daedalus Ulysses as well, and found them to be decent after a thorough breaking in process, but prefer my Harbeth M-40.1's by a sizable margin.   
Sonus Faber Amati Homage is good for Jazz and classical not for hard Rock.

Without value judgement, it is not for rock buff.
Some of you obviously have not owned the original Amatis.  They are not bright at all.  If anything, they are a laid back speaker.  The Amatis do sound good with rock music.  Their only real weakness is really deep bass, and the ablility to play at ear bleeding levels.  I personally would take the original Amatis over the newer "non Franco Serblin" designs. I had two pairs of Amatis in the last 5yrs.  Sold one pair for $7500, and another pair for $6500.  Hard to beat in both sound and looks at those prices.
Ok thank you, I  was told by the seller he would make sure I was happy and if not would offer to resell them though his store Wich has a good reputation,  the speakers themselves are like new condition not a blemish anywhere, and this is a upgrade with Silver wire thought so yah I am nervous but I am thinking about purchasing them ,I was told they retailed for 24,000.to 26,000. ,and if I like this set would sell my Tylers so it's hard to say no to that   I will keep you posted and if I don't like them you will know why
One more thing, the seller said would ship to CA, with insurance from MI, at his cost, with original shipping and all original packing that is worth about  $800. I checked it's a gamble wish me luck 
I wish you were around when I sold my two pairs:) if someone modified the speakers, doesnt make them retail for more.
The way I understood it is a factory update near the end of the original run,  to me it's like  buying NOS Speaker like a new set from 15 years ago if I don't like them the store will sell them on there  dime to me that is very important, I am sure your speakers were awesome but if I said hey I don't really care for the sound would you have offered to re sell them and ship them on your dime that to me is worth the extra cost,  thanks for your help I pray I will love this  set I  am 63 on Tuesday and nearly at the end of my Audio journey,  happy listing my friend 
Souljasmooth if you had  two sets you must have liked  the Amati why did you sell your sets and what electronics where you using,  thanks for any information 
Im a huge fan of early Sonus Faber speakers.  I had them all.  Since you already bought them, Im not gonna say if it was a good deal or bad deal.  Nothing worse then someone telling you what you dont want to hear.  They are great speakers, and hopefully you enjoy them.


Could the Amati rock? Yes. I gave the British pressing of the Clash's London Calling a spin, and the title song issued forth with all the throbbing, jackhammer, bone-crunching intensity it requires to communicate its meaning. Paul Simonon's bass was deep, focused, and convincing in both pitch and texture. It never overloaded the room, nor did it ever sound as if "one-note bass" was coming from the speakers. The bass on "Jimmy Jazz," which digs deep, didn't suffer from overhang or bulbousness—in fact, it was as distinct and lithe as I've heard it, and the distant "walla" of the crowd noise behind the song's silliness was laid out in a distinct layer that was clearly audible throughout the song. Have I heard greater bass slam on this tune? Yes—but not greater resolution, tonal authority, or subtlety of fingers on electric bass strings. The Amati could rock and play loud, loud, LOUD with no sense of strain.
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/sonus-faber-amati-homage-loudspeaker-page-3#hOoEt1pkQs4kvgCi.99
I Thank you all , it's a done deal I have already agreed to buy this set so we will see, I guess I over paid but the service  I will get if they don't work out is more important I will report back and do my best  to do a review, my best Regards to the Audiogon community 
Your Right mofojo , I would feel a little better even if I could bring it down a $1000. I am way more worried about how they will sound if there Magic then a weeks pay won't matter in the long run , so far my long journey for Audio Nirvana has been rough I have tried B&W 804 and 801 Matrix plus B&W 802 N and Daedalus Audio Ulysses v2 , so far only the Tyler  acoustics Linbrook Sig.one piece have pleased me long term and they are far from perfect, plus they are no longer made , so again thanks  
To report back on the Sonus Faber Amati Homage speakers I ended up paying about 10k after shipping I was surprised how well these speakers were taken care of when I got them I was unable to find any marks or scatches the woodworking was first rate   the rest of my system is a set of McIntosh MC 501 Mono's,  ModWright LS 36.5DM Tubed Linestage ,  Oppo/ModWright 205 spinner with Tube Mods,  Crystal clear Audio Silver cables, I also have two Velodyne DD 15 run in stereo I don't always use the subs but there nice for some music, to get back to the Amati's at first listen I didn't think that the Amati's were that much better than my Tylers with seas drivers but I gave them a long run in to my surprise the Amati's got better with time and small ajuments now I am getting a wide deep soundstage a buetifull airy highs and midrange to die for the Tylers had slightly more bass but the Amati's are more realistic , I admit I over paid for a speaker this old but the service I got from the store was worth the extra money my Tylers were sold for me and a check is on the way , all I wanted was a great sounding speakers and I am getting that with the Original Amati Homage speakers, I will most likely make one more move with a Pass Labs class A power Amp and a better front end, for all the Audiogon community who gave me advice Thank you very much! Happy listening 

Goofy, 

 

I am a relatively new Amati owner. I have been thankful for the thread you created a few years ago and just wanted to remark that. First off, if you luv the sound, as you know, you didn’t overpay. I have had the Cremona, a set of the (Liuto) bookshelves and the grand pianos with the granite stands for a secondary system. All beautiful. I am poking around as my treble tone after about 1/3 the way up my volume - I am getting a bit of “over treble” -almost sounds like distortion.  I wouldn’t describe it as lacking bass as much as too much treble. At lower levels Mofi Jazz, Blues and classic rock sound amazing. I am kicking the tires wondering if there is a crossover challenge- not sure how many owners there were before me. I drive these with my HUGE Mark Levinson (Red Rose) mono blocs & my Vac Reference two box Pre. 
 

I was fortunate to do a trade with a seller and received a terrific deal (provided the crossovers are fine). But wondering if I should go off in another direction as I do a great amount of listening to classic rock. 
 

I hope you have had a ton of fun listening to those fellas! Thanks for creating the thread. 
steve