i've heard both speakers, and i don't have a preference- they're much too close in design and both sound excellent.
but as an aside, i took a chance and bought a sonus faber amp
(the musica) 50w/ch into 8 ohms -- three knobs on the front, no remote, simple. i use it to drive the guarneri's. i turn the volume up to about 10 o'clock, which is loud enough for me. the speakers sound wonderful to my ears. and i see musica's going for $1600 on audiogon... i thought the same thing- it's not powerful enough, or it sounds dry, etc. just the opposite- plenty of power (100w into 4 ohms), sweet, detailed... i like sonus faber alot. they deliver, end of story.
but as an aside, i took a chance and bought a sonus faber amp
(the musica) 50w/ch into 8 ohms -- three knobs on the front, no remote, simple. i use it to drive the guarneri's. i turn the volume up to about 10 o'clock, which is loud enough for me. the speakers sound wonderful to my ears. and i see musica's going for $1600 on audiogon... i thought the same thing- it's not powerful enough, or it sounds dry, etc. just the opposite- plenty of power (100w into 4 ohms), sweet, detailed... i like sonus faber alot. they deliver, end of story.