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Sonus Faber Amati Homage vs Thiel 7.2

I currently own the SF Amatis, and a pair of 7.2 have come up for sale. I know the Amatis are worth more retail than the 7.2s. But for me the retail value dosen't always reflect how much I like the sound. I understand the 7.2 are Thiel's top flagship speaker and the Amatis are SF's 2nd. I am unable to audition the 7.2's because there's not any retailers selling them, and I don't know anyone with a pair.
Has anyone compared these 2 speakers? I know it's hard, but can someone please describe the sound of the 7.2s to me.
After reading a Sterophile review of the Amatis back in 99, I knew I had to have a pair, and after getting them, I was pleased, but still think that speakers could sound better. My main problem with the Amatis is that although they're clear, very dynamic (can hear every sound), have exceptional imaging, and can be played very loud, I find the mids quite thin. Thin in that everyone's voices seem higher than they are. I guess I lik the dark rich Barry White sytle vocals.
Because of my percieved lack of mid range in the vocal abilities of the Amatis, I thought the 7.2s might do better in this category.
Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks
puunda

Showing 2 responses by gregm

gregm
3,395 posts
 
Henry_chinaski: I set them up myself. I should've made it clear that I bought them used here in New Zealand. I have tried different positions, but hasn't helped.
Adjust speakers according to midbass energy (if you haven't already). Start by bringing them close together (~35% of room width, centre of woof-to-woof) until you hear bass energy, not muddiness.
Then start playing with toe-in carefully focusing on upper-midrange reproduction quality. (i.e. if the sound is "hard", spitting, hi-end ear-piercing, you're off.)
Normally, you should be able to get a reasonably seemles sound with some low-mid /upper bass prominence.
The spkrs go loud with low distortion -- but NOT very loud (distortion starts setting in + the required energy fm the amps is high).

The 7,2 are nice spkrs -- but I heard them on the fly, and certainly not in comparison to the SF. Can't say much. They weren't playing very loud either, I assume by owner's choice rather than ability... Cheers
gregm
3,395 posts
 
At the moment I'm finding the midrange in the Amatis very thin and light. I'm not sure if they are meant to sound like that or not. Especailly at higher volumes
They are not meant to sound like that. If anything, you should be getting a slight prominence in the lower mids /midbass and the upper mids (hence yr perception that there is "LESS/LACK of" vocal midrange)

It reads like your amp is running out of juice or s/thing else upward in the chain or all of the above...

At low or moderate volumes the Amatis actually sound alright.
Amplification matter, clearly. Just borrow another amp with higher output specs and try it out.
Cheers
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