Thoughts and Advice regarding Sonus Faber speakers


I would like peoples thoughts on the Sonus Faber Sonetto V’s. I’m seriously considering  purchasing them to replace 20 year old Thiel 2.3’s.  I have had the coaxial driver (combo midrange and tweeter) replaced in the Thiel’s by Coherent Source service in Lexington and they did a great job…but to my ear they are still a little to analytical.  Not on all recordings…but some. I really like the mid range and vocal treatment of the Sonetto V’s.  Any thoughts? For $5000.00 would you consider them a high end audio product…or are they more of a home theater speaker  (as they are towers). How good is the company on service and standing behind their products? Some have suggested that since I am after a more relaxed presentation…I look at dynaaudio speakers. Perhaps Evoke 50.
There is a dealer about 3 hours away. Some of my audiophile friends think the Sonetto’s may be a lateral move…that a 5G speaker today is no better than a 3G speaker two decades ago.  They have suggested buying pre-owned Sonus Faber in the 6-7 G range…but that is really above my budget…and I’m not sure about the risk. One more thing….will the Sonetto’s be significantly easier to drive.  My Thiel’s are [email protected] V-1m…impedance is 4 ohms….the Sonetto’s are also 4 ohms but 90db SPL - 2.83 V/1M. My current system  is an Audio Research 100.1 power amp -solid state 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms…200 into 4…Audio Research LS 16 pre-amp (hybrid)…Audio research CD-3, and VPI Scout Jr. Turntable. You can see my dilemma….any advice would be appreciated.
BTW…most dealers to not have the models in stock and the wait time after ordering is 3 months.

gsieg

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

After many years of planar speakers an my best friend having Thiels I switched to Sonus Faber: first Cremona, then Olympica 3, then Amati Traditional. I also have had some ARC equipment, now all is ARC.

 

I think your thinking is on point for what you have and want. I chose SF for their really natural sound. SF has made reproduced music closer to the real thing… beautiful as opposed to just accurate (think more analytically correct) and detailed. You have enough power… The real question is used or new. Unless there is some catastrophic event… not sure why service would ever be necessary… unless after thirty years.

‘’The performance of models when moving up the SF hierarchy goes up. So, the performance level if you could get maybe used Olympica 3 would be a good way to go. Depending on how fast you want to move, that might determine which course.