I have recently purchased a set of Maxima Amators and I’m happy with the quality of sound. There is something very special about the presence region—transparent, detailed, honest realism, on and on. Overall they are refined, vibrant, sweet, emotionally engaging, and full of musical color (not coloration or artifice—there is a difference). The bass performance and dynamic envelope is very surprising given their modest footprint and single smallish mid-bass driver. I’m finding that I listen to complete albums and let Roon pick whatever in the current genre I’m enjoying. They pull me in and let me enjoy the music. The bass is very surprising to me. I just had ATC SCM 50s in this same room for months with the same gear, and though the ATCs played louder (actually they can play to blistering levels without compromising) more effortlessly at those times when I want to push it, the Maximas actually sound deeper and richer with more gravity around the upper bass area. This is not mid-bass bloat, which I sometimes got with the various Harbeths in here; on the contrary—very even and linear bass. The ATC 50s tend to a faster, drier tonality and sometimes sound bass-light despite a massive woofer driver structure and being driven by a 300 wpc Accuphase amp. It’s probably just a room coupling issue, but it is pretty surprising how sure-footed and punchy the Maximas are. That being said, I am considering next steps in the Sonus Faber lineup. If I am so happy with the MAs, why would I want to risk an “upgrade”? I’ve been down this road before where a supposed upgrade just doesn’t work out.
In any case, I would like to build on the special sound and presentation of the Maximas while allowing more scale and wideband authority. I would really miss the see-through realism and clarity the Maximas render as well as their astonishing low-level sound quality. These are amazing in this area and much better than any previous speaker I’ve owned over the past 30 years. How they are able to achieve full sound at low levels is truly an engineering feat.
My current space is probably ideal for the Maxima Amators, but not so much for the larger G5s. However, I have had ATC SCM 50, Marten Oscar Trio, Opera Audio Loudspeaker Divas (which are 140 pounds, similar size-wise to the G5), and I tried Harbeth M40.3. All of these except the M40.3 did not sound overbearing, forced, or cause excessive bass issues. The big Beths did sound bloated, and it was obvious they needed a larger space to open up and deliver.
I have played around with all these aforementioned speakers in my downstairs room, a 14.5 x 22 x 8.5 ft area I designed for movies. For two-channel audio bass with the speakers on the short wall, my listening spot put me in a bass null—result was thin, uninspiring performance. When I place them on the long wall, bass is way better and powerful, deep and extended—so I’ve concluded that if I’m going to set up in the basement, this has to be the configuration.
I prefer the upstairs office, which is 14 x 12.5 x 15 feet and has unique sound and aesthetics, but realistically the G5s are probably going to be too big—or not. The high ceiling and layout seem to suck up acoustic energy, but because my listening spot puts me close to the rear wall, bass is excellent and the speakers sound full and present. I absolutely detest thin, body-less, ultra-detailed sound. Nothing distracts me more than super-hifi soulless sound. I crave a meat-on-the-bones, reach-out-into-the-room, intimate type of experience, yet natural and unhyped and devoid of any artifice in the treble. I find the Maxima Amators to pretty much check all these boxes, but where I imagine improvements lie would be to build on this and enhance the foundation, anchoring the image with more solidity and dynamic ease, standing up with linear scale to occasional loud sessions, and yet build on the beautiful midrange these special Maximas provide.
I read a lot about the Serafinos, and they seem to offer more deep bass and larger-format sound, but supposedly they miss the intimacy and conveyance of the musical gestalt of the Amators. There is something magical with the two-way design and unique crossover configuration. To me it sounds as if there is no crossover or anything absorbing any part of the signal. They really are amazing speakers in this way. I have read in other forums that the G5s are the way to go for a true step up and in no way compromise this wonderful type of presentation I’m finding with the Maximas.
I thank you for reading this rambling post and look forward to reading responses of those that have heard these two speakers from Sonus Faber.
