Sonus Faber Stradivari - transaction complete!

24

Comments

  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow man, those are amazing. Man you are a bulldog! You go all in and go for it.....and you are a brave man buying first then checking with the Mrs. later. I do it all the time but not to the tune of $23K! LOL!

    Congrats!

    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Miles apart....

    Thanks man! You tried to help me get the 800 diamonds from Houston so I will never forget that.

    You and I are of the same breed. Maybe my priorities are just a bit different lol

    I was just talking to halen the other day about cars... You'd be surprised with what just happened to my Benz.

    Thumbs up buddy



    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    tonyb wrote: »
    Joey_V wrote: »
    Still trying to win the powerball. If I win that. This place will be lit up with karma gear.

    As a preemptive strike.....in with 69.....for all of it. lol

    I will remember that number
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
    Congrats man! Time to seriously up the Home Insurance ! Haha

    Halen
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  • Thorton
    Thorton Posts: 1,324
    Congrats! Those are beautiful.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,399
    A big congrats... My wife just gave me that "don't even think about it" look that only a woman can give when I asked her to just look at the pictures.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    A big congrats... My wife just gave me that "don't even think about it" look that only a woman can give when I asked her to just look at the pictures.

    Bahahaha
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    marvda1 wrote: »
    i hear these sound pretty good.
    http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-vitus-audio-sm-102-signature-monaural-amplifiers-reduced-price-2015-07-30-amplifiers-94710-berkeley-ca

    I'm sure they sound good Marvin... And they will also decimate bank accounts

    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow man, those are amazing. Man you are a bulldog! You go all in and go for it.....and you are a brave man buying first then checking with the Mrs. later. I do it all the time but not to the tune of $23K! LOL!

    Congrats!

    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Miles apart....

    You will enjoy that Avalon... Do eet
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,664
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Sorry to thread jack! I've been driving around in a 2013 Avalon (fully decked out) for the couple of days while my car is getting repaired.

    It's a nice car, drives way better than it should at the price and they are pretty feature rich.

    Funny enough, it's my mom's car. Lol. My parents are on vacation and I knew the car was just sitting in the garage and I HATE rental cars. I felt weird at 32 years old calling my mommy to let her know I was borrowing the car...

    She had a good laugh.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,958
    Joey_V wrote: »
    [... You'd be surprised with what just happened to my Benz.

    Let me guess....you took the Benz to a car wash and a Chrysler 200 came out the other side ? LOL
    HT SYSTEM-
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    Joey_V wrote: »
    Finally... my patience paid off.

    Congrats, those are beautiful.

    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,958
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    Put the crack pipe down son....anyone would be darn proud to own such things of beauty.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    tonyb wrote: »
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    Put the crack pipe down son....anyone would be darn proud to own such things of beauty.

    Just my personal opinion, R&D has came a long way these days.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,958
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    Put the crack pipe down son....anyone would be darn proud to own such things of beauty.

    Just my personal opinion, R&D has came a long way these days.

    Sure it has....doesn't make it sound better by default though. Look at how many still cling to their SDA's. A good speaker is a good speaker, if it was made 30 years ago or last week.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • polk500
    polk500 Posts: 1,171
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    While we are allow to have our own opinion on any given subject (at least in North America) sometimes keeping those opinions to ourselves is way cooler than knocking a man's dream speakers PFB!!

    But that's just my opinion of course.

    Cheers
    Roger
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.
    polk500 wrote: »
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    While we are allow to have our own opinion on any given subject (at least in North America) sometimes keeping those opinions to ourselves is way cooler than knocking a man's dream speakers PFB!!

    But that's just my opinion of course.

    Cheers
    Roger
    tonyb wrote: »
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Nice speakers but for that kinda money I would have went for something a little more modern with a better top end.

    Put the crack pipe down son....anyone would be darn proud to own such things of beauty.

    Just my personal opinion, R&D has came a long way these days.

    Sure it has....doesn't make it sound better by default though. Look at how many still cling to their SDA's. A good speaker is a good speaker, if it was made 30 years ago or last week.

    No worries all... PFB has an axe to grind with me so obviously he's going to say anything to take me down.

    All I gotta say is that I listened and bought with my ears. There's a reason SF still produces the Stradivari and it is still a current model to this day. It has not changed other than the Palladium series, because there was not much more they could add or change to improve the speakers.

    The Strads are a magnificent speaker. Everyone who I have spoken to about them likes them and they are kept in their possession for quite some time, usually they do not trade them out. They are keepers for sure.

    Are there new tech out there? Sure there are... but unlikely that this new tech is any better than that on the Strads.

    I'll give you an example:

    Ivan Messer on audio aficionado has several systems. He has access to the newest tech from the new Marten Coltranes to Kharma to BW Diamond to TAD R1 to Focals... or whatever else he wants, and he sure has the money to but it.

    His longest lasting system? Strads with mac gear.

    His other systems? 2 TAD R1 systems (two), SF Aida System, Aerial system, full Mac speaker system.

    Another example: Mike Boivard has 2 systems: Focal Scala V2 and Strads - which ones did he tell me was the hands down best speaker under $70K from his experience? Strads. And he's not even a SF dealer. He's a Focal dealer.

    I would've bought the Wilson Alexia with all its new tech and that new wilson tweeter and midrange driver... but aside from it costing a ridiculous amount (to me), all that new tech just didn't wow me like the Strads did. I like the Strads and I did wonder the same thing - is it old or getting old?

    One listen at a Chicago dealer proved one thing - it was better than nearly anything there was at the store. And he had everything new tech including the newest Magicos.

    Just my 2 cents.

    These speakers are legendary in the community - which is why they pop up only so often.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    And thanks to all the well wishes! I am just trying to mark on my calendar when these guys will arrive at my doorstep.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    edited August 2015
    May Franco Serblin rest in peace. One of the greatest speaker designers of the modern era. I really wonder what else he would've built had he still been alive and working for SF. Perhaps a Strad v2.

    Atleast the Stradivari was the culmination of his work.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    Btw, as for a speaker with newer tech, RD, and a more extended high? I still have the BW 802 Diamond... If that doesn't check those boxes, then I don't know... Hahaha

    Funny though, the last 3 strad owners I spoke to came from
    802 diamonds... All agree that the strads are a different league.

    And I know from my experience that the strad will mop the floor with the newer diamond compadre.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,958
    Amen Joey.....Strads are last stop speakers in my book. Doesn't hurt either that they happen to be drop dead gorgeous.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited August 2015
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Sorry to thread jack! I've been driving around in a 2013 Avalon (fully decked out) for the couple of days while my car is getting repaired.

    It's a nice car, drives way better than it should at the price and they are pretty feature rich.

    Funny enough, it's my mom's car. Lol. My parents are on vacation and I knew the car was just sitting in the garage and I HATE rental cars. I felt weird at 32 years old calling my mommy to let her know I was borrowing the car...

    She had a good laugh.

    I'm sure Joey is fine with the thread jack...he likes nice cars too! Anyway, the car just feel right to me even through I have yet to spend a lot of time in one. I was dead set on the new Impala but I recently rented a Camry for a trip to MI. I had five people who each had weekend luggage and we were fine. The car was solid so I'm sure the Avalon would just kick things up across the board. I really would like to rent one but none of the local places have them, only the airports....so I'm not going to go through that.

    So maybe when I get this house thing settled I will begin to figure it out. This will be my first Asian import(Well not really....this New school Avalon is designed and manufactured in the US,). Being from Detroit I've mostly driven the big three....with a VW (Corrado G60), and baby Bimmer (318Ti Sport) being the only two exceptions.

    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    tonyb wrote: »
    Amen Joey.....Strads are last stop speakers in my book. Doesn't hurt either that they happen to be drop dead gorgeous.

    Thanks brother
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    WLDock wrote: »
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Sorry to thread jack! I've been driving around in a 2013 Avalon (fully decked out) for the couple of days while my car is getting repaired.

    It's a nice car, drives way better than it should at the price and they are pretty feature rich.

    Funny enough, it's my mom's car. Lol. My parents are on vacation and I knew the car was just sitting in the garage and I HATE rental cars. I felt weird at 32 years old calling my mommy to let her know I was borrowing the car...

    She had a good laugh.

    I'm sure Joey is fine with the thread jack...he likes nice cars too! Anyway, the car just feel right to me even through I have yet to spend a lot of time in one. I was dead set on the new Impala but I recently rented a Camry for a trip to MI. I had five people who each had weekend luggage and we were fine. The car was solid so I'm sure the Avalon would just kick things up across the board. I really would like to rent one but none of the local places have them, only the airports....so I'm not going to go through that.

    So maybe when I get this house thing settled I will begin to figure it out. This will be my first Asian import(Well not really....this New school Avalon is designed and manufactured in the US,). Being from Detroit I've mostly driven the big three....with a VW (Corrado G60), and baby Bimmer (318Ti Sport) being the only two exceptions.

    My parents always had Camry. They are workhorses (both cars and parents). The Avalon will be next level. I think Lexus ES chassis. You will enjoy that car.

    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,664
    WLDock wrote: »
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    WLDock wrote: »
    Wow, $23K speakers!!!....just dreamy! My poor self was just dreaming over a used $24K Toyota Avalon. I finally got a good look at one....I need to make it happen! http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ctd/5110570684.html

    Sorry to thread jack! I've been driving around in a 2013 Avalon (fully decked out) for the couple of days while my car is getting repaired.

    It's a nice car, drives way better than it should at the price and they are pretty feature rich.

    Funny enough, it's my mom's car. Lol. My parents are on vacation and I knew the car was just sitting in the garage and I HATE rental cars. I felt weird at 32 years old calling my mommy to let her know I was borrowing the car...

    She had a good laugh.

    I'm sure Joey is fine with the thread jack...he likes nice cars too! Anyway, the car just feel right to me even through I have yet to spend a lot of time in one. I was dead set on the new Impala but I recently rented a Camry for a trip to MI. I had five people who each had weekend luggage and we were fine. The car was solid so I'm sure the Avalon would just kick things up across the board. I really would like to rent one but none of the local places have them, only the airports....so I'm not going to go through that.

    So maybe when I get this house thing settled I will begin to figure it out. This will be my first Asian import(Well not really....this New school Avalon is designed and manufactured in the US,). Being from Detroit I've mostly driven the big three....with a VW (Corrado G60), and baby Bimmer (318Ti Sport) being the only two exceptions.

    If you liked the Camry, you'll love the Avalon. I honestly had a really hard time dropping it off when I got my car back.

    As Joey said it's based on the same platform as the ES Lexus. Drives really nice with plenty of pickup and oddly planted for such a large car. I drive a Volvo C30, so I'm used to a MUCH smaller car, yet the Avalon felt very natural to me. I never felt like I was driving a car its size. I found the cabin to be very well laid out and it just made sense. Unlike anything from Infiniti, their cabins just feel like a hot mess, IMO.

    IIRC, my parents are trading in the Avalon for a new Lexus in a few weeks. They just traded in their other car for a brand new Lexus RX and the dealer is talking them into another Lexus, LOL.
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited August 2015
    Thanks for the feedback!, the highly modified DUB Edition Avalon is what first drew me to the car:
    http://www.dubmagazine.com/home/cars/item/8200-2013-dub-edition-toyota-avalon

    I want to do a similar type of "Black Out" but a little more subtle with the same type of black wheels/chrome lip...maybe 19", mildly tinted windows, etc.

    I started reading up on the car and these articles caught my attention:
    http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/toyota-avalon-principal-design-engineer-rob-mcconnell-cool-jobs/
    http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/12/01/166278073/sorry-mom-the-toyota-avalon-is-the-most-american-car-made-today
    http://stylemagazine.com/news/2013/apr/01/black-consumers-cutting-edge-toyota-avalons-new-ad/

    Money well spent Toyota...you got my attention!
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    Just 5 minutes ago... paid.

    Money out of my account, instant transfer.

    Wife gave me a look..
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,664
    DSkip wrote: »
    Congrats by the way. I'm glad you finally pulled the trigger. Lets hope no more are pulled.

    Lol, no way!!

    I like to live vicariously through Joey!

    I'll likely never be able to afford the awesome stuff he has been able to pick up.

    If I can't get it, at least a good Polkie is enjoying it, and I get to read about how awesome it is.
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    Joey_V wrote: »
    Just 5 minutes ago... paid.
    Money out of my account, instant transfer.
    Wife gave me a look..

    Big Kahunas!
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,551
    DSkip wrote: »
    The look is just the calm before the storm. Good luck....

    Crap....
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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