SF Stradivari: the eagle has landed!!!

Joey_V

I'll answer that question soon since I'm ocd

WLDock

Joey_V wrote: »

BlueFox wrote: »

Experiment with the panels on the back wall. Looks like overkill at the moment. As mentioned before, your power and cabling is restricting the potential of your gear.

Bud -
I will.
On a side note, power and cabling... in time. can't do it all at once. If we were so lucky that we could just dump a bunch of money on the best of everything all at once, then there would be no need for discussion. The room and the system top to bottom would be perfect. System in evolution is the best way to put it.

Right now, when I turn the system up... it's getting better. Still low level detail requires improvement... in time, I think I'll get there. These speakers are balanced from top to bottom.

Right here is the crazy thing that I've noticed about this hobby a LONG time ago. By the time I walked into a high end audio store in my late teens/early twenties I'd played live music in many venues. Everything from a small basement studio, to outdoor amphitheater, large cathedral, to a 100,000 seat football stadium. I've always had a decent ear and was keen on how the room played a part in the overall sound. The best audio salesmen made it clear that decent sound could be had within a modest budget to get one started with an entry system. However, to get "true" and accurate sound, the best gear, cables, wire, power delivery, and room analysis and correction was needed to reach the full potential of the system. Right then and there I knew I was hearing a home system better than anything I'd ever heard before yet the "RABBITT HOLE of it all was so obvious.

Fast forward to today.....In this day and age with the available tools and resources its surprising that the room is not given more attention. IMO, finding speakers that suits ones taste and getting them and the room right is half the battle. In some rooms this may be a more important step than expensive electronics, cables, wire, power conditioning, wiring, etc.

Right off the bat the thing that I take from the Stradivari is it was design to pay homage to the great violin maker and the classics, has a live presence to the sound or closer to the sound of a live instrument, and desires a large room. With no experience what so ever with this speaker I already know that the room will make or break it.

Yes, we all want great sounding expensive electronics and cables to get our speakers to sound better. However, lets ask how much time and money have we spent on room design, analysis and calibration? Yes, spending money will net better sound but spending wisely will net great sound!

Some are closer than others....

Joey_V

WLD - I agree!

The room is key, but more difficult than I thought. Yes I have a dedicated room and I made it somewhat asymmetrical when I was presented the house plans... BUT, I think I'm a few feet shy of a good size room now that I have gear in the room, I think that I should've made a better effort to place it on the first floor for better floor support, and I think I should've added more 20 amp dedicated lines. I should've also made it a room
Within a room to ensure quietness throughout the house.

It was obvious to me that my room is not up to par with my gear but honestly, this room is better than 90% of what people run out there. It is treated and can be less treated if I should desire. It is isolated so I get to have full control of where the gear goes and how far I pull up the speakers off the back wall. No one tells me "oh that looks ugly".

That said, it's been a learning process.

One day, if these stay long enough.... I'm going to have a room with enough space for something like this to breathe. I am hopeful with a few tweaks, I'll get to a level where I feel like I'm getting to a point of satisfaction.

I just want to sit back and enjoy the music.

Joey_V

Because honestly, it's less about the gear and more about the enjoyment of music.

WLDock

There you go Joey...its ALWAYS about the music. Some can get so caught up in gear and chasing after a sound that was never there in the studio or the live performance.

Going to live shows is the "reset" to bring it all back into perspective.

...and you my man should be making some classical concerts. Is it allowed to have speakers named Stradivari and not support the local orchestra? LOL!

Anyway, just having a dedicated room....you are ahead of most.

Joey_V

WLDock wrote: »

There you go Joey...its ALWAYS about the music. Some can get so caught up in gear and chasing after a sound that was never there in the studio or the live performance.

Going to live shows is the "reset" to bring it all back into perspective.

...and you my man should be making some classical concerts. Is it allowed to have speakers named Stradivari and not support the local orchestra? LOL!

Anyway, just having a dedicated room....you are ahead of most.

Yes!!! Orchestra tickets ftw!!

I wanted to get a piano for the baby so she can teach me... Would LOVE to have a piano or a piano player that would just play music. Can you imagine? Just a live piano without me having to worry about amps and stupid speakers.

My wife plays well... But not concert well obviously.

My friend has a 7ft Schimmel which is a little more than the Strad. And boy is it gorgeous.

And it sounds phenomenal.

brianle

I haven't heard any setup that can replicate live piano sound ...

Joey_V

brianle wrote: »

I haven't heard any setup that can replicate live piano sound ...

Me neither.

To put your fingers on the keys of a steinway. Amazing.

tonyb

Joey_V wrote: »

brianle wrote: »

I haven't heard any setup that can replicate live piano sound ...

Me neither.

To put your fingers on the keys of a steinway. Amazing.

Absolutely....gorgeous sound imho.

Think why it sounds as it does though. Tone, weight of the notes, the way the sound decays as it floats away. Those are traits I look for in any piece of gear. You may not be able to replicate it exactly, but you can come darn close.

Moose68Bash

brianle wrote: »

I haven't heard any setup that can replicate live piano sound ...

The replication of live piano music may be the Holy Grail of sound reproduction -- right up there with that of a full symphony orchestra.

My daughter plays a Steinway B that have in our living room, and whenever I listen to recorded piano music, I'm always trying to hear that sound from my system.

My current system in the family room gets close, depending on the quality of the recording, but there is no sound like the real thing! (Maybe, I just love to hear my daughter's playing!)

Often the timbre is there -- especially the distinctive sound of the wood in the sound board of the piano -- but getting the sound of the hammers striking the strings in the various ways that a fine pianist does it is really tough.

It is also difficult to get the "coherence" of the instrument on the soundstage. Often it lacks the defined location of the real thing in a real room.

Oh, the trials of audiophilia! As has been said, in the end it's all about the music.

WLDock

here you go Joey...tell the wife you want one of these to sit in front of the bay window in the living room: http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/disklaviers/e3_series/dgb1ke3classic/

Joey_V

Thanks WLD!

But honestly... Moose's steinway B takes the cake.

Someday...

megasat16

While I like the ring radiator type tweeters, they are not known for the best off axis dispersion or provides the best high frequency extension. The Ring Radiator tweeters in the Strads will provide hours upon hours of non-fatiguing listening pleasure. But these are not the direct comparison to the sharper and more focusing Diamond Dome or BE dome tweeters.

Joey, If all else fails, here is the next level up waiting for your listening pleasure.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-sonus-faber-aida-walnut-speakers-pair-new-boxed-make-your-offer-2015-09-08-speakers-3101

Disclosure : No Affiliation to the seller whatsoever. : Just helping you to spend more $$$.

Joey_V

Hahahah thanks.... I am still tweaking the Strads so we shall see.

The new Diamonds are coming out and I am sure I will like those too so we shall see... hahaha

Also, I would probably explore Rockports in the future if I need to change out

megasat16 wrote: »

While I like the ring radiator type tweeters, they are not known for the best off axis dispersion or provides the best high frequency extension. The Ring Radiator tweeters in the Strads will provide hours upon hours of non-fatiguing listening pleasure. But these are not the direct comparison to the sharper and more focusing Diamond Dome or BE dome tweeters.

Joey, If all else fails, here is the next level up waiting for your listening pleasure.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-sonus-faber-aida-walnut-speakers-pair-new-boxed-make-your-offer-2015-09-08-speakers-3101

Disclosure : No Affiliation to the seller whatsoever. : Just helping you to spend more $$$.

[Deleted User]

Listening has all to do with how I feel and my mood. I have said it before and will say it again. Sometimes you like the music to grab you sometimes you like to be drawn in. What Mr J has will work for both.

Lastly, all because it cost a lot... Doesn't mean it's the best. I have heard lots of bookies that will destroy many ultra high dollar variants. Bigger speakers need bigger rooms. It's not complicated..

Halen

DarqueKnight

megasat16 wrote: »

Joey, If all else fails, here is the next level up waiting for your listening pleasure.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-sonus-faber-aida-walnut-speakers-pair-new-boxed-make-your-offer-2015-09-08-speakers-3101

Fortunately, those are not in the red finish...so I'm not tempted.

megasat16

DarqueKnight wrote: »

megasat16 wrote: »

Joey, If all else fails, here is the next level up waiting for your listening pleasure.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-sonus-faber-aida-walnut-speakers-pair-new-boxed-make-your-offer-2015-09-08-speakers-3101

Fortunately, those are not in the red finish...so I'm not tempted.

Since Aida has a very limited production run, I don't think you'll find a pair in red finish very easily. But I think I saw a used pair of Aido in Red a while ago.

The seller of the new pair of Aida is in Cyprus so it's going to be costly for Custom Duty even if the freight is free as said in the Ad.

It's also fortunate enough for me for losing interest in the commercial speakers since I built the line arrays 4 years ago. I am still rocking the line arrays and no plan to move.

Joey_V

megasat16 wrote: »

DarqueKnight wrote: »

megasat16 wrote: »

Joey, If all else fails, here is the next level up waiting for your listening pleasure.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-sonus-faber-aida-walnut-speakers-pair-new-boxed-make-your-offer-2015-09-08-speakers-3101

Fortunately, those are not in the red finish...so I'm not tempted.

Since Aida has a very limited production run, I don't think you'll find a pair in red finish very easily. But I think I saw a used pair of Aido in Red a while ago.

The seller of the new pair of Aida is in Cyprus so it's going to be costly for Custom Duty even if the freight is free as said in the Ad.

It's also fortunate enough for me for losing interest in the commercial speakers since I built the line arrays 4 years ago. I am still rocking the line arrays and no plan to move.

Red is a common Aida color, the Aidas are current production and not limited. The Fenice is limited.

The walnut, which is the color listed is actually the limited color of the 2.

I have seen the walnut in person and all colors are fantastic.

Just a bit above my pay range.

megasat16

Thanks Joey. I think you are correct about Aida being not limited production run and I remembered it wrong. I stopped following many commercial speakers after I started building my own DIY speakers. Mike (Face) got me hooked into it and there is no turning back. lol

Joey_V

BlueFox wrote: »

I considered both models of the Classe 600 amps, the aesthetic design, and the HT industrial design. My biggest concern was since I listen to classical string quartets at low volume at night I would hear the fan. I checked on multiple forums about this and some could not hear them, and some could. I am very sensitive to unwanted noise, and I even moved my refrigerator to the garage to eliminate its noise.

The fans are dead silent.

I hear more tube noise than the fans.

BlueFox

Good to know.

Joey_V

BlueFox wrote: »

Good to know.

Yeah, it's really well designed. When you first plug it in, the fans "WOOSH"... then it dies down and I never hear it again.

It also keeps the internals nice and cool so it lasts longer. Overall, a good amp.

Moose68Bash

@Joey_V,

If I had a room that were suitable for them, these are the speakers I would buy:

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-nola-speakers-grand-ref-supreme-h-pearson-set-trades-ok-save-140-000-interest-f-2015-09-21-speakers-33920-alva-fl

My wife and I auditioned a set of these in Florida about a year and a half ago, and we both thought they provided the finest sound reproduction we had ever experienced. However, they require two stereo amps or four mono blocks, and they are huge. We couldn't figure out how to install them in the only room in our house in which they might fit -- our living room.

We were even in contact with the designer, Carl Marchisotto [spelling?], and he could not give us a plan that seemed satisfactory to us. We just couldn't get through the conflicts between our aesthetic criteria for the room and the positioning for maximum sound quality. [I should say that the pair we auditioned did not have the upgraded crossovers described in this ad. This pair is likely to sound even better than the speakers we auditioned.]

Our older daughter, the violinist, was with us, and she agreed. She has an incredible ear.

If you've got the room for these Nolas, then you should think about them. If I had rig properly set up with these, my hunt for audio nirvana would be over!

Joey_V

Moose68Bash wrote: »

@Joey_V,

If I had a room that were suitable for them, these are the speakers I would buy:

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-nola-speakers-grand-ref-supreme-h-pearson-set-trades-ok-save-140-000-interest-f-2015-09-21-speakers-33920-alva-fl

My wife and I auditioned a set of these in Florida about a year and a half ago, and we both thought they provided the finest sound reproduction we had ever experienced. However, they require two stereo amps or four mono blocks, and they are huge. We couldn't figure out how to install them in the only room in our house in which they might fit -- our living room.

We were even in contact with the designer, Carl Marchisotto [spelling?], and he could not give us a plan that seemed satisfactory to us. We just couldn't get through the conflicts between our aesthetic criteria for the room and the positioning for maximum sound quality. [I should say that the pair we auditioned did not have the upgraded crossovers described in this ad. This pair is likely to sound even better than the speakers we auditioned.]

Our older daughter, the violinist, was with us, and she agreed. She has an incredible ear.

If you've got the room for these Nolas, then you should think about them. If I had rig properly set up with these, my hunt for audio nirvana would be over!

Some day my friend... I just need to build a better room next time.