Moving on from Lsi15s to Sonus Fabers?
I will be handing down my lsi15s to my son and was looking for a new set of speakers. A while ago I heard some Sonus Fabers and liked the sound but don't recall the model. I typically listen to alot of Rock/Jazz with lots of bass. Can anyone recommend a model I can look into? It will be powered by a Mark Levinson amplifier rated at 4 ohms. I am looking to spend around 2-3k used.
TIA
TIA
Comments
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I have heard sonus Faber many times over the years and I have never heard a pair that ever competed at its price point performance wise. They are way over priced
If you are buying used you should be fine. T
They make a very good looking product though- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Thank you for the feedback and it's been a awhile since I looked/heard different speakers. I am open to looking into other brands/models if anyone has any recomendations.
Thanks again. -
Almost all new speakers today are just to expensive for their price. You find speakers that were Uber high end fifteen to twenty years ago that are still fantastic in that price point.
If you look hard you could find a set of focal mezzo utopia or similar speakers that were 15k or so many years ago and their replacements cost 50k.
Weird market but at 2k to 3k there is alot of great gear to be had!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Thought some polks might’ve made their way to for sale here ! I’m looking to hook one of sons up but looking for different molders ! Still keeping options open!"if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
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Thank you for the feedback and it's been a awhile since I looked/heard different speakers. I am open to looking into other brands/models if anyone has any recomendations.
Thanks again.
At 2-3K you could probably snag a pair of SDA SRS 1.2s. They seem to be universally loved, even by people who don't like Polk. -
The Sonus Faber in your price range haven't impressed me. Get up to the $20k plus range and now we're talking.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I've heard some Sonus Fabers on the used market in your price range. Certainly a different sound and aesthetic than Polk LSi15s. But, as a brand, I haven't noted them to be particularly strong in the bass. At $2-3K, you'll get a less full-range speaker compared to the LSi15 or 25.
The Liutos (floorstanding version) sound very good, but the bass is more tight and tuneful than strong. You might want to consider their monitors and budgeting for a sub, if you're looking for powerful bass.Alon Petite / Infinity 1.2S / Coda Continuum / Counterpoint SA5000 / Oppo BDP-105D / Technics SP-15 w/SAEC WE-308SX & Ortofon AS-309 arms / Ikeda 9C2 & Dynavector XX2 Mk II carts -
Sonas Fiber speakers are pretty damn nice. They usually please most people for any style of music. They are Italian and kinda over priced. I put them in the Paradigm category as they don't perform to their price tag especially when comparing to others that yield similar sound cures yet cost slightly less.
Enter Focal and Monitor Audio. Both brands up and down their lines are fabulous and worth the retail asking prices. They hold their values well on the used market and are so pleasing to listen to.
Anytime you want to talk brands hit me up.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
IME, it might be difficult to find more completely opposite sounding speakers than Sonus Faber and Focal or Monitor Audio. My ears do not like the latter two.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
IME, it might be difficult to find more completely opposite sounding speakers than Sonus Faber and Focal or Monitor Audio. My ears do not like the latter two.
Very true. LSI15s are very laid back, Sonus Faber will not be a completely different sound signature. Focals especially some of the older models and high end models are voiced very hot (think Electras, Utopias etc) and Monitor Audio is your typical British voiced speaker. If the OP likes his LSI15’s a lot, those two brands will be very different. I’m not sure I’d be looking into SFs but to each their own
2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Going to have to disagree on focal being voiced hot. @treitz3 can attest with my focal journey, the gear synergy is everything, as with any brand.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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For $3k there would be a lot of Dynaudio options to consider.
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Going to have to disagree on focal being voiced hot. @treitz3 can attest with my focal journey, the gear synergy is everything, as with any brand.
I have quite a lot of experience with Focal myself, I’m not talking out of my **** here. Many of Focal’s previous offerings are hot, not all but you need to pick and choose, especially if you have gear that leans bright. I wouldn’t be caught dead with a set of screeching Electras in my house and you absolutely need to be careful with the modern Utopia speakers. Your taste in older Focals is not representative of the brand as a whole, they have had iterations of more neutral speakers (like my Kantas) and many that lean on the bright side.2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
I mean we can go circles here, the berylium tweeters are definitely a highly refined, detailed speaker. Bright or not would definitely be an opinion as they are extremely revealing. I have heard the new Utopias, Sopra, etc and they definitely come across as a tilted top end but I would argue that alot of gear is voiced with a tilted top end for the older clientele of home audio so... again, you need to find the gear that matches the speakers.
In a 2 channel system you build the system around the speakers, not the speakers around the system. If you are in the market for new 2 channel speakers, you are in the market for a new 2 channel system. Plain and simple.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Well said^^^.
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I went from LSi-15's to Sonus Faber Cremonas around 10-12 years ago. I had the LSi's for maybe 4 years (sold them here on CP). I got the SF's used at less that 50% retail. They are still in my system. Obviously I've been happy with them. They have ring radiator tweeters like the LSi-15s, so similar sound signature in that regard. I have not been unhappy with the bass at all, though some people seem to be. The SF's are excellent with jazz and classical music, and they handle rock just fine, IMHO. The SF cabinet build quality is far better than the LSi-15. With those I could hear the soundstage break down as the volume got higher. I attributed that to the cabinets. The SF's project a crisp clear soundstage from low volume up to painful levels.SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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What Jetmaker says, although I just heard the new Stradavari's and they rocked out on rock too! Granted, the gear was uber high end.2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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Thank you for the feedback and it's been a awhile since I looked/heard different speakers. I am open to looking into other brands/models if anyone has any recomendations.
Thanks again.
See if you can find a pair of Revel Performa F208 near you to give a listen to. On the used market, that should fall into your price range. I have been very happy with my pair.
For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
Going to have to disagree on focal being voiced hot. @treitz3 can attest with my focal journey, the gear synergy is everything, as with any brand.
Agreed,
Focal's are a every neutral sounding speaker. They show off whatever you connect to them. I might have to say Focal might be one of the very best speakers in the world.
As far as Monitor audio goes, yes they have that British thing going on , strong mid range tight low end but not overpowering and crystal clear highs yet again not over powering. Remarkable achievements Monitor audio has had in the audio realm.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
I mean we can go circles here, the berylium tweeters are definitely a highly refined, detailed speaker. Bright or not would definitely be an opinion as they are extremely revealing. I have heard the new Utopias, Sopra, etc and they definitely come across as a tilted top end but I would argue that alot of gear is voiced with a tilted top end for the older clientele of home audio so... again, you need to find the gear that matches the speakers.
In a 2 channel system you build the system around the speakers, not the speakers around the system. If you are in the market for new 2 channel speakers, you are in the market for a new 2 channel system. Plain and simple.
Again I agree here,
I never heard any pair of focal speaker be "Bright" or "HOT". They are very neutral sounding speakers. I only one Sib's and Chorus at the moment but I have installed their lines for many years from mild to wild from Receiver based to Krell based. I just never found them to be bright.
I'm not saying anyones experience is wrong, I just haven't had the same experience with their lines.
Just weeks ago, I was demoing most of the new lines and I felt they where remarkable. Most was on McIntosh but some where on receivers and even he ARIA line really impressed me.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Oh, they can be bright. Overly bright in some instances. BUT and with that said, there are ways one can tame down that perceived brightness considerably. Upstream gear, good/clean power and a good source has much to do with it.
I am not saying that is as bright as an old RTi HT speaker. I'm not, but they can be bright.
I think Trey said it best (maybe this thread, maybe another) but it went something like this...and I find this to be very true.
One cannot simply buy a speaker and expect miracles. You buy the speaker and work your gear/system/room around said speakers.
YMMV.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
And a solid sample rate...- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Like vinyl?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Does it do dsd- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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No need. The entire waveform is there for you.
Ah, chit son!
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
