Sonus Faber, ****.

gregure

Zero wrote:

Are you using them with the Krell integrated?

I'd be curious to know what you are using to run the Cremonas as well. Very nice purchase. I'm very jealous.

F1nut

dorokusai wrote:

Polkatese - Excellent.

The Gallo's are very nice, but I wouldn't buy them over the Sonus Faber.

Ditto my bro's comments.

Joey_V

gregure wrote:

I'd be curious to know what you are using to run the Cremonas as well. Very nice purchase. I'm very jealous.

Definitely another jealous guy here.

Bien!!!

polkatese

Thanks, guys! right now it's powered by B&K 125.7 (main HT), but the long-term plan is to be powered with Krell, Dodd MLP, and REL Storm.

Jesse, who'd thought that the Cremona IS the one?

Sean, I'll take a couple more snaps and email 'em to you. Simply stated, for music, REL blending ability to the main/front is second to none. I configured and tweaked the Velo to closely match the main ala REL, but it just not there no matter how I set them up. DD works really well on HT, slam and all, but it's not its strength to make your front sing like the REL.


EDIT: Sean, the dealer that I got mine has Gallo Ref 3 on display, It's not hook up in the audition room, but he has one sitting on the floor. I was admiring the design, if you like, I can give you his details.

Joey_V

Zero,

When you get the Gallo 3s, be sure to post pics!

polkatese

Sean, pics sent...

mantis

Man I missed out on all that.....

Sean,
the DD series are nice subwoofers but there not musical like the Rel is. Or any Rel for that matter. Sumiko uses Rel in there lineup. I have tried my **** off to make the new velodynes sound great with music, as they do sound great, they don't match Rel for music. Theater I still like Rel better as it blends in so well. Velodyne was great back when they where making the HGS series, those subs performed closer to Rel then the new ones do.

Dan

polkatese

Dan, what's up? mountain biking around the neighborhood lately?

polkatese

oops, got stuck on my outlook outbox - ok. it went out, sorry, bro.

gregure

Zero wrote:

Polkatese,

I haven't recieved the pics yet, still waiting...

Dan,

Thanks for the words. I actually have been told the best way to hook up a REL is to run the wire through the sub.. any truth to this? Im clearly showing off my complete ignorance of the product here! heh. Oh yeah, check out the new Dyn Focus line out?

REL subs have two inputs: LFE RCA input for HT and Speakon for music. Speakon is a cable that hooks into the back of the sub with an XLR looking piece, and the chord runs to the amp and plugs into the +/- of one peaker and one of the two on the other (can't remember if it's + or -). This allows the sub to be used in a different way for music playback, which gives it that real blended quality, and the added flexibility. Not sure about the Storm/Stadium level subs, but this is true of the Britannia and Quake lines.

polkatese

gregure wrote:

REL subs have two inputs: LFE RCA input for HT and Speakon for music. Speakon is a cable that hooks into the back of the sub with an XLR looking piece, and the chord runs to the amp and plugs into the +/- of one peaker and one of the two on the other (can't remember if it's + or -). This allows the sub to be used in a different way for music playback, which gives it that real blended quality, and the added flexibility. Not sure about the Storm/Stadium level subs, but this is true of the Britannia and Quake lines.

gregure, it is the same for Storm III as you describe, the other goes to + of the left channel power amp out.

Btw, just an fyi, REL mentioned in their manual that there is no reason to upgrade the stock speakon cable that comes with any REL subs. Not quite true. I replaced mine with Signal Cable Speakon cable (www.signalcable.com) 12 gauges, and the result is very noticeable, for the better. It is not subtle at all, so, IMHO, highly recommended!

pjdami

Russ and PT,
Congrats on the new SF speakers. As much as I enjoy my Polks, it is always nice to be able to enjoy something different too.

polkatese

thanks, Paul! where have you been? I've moved my speaker around, just for fun..for HT, LSi9 on the surround, LSiFx on surround back, and Cremona in the front. LSi7 is retired. On music, I use Ref50 2-channel only feature...so far so good.

Joey_V

PT,

Are you going to be replacing your LSi9 and LSiFX with something in the Cremona line? If so, which ones?

Joey

polkatese

Joey,

The original plan was to stick with LSis for HT (LSi15/9/Fx/C or 15/fx/7/C), and use the Cremona for 2 ch system. I thought a Cremona Auditor for surrounds use would be a blasphemy since they are a major overkill for HT. So for the time being, I'll be sticking with the plan. Btw, I didn't listen to the Auditor, but they are a beaut, very classy!

Joey_V

I agree.. the Cremona Auditors are very classy indeed. We have a dealer nearby (about 20 miles actually) that stock ALL the Sonus speakers all the way to the Stradivari Homage. I would go in for an audition, but I feel bad knowing that I will just be wasting his time since I cant afford those speakers.

I guess I'm stuck with my Martin Logans..... *sad face*.

gregure

Just because you're not going to buy doesn't mean you shouldn't go in and listen. Just be honest with the guy if you feel the need to be, but they should have no problem with sharing these speakers with the public. They are at least worth a listen. I'd love to hear a set of Stradivari, although I'm afraid my savings account would then only exist to save up for a pair. The Guarneri monitors are supposed to be sublime as well. My co-worker described them as if you were hearing ten speakers playing at once.

polkatese

Part of the hobby is to be able to appreciate things that we can't afford, and to draw the line on what you want to sacrifice for. Stradivari is definitely a proposition that I won't even look at. At $40k retail, there are so many other priorities that will be a slam dunk no contest argument against it, for me.

Joey_V

In order to run the Stradivaris correctly, the cost doesnt just stop at the speakers. The amp, the preamp, the entire front end including the source, cables, power conditioners, interconnects all have to be upgraded. This would make the $40K the speakers cost pale in comparison.

In order to run the Stradivari at its potential... expect to shell about $100,000 when all is said and done.

Ridiculous I say.

mantis

polkatese wrote:

Dan, what's up? mountain biking around the neighborhood lately?

Yo Yo whats up man????

Well not around the neighborhood but in the woods , parks , etc. I'm loving Mountain biking and try to do it as much as possible. Work gets in the way as I work alot.


Zero,
as already said, the Rels hook up 2 ways. They have dual preamps built in. They use speaker level for music and line level for theater. This can be hooked up at the same exact time and work wonders. Rel is unique for this.

Dan

newsman

I had Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home for a month on a test drive before I decided to "upgrade" to LSi 15 (new finish). After spending more than 3hr of private shootout between SF and Polks (and Martin Logan Aeon i) - I picked LSi as a winner. I'm very happy with my choice - the desision was very hard, especially with beautiful Grand Pianos gracing the room.

Anyway, I left review at www.audioasylum.com for those who's interested.

polkatese

newsman, congrats on your decision to "upgrade" to LSi15. GP is indeed very decor-friendly, even more so with the Domus GP. The new teak finish is very beautiful. In my experience, LSi15, by itself, has a bit of sloppiness in the bottom end region. I cured mine by pairing it with a REL Storm III sub, and it does the trick. As your review on the GP indicates, SF speakers are really good in details, nuance, and conveying emotion-energy of the performance. And that what I think, at the end of the day, works for me. I have no plan to get rid of my 15, since overall I still find it to be very competitive and great speaker.

reeltrouble1

I have a room where audio waves sound marvelous.

I'm the lucky one!

Oh yea and I'm

RT1