I was looking at the Sonus Faber site this morning...

Jstas
Jstas Posts: 14,806
edited February 2010 in The Clubhouse
...in an effort to answer a question from a co-worker and I noticed that they have done something spiffy. They have re-released the Minima loudspeaker. This was one of the pearls from Sonus Faber past that got them all the attention they currently enjoy. Yeah, not a Polk Audio thing but these are audio history. I remember seeing these at The Wiz and thinking that they were small. But they were showcased and the sales dude would not let us little kids near them because they "cost more than my dad could afford". What ****. Anyway, something neat to check out! They were game changers for alot of people and if the price is right, probably worth owning.

http://www.sonusfaber.com/eng/collections_vintage_minima.html

minima.jpg
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2009
    Oh and they aren't real sensitive so you need a good deal of power to drive them well at reasonable listening levels. But they handle 25W-100W but I honestly wouldn't go less than 40 watts on them. They are bass reflex but the driver is heavy and can get muddy at low power levels. Oh and they are 8 ohms as well. I've seen prices between $3750 and $4600 a pair. When you look at the prices of say LSi25's or other comparable towers these aren't that unattainable. But you can dip in to the SF brand at around a grand for the Toy series Monitor until the end of the year.

    If you do get them, I would recommend tube power. Good, clean tube power. Every set of Sonus Fabers I have heard on tubes just shines! The best I heard were an old set of bookshelfs at a customer's house when I was a wire running lacky for a friend. I can't even remember the name but this was back in the mid to late 90's. All I remember are the gold Sonus Faber badges on the speakers and huge gold brick Conrad-Johnson amps and they just sounded so natural. Like they weren't even there.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,724
    edited December 2009
    I heard a set of Sonus Fabers about 7 years ago. At the time, I had never heard of them (because they were outta my price consideration). They weren't even set up in an optimal system. They were only powered by a Yamaha receiver and they were placed on a counter-top/bookshelf area. Even at that, they sounded amazing. I can only imagine how good they would be with proper stand mounting and quality tube power. droool...
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2009
    Sonus Faber does make great speakers, no matter where you can get into their line. Some of the 90's stuff is a little ugly to me, but if you like quality Italian...
    Jake
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2009
    If you like the Sonus Faber look and sound, but not the price - check out Opera speakers.

    That being said, I'd take a 10 year old pair of Grand Piano's anyday and be all but DONE.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited December 2009
    Looks nice! The Sonus Faber's have always piked my interest.

    One thing that I don't understand...is some of these manufacturers choices in pictures. There's not a single picture on there that I can find...that shows the entire speaker. It's a bunch of closeups of various parts.

    I wanna see the whole speaker dammit!
    The nirvana inducer-
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    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2009
    Here:

    MINIMA_01.jpg

    Stop crying already.



    Oh and if anyone wants the U.S. Distributor, here:

    http://www.sumikoaudio.net/
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited December 2009
    Cool...that's what I wanted to see! Some very nice looking bookshelves.

    I'm sure I could have found those with a quick google search, it was more of an observation than a complaint.

    I've seen the same things on several websites...tons of closeups, but not a single picture of the whole speaker. I'm not sure why that is...
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2009
    Because Sonus Faber loudspeakers are as much of a detailed work of art in the physical aspect as they are in the engineering aspect. They are the "high end" of audio and the prices reflect that. But peruse the Sumiko site and look at all the offerings.

    Sumiko also offers Vienna Acoustics which are artwork in and of themselves as well. They are outstanding performers too. I have had first hand experience with them. A friend of mine, his father just replaced a 20 year old pair of Snell Acoustic loudspeakers with Vienna Acoustics Heritage Series Mahler v1.5's. He got a good deal on them because of the favorable exchange rate. He also owns one of the few pieces of Linn gear I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. His Mahlers are piano black and he has a silver Linn MAJIK-I integrated amplifier. He has this crazy turntable that I have never heard of before and that's pretty much it. He has a glass shelved stand that makes it all look like it's hovering in space. He dropped a pretty big dime on it but after his divorce he went and got his mid-life crisis stuff.

    I just wish I had known he was selling the Snells. I would have snapped them up in a jiffy.

    Oh and Sumiko is also an REL dealer. Top notch subs but you'll probably have to sell your first born to afford one.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2009
    I'm getting a pair of these to play with next month.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2009
    What, the Minimas?
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2009
    If my friend gets them in, absolutely.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2009
    sweet
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2009
    This is one company where you just can't go wrong. Every model is top notch. My favorite is the Concertino.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited February 2010
    Zero wrote: »
    I got to spend some quality time with a set of Guarneri Memento's back in November. What stunningly beautiful speakers. Great sound. Great looks. What more could one want? I guess that's how it should be at 16k.

    I somehow lost a lot of the pics I took of em', but here are a few I managed to locate:

    beautiful speaks Sean. I wonder why they don't make the Classic line finish to their Homage, as far as making them glossy.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited February 2010
    I had the opportunity to listen to a pair of the Cremona Elipsa's for about an hour, with my choice of the available CD's. I think they were being powered by all Conrad Johnson gear IIRC. What does that commercial say to do if you have an erection for more than 4 hrs :D
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,468
    edited February 2010
    What does that commercial say to do if you have an erection for more than 4 hrs

    Get another hooker because the first one is worn out.
    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

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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,066
    edited February 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Get another hooker because the first one is worn out.

    After that...find the nearest women's prison & have a go at it!!! I'm sure you'll even be invited back.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • zeppage2
    zeppage2 Posts: 196
    edited February 2010
    I have lusted after some Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor Ms after hearing them at an audio boutique in Berkeley.
    However, i like the versatility if the HT LSi setup I currently have and could not justify merely using the Faber's for 2 channel music.
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  • gtu2004
    gtu2004 Posts: 620
    edited February 2010
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    If you like the Sonus Faber look and sound, but not the price - check out Opera speakers.

    That being said, I'd take a 10 year old pair of Grand Piano's anyday and be all but DONE.

    always wondered why people phrase it this way. this means that you can be anything but done, or that after you get the 10 year old pair of Grand Piano's, you would be looking to replace them shortly, within this context. The correct usage should be "nothing but DONE"
    Onkyo 805, RtiA5s, Csi5, Rti6s
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2010
    I haven't heard a bad pair of SF yet.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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