Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M Speakers by NGeorge General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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Model:	Cremona Auditor M
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$5,800.00
Description:	Modified version of Cremona Auditor
Manufacturer URL:	Sonus Faber
Model Picture:	View

Review by NGeorge on October 13, 2009 at 10:29:10 IP Address: 65.202.158.161

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I’m a sucker for rankings. If it’s listed, I go for it. Never mind a home audition, research or in-depth listening. If it’s on Stereophile’s Class A recommended list, I rush out and buy it without any thought or hesitation, especially if it’s relatively inexpensive ($2,000 to $2,500).

Well, I’ve done it a few times, and each time wound up disappointed not getting that musical bliss, and more importantly, getting poorer in the process.

I know (or have a hunch) anything that costs $2,500 among $50K speakers should be suspect – a quid pro quo entity – and be considered with some, eh, trepidation. Because, you know, after a few months, that same entity disappears from the list. Whatever it is, or was, it would have done its work in the market place. So, aside from the politics of rankings and advertising, I have finally learned my lesson. Further, when you add up the ‘inexpensive’ speakers, they become quite expensive! (Here’s some food for thought: You usually get what you pay for.)

I have heard of the Sonus Faber brand in the past, but never considered them because I thought the English made the best speakers. This may still be true (see Spendor and Harbeth) but the Danes, Canadians, French have caught on and are now making excellent speakers. And of course, the Italians, too.

I auditioned the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M two weeks ago. In fact, I planned to audition the Auditor M and Harbeth M30 side by side. But when the dealer I wanted to go to didn’t return my call (it’s by appointment only), I went to another dealer who also carried Sonus Faber, but not Harbeth. Well, I didn’t waste any time – I bought the speakers – foregoing comparisons between the Sonus Faber and Harbeth. (Was I too hasty?). At any rate, the dealer made a deal I couldn’t refuse: he was willing to take my other speakers for trade which I didn’t think the first dealer would make.

How do the Cremona Auditor Ms sound out of the box?

Pretty impressive. These two-way sound full-range. They’re clean, transparent and have good bass. They have most of the attributes I like in a speaker: organic, tons of detail and very musical. And so very gorgeous!

One week is not enough time to assess or critique a new component in a system, so I’ll hold off doing a ‘review.’ Today, as I’m running them in, I’d like the Auditor Ms to open up a little bit more. You know, exhibit a little bit of that ‘rawness.’ This may sound as oxymoronic because for a speaker of this stature, you’d expect it to be refined and educated. But, still, you don’t want your speaker to sound too polite. And besides, I do want it all!

See you in a few weeks!

Three weeks later …

Whatever regrets I had not auditioning the Harbeth M30 were dispelled after spending more time with the Cremona Auditor M. It truly made me forget about the could-have, would-have-beens. In fact, I felt like I came out ahead after reading that the Auditor M was very close to the Guarneri Memento sonically. And that some listeners even preferred the Cremona Auditor M over the Guarneri Memento for their accuracy. Well, that’s really good to know! Furthermore, I came across some less than stellar reviews of the Harbeth M30s.

At first, I was concerned about the tag placed on the Sonus Faber sound: too polite. Well, it’s not so. Not the Auditor M. While being delicate and subtle, it can create a slam. Yes, it can rock as well as it does vocals and classical music. It does not do the lowest octave – but what music really go that low? On “Love and Marriage” and other tracks from Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years (Reprise 26501-2) you experience the playful phrasing of notes and pace of Mr. Sinatra. You hear the different instruments in their own space in their natural tones blending and meshing into one cohesive presentation.

The Cremona Auditor M resolves so well that you can actually tell the difference between different guitars. And, the soundstage – being wide and believable – lets you to feel what’s going on on the musical canvass. You can ‘see’ the textured and layered notes. As it holds you captive, it pulls you in to the rhythm of the song as you sway along time and time again. Neither voice nor instruments congest even if they overlap one another. This seamless integration of notes and decay, plus the toe-tapping - this is what you have tried to find countless times as you swapped components, speakers and cables in your quest. This time, it’s the speaker - the heart of the system.

The recommended amplifier to drive these monitors is at least 40 watts, and my 47 Lab Gaincard gives out only 25 watts. While it’s preferable to use more power, I don’t feel the 47 Lab Gaincard running out of breath pushing these 4 ohm speakers. I should mention, however, they’re driven on a dual mono mode (using two 25-watt power supplies). Whether it’s by coincidence or design, my setup seems fine and this low wattage combination is not an issue.

As for setup, move the speakers at least 2 feet from the wall or the sound will harden up. I think I could still improve the sound by changing the stands. (I’m not sold on the $1,200.00 stands designed for them. Not yet, because they look, eh, different.) My Target R1s come up to only 22 inches including the spikes. That’s too low, as the images do not float as they should. Maybe changing to 28 inches would work better. Also, I’d like to pull the Auditor Ms farther out another foot from the wall - but living in a New York City apartment this is easier said than done. So I just have to make do.

Before the Cremona Auditor M, I listened to The Beatles mono and stereo remasters through the Rega RS3 and they sounded super. I really thought that that was it for my upgrading. Then I heard the Auditor Ms, and I just had to succumbed to these Italian wonders. The Beatles through the Cremona Auditor Ms? Even more fab!

The bass is very tuneful, has good depth and articulation with no overhang. The midrange is natural sounding, agile and expressive. Tonally balanced, extended (oh, that sweet, silky top!) and the whole spectrum of sound seemingly seamless – oh, did I say that already?

If the Guarneri Memento costs $15,000 to own and will make you happy, imagine how you’d feel getting almost the same performance for less than half of that from the Cremona Auditor M?

Cheers,
George

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Product Weakness:	Low bass should be a problem, but not for me. I have a small room.
Product Strengths:	Open. Smooth. Dynamic. Organic. Very musical.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	47 Lab Gaincard on dual mono mode
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	47 Lab Chooser (passive pre)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	47 Lab Flatfish/Progression
Speakers:	Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M
Cables/Interconnects:	47 Lab OTA & '4719'
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All types, except rap
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 12 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	None
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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