Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home Speakers by Luminator

Model:	Grand Piano Home
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$3499
Description:	System: Is there really no high pass in the crossover? Not even at the 3,000 Hz point for the tweeter
Manufacturer URL:	Sonus Faber
Model Picture:	View

Review by Luminator on August 13, 2007 at 11:14:44
IP Address: 66.47.253.226 Add Your Review
for the Grand Piano Home

No, not here, Silly. Like everything else I write nowadays, you can find the review, which consists of half a month's worth of posts, on my xanga blog:

Lummy's Blog

You will have to use xanga's posting calendar, and begin with the July 23, 2007 entry. The review takes place on these entries:

7/23/2007: boxes
7/24/2007: history and aesthetics
7/25/2007: outriggers
7/26/2007: initial setup
7/27/2007: single-wiring
7/30/2007: firing straight ahead
7/31/2007: grille
8/1/2007: port
8/2/2007: toe-in
8/3/2007: burn-in
8/6/2007: cable choices
8/7/2007: home theater use
8/8/2007: weaknesses
8/10/2007: compatibility
8/13/2007: conclusions

Of course, you're free to check out everything else on my blog, which is continually updated. If you go further back, you will find lots of info and feedback on other speakers. While I haven't written any head-to-head comparisons, you could definitely use my old posts, and draw your own comparisons.

Over the past 6 or so years, I have heard the Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home in several locales. If your room is smaller than, say 15x18, forget about the GPH, and look for something else. But while the GPH is unsuitable for small rooms, it is, conversely, well-suited for larger spaces.

Earlier this decade, the GPH retailed in the US for around US$3250. That put it at a price disadvantage versus the North American Martin Logan Aerius i, Thiel CS2.3, and Totem Hawk. But now that the GPH has been discontinued, you can probably find good used examples for 60% of retail price.

-Lummy The Seahorse

Product Weakness:	high sensitivity; needs breathing room; ugly in walnut; not as open, neutral, punchy, or alive as other (albeit more expensive) Sonus Faber models; faux leather can scratch, tear, wrinkle, fade, or get crusty with dirt
Product Strengths:	beautiful piano black finish; outriggers create stability; magnetically shielded; single wiring; plays without strain or harshness

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Simaudio W-7
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Simaudio W-8
Sources (CDP/Turntable): EAR Acute, Esoteric DV-60, Rega P9/Koetsu Jade Platinum
Speakers: Other Sonus Fabers
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost Valhalla
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Popular
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 15 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 years overall
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Power Wing, Nordost Thor
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Simaudio W-7
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Simaudio W-8
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	EAR Acute, Esoteric DV-60, Rega P9/Koetsu Jade Platinum
Speakers:	Other Sonus Fabers
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordost Valhalla
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Popular
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 15 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 years overall
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Power Wing, Nordost Thor
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner