Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Sonus Faber Guaneri Speakers by ao

Model:	Guaneri
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$9500
Description:	Lute shaped, work of art
Manufacturer URL:	Sonus Faber
Manufacturer URL:	Sonus Faber

Review by ao on November 04, 2001 at 07:06:07
IP Address: 192.115.122.65

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for the Guaneri

I lived with a pair of maggies 0.5 for 10 years while the rest of the system components were upgraded. After 2 years with this system, I realized it was time to upgrade the speakers. My amplifier - a Jadis DA-30 used as a power amp. only, was my main concern. The SF-G having 8ohm impedance and rated sensitivy of 88 db promised a good match. I was surprised how good it was. When playing through the maggies, my Meridian 518 registered -13 db for acceptable sound level. Through the SF-G -20db gave me even more. My Sub - velodyne HGS-12, is connected in parallel.
I can't believe that the SF-Gs are faster than the maggie which I thought excelled in this area. The highs gave another surprise, providing higher resolution and musicality. Add the already famous mid and mid bass that are matched by the sub and you get a transport machine that can send the listner to the music planet... Any CD I throw in, be it small scale or symphonies sounds convincing and easy to "see".
Notes: I've read some complaints about the speakers being slow or lack bass - system matching is much more than assembling Stereophile class-A components. It's too easy to judge a speaker that doesn't match the source components, it's only fair to everyone to judge in the context of the system, not in absolute terms.
I can't imagine what a break-in period will do for these speakers...

Product Weakness: Its strength may be too much of a good thing - hard to turn off and go to sleep...
Product Strengths: A combination of Non-fatiguing musicality with lots of details and musical nuances.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Jadis DA-30 used as a power amplifier only (rated 25w by Jadis)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Meridian 518 digital pre-amp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Musical design (Pioneer) transport, Meridian 518 digital processor, Meridian 566 D/A
Speakers:	SF Guarneri
Cables/Interconnects:	Speaker cable: Bi-wire Nordost Red-Dawn, Interconnects: Harmonic Pro-Sillway II
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz & Blues
Room Size (LxWxH):	8m x 5m x 2.7m
Room Comments/Treatments:	Carpets between speakers and listner sofa
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1w
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	One Shakti stone
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Its strength may be too much of a good thing - hard to turn off and go to sleep...
Product Strengths:	A combination of Non-fatiguing musicality with lots of details and musical nuances.