Addio my lovely Guarneri Homage
 

As I mentioned in a previous post, my new year's resolution is a complete system tear-down and rebuild.

To honor the components that I am going to sell, I've decided to write each of them a little farewell.

Addio (Italian for farewell)

Since I know that the tear-down and sell process is going to be painful, I am going to start by desensitizing myself by eliminating first what is probably my most beautiful and relatively rare component. The Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage speakers.

My 2004 SFGH have been in my system for about 3 years. I've adored them and "babied" them like no other component I've ever owned. I covered them with their custom bordeaux cloth "caps" almost every night. I instructed the housekeepers not to go anywhere near them.

With their marble pedestal and "stringed" column stands they are the audio equivalent of David's Michelangelo.

Behold:

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/ima...rneri_pair.jpg

Every time I look at them I marvel at their beauty. Every time I listen to them, I marvel at their refined, detailed -- yet non-fatiguing -- sound. I am not going to do a review because they've been reviewed to death by others and there is little I can add. Besides, if I start to write about them any more I'll probably change my mind.

There was a time when I swore I'd never part with them, and I am still thinking of keeping them and putting them in another room. But that would be cheating myself and my new mission, as well as cheating someone else from enjoying them in their main system.

What will replace the Guarneri Homage?

I will talk more about my plans for my new main speakers in future posts. They will be very different in sonic character than the GH but I hope I can achieve the goal of coming close to them in terms of aesthetics. I may fail miserably, but at least I will try.

The one thing that distinguishes the GH (and most SF speakers) different from most, if not all, other speakers is their beauty. SF has taught us that speakers can, and should, look as good as they sound. They's started a movement away from boring boxes and ugly foam or cloth grilles. That's the legacy that these speakers will leave with me.

Addio Guarneri. You will be missed like no other component I've ever owned.

Alberto

:tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears: . . . :tears:

Can't you keep the GH? I don't think you can get something quite like it for the amount you sell it for.

Whoa step away from the ledge. Put the Guarneri Homage in a bedroom, an office, anywhere but on the block. Pick up a Sonus faber Musica integrated used and you have a system that will move you for the rest of your life. BTW, don't be surprised if certain aspects of the GH are improved with the Musica - the circuit is what they were designed with.

Then do what you will with your big rig. You'd always have GH to come home to.

Alberto,

Stop! Wait! From my own personal experience, getting rid of your beloved piece of equipment is not a good idea. Whatever the new system you're about to built will not be "better" than the SFGH that you have, it will just be "different." I know rebuilding your audio system takes a lot of financial commitment, but you WILL eventually recover from the financial bruise. When you do, you'll probably say, "gosh, I wish I had kept my SFGH."

Let's say you can get $7,000 for your SFGH. When I'm faced with a situation like you are in right now, I ask myself this question: "Would it be more difficult for me to earn $7,000, or find a pair of SFGH in this condition in the future when I want it again?" Most of the time, earning money is easier than finding something that's very unique, especially if it's no longer being made.

It's a keeper....

I was expecting this response - and I really appreciate you guys (Tommy, Dan, metaphacts and T-3G) for caring enough to write them.

You are not making this decision any easier. I already know that I will dream about them tonight.

If I had another room for them, I would consider keeping them but I don't and in any case I don't want to relegate them to a B system.

I will not let them go easily though, and I will make sure they go to a good home. Which I think might be the case since less than an hour after I posted them on Audiogon I was contacted by a professional chamber musician ...

Stay tuned and thanks again for your messages.

Alberto

Alberto,

I think you should talk to Keith about his Elipsa's :yes:

Don't think I did not think about it ... it's an amazing speaker and I'd buy anything from Keith without a second of hesitation, but that's not the direction I want to go. It would be too easy :D.

Alberto

Ah I see now. It is the chase that moves you. Good luck and have fun!

I have a new pair of Grand Utopia EM's that will fit in your place nicely. :roflmao: