Sonus Faber Cremona - which Ohm tap do you like?
 

I bought a pair of new to me Sonus Faber Cremonas earlier this month.

This week, I brought home a McIntosh MAC6700 integrated. (After messing with a fellow AA member’s MA5200. At only 100wpc, and no autoformers I didn’t expect much, but it sounded awesome!!!)

Reading the speaker specs, they are a nominal 4 ohm speaker.

My first connection to the amp I connected them to the 4 ohm tap. The sound was anemic at best. Missing dynamics, flat, and totally underwhelming. It was also noticeably bright. Nothing like the cheaper ma5200—I was very disappointed.

I had read somewhere that Sumiko prefers the 8 ohm tap with sonus/McIntosh combinations, so I gave the 8 ohm tap a try.

Holy smokes, night and day difference. Better in every way. Better bass, dynamics, etc.

What gives? Why would a “nominal 4 ohm speaker” sound better on the 8 ohm tap?

Thoughts?

Very interesting.

Now I too am curious.

Any AA’ers know why the 8 ohm tap would sound better on a 4 ohm speaker?

Same with audio research

My Guarneri Mementos likes the 8 ohm tap too. The 4 ohm tap seemed too bright IMO

4 ohm

Because there is no such thing as a 4 ohm speaker.

https://www.stereophile.com/images/a.../CREmoFIG1.jpg

Good to know.

Any idea why this is?

Serge,

Thanks for posting that image. That certainly tells a story!

The Cremona likes an amp that can control the woofers well (reserve power on demand). Choosing a tap that better aligns with the bass region impedance will typically yield not only better dynamics but adds the warmth as the bass response is now more in balance with the rest of the frequency range response.

Interesting thread! I have an MA8900 in the house and have been experimenting with it and my Elipsas SE's for a few days. I have only used the 4 ohm taps so far, but I love what I am hearing. Most definitely *not* bright. In fact, the Mc sounds more tube-like than my tube amp! I am seriously considering the purchase of the McIntosh to replace my PrimaLuna integrated. I will try the 8 ohm tap next and report back with my findings, although unless I am mistaken the Elipsas do drop all the way to 2.4 ohms in the lower frequencies....