Thread: Guarneri
View Single Post
  #4  
Old 01-03-2012, 11:43 AM
AudioNut's Avatar
AudioNut AudioNut is offline
World's Oldest Audiophile

 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Tennessee, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,536
Default

I've had a pair of Guarneri Mementos for a little over two years and absolutely love them.

I have them set-up in a less than perfect configuration, have to sit off-center when I listen, drive them with not quite "matching" electronics - (McIntosh MA-7000, - a good integrated amp, but many separate amps/preamps would probably be a better match for the Mementos.) yet, every time I listen I feel that I could close my eyes and believe that the musicians are in the room with me.

Even sitting off center, the speakers project a full, wide, and deep soundstage. Imaging is extremely good, tonal balance is excellent.

I've tried dozens of "monitor" type speakers and the Mementos definitely come out on top in every parameter that matters to me.

I recently borrowed a pair of Wilson Duettes, expecting them to provide an even better sound in my situation, because of their ability to sound good in less than favorable placement circumstances, but in my room, they came in a far distant second to the Mementos.

I heartily recommend the Mementos to anyone looking for a top quality monitor speaker, and at the current used selling price (in the $8,000 range) they are a world class bargain, when compared to the $22,000 Evolutions and to virtually all of the other top level, very expensive, monitors.
__________________
....



I have a record player and a cd player and some other stuff that sounds pretty good.


MAIN SYSTEM: . . . Audio Physic Caldera III Loudspeakers, Spectral DMC 30SL Preamp, Spectral DMA 250 Amp, Spectral/MIT interconnects and speaker cable, Basis Debut V Vacuum turntable, Walker Precision Speed Controller, Graham tonearm, [B]Koetsu Rosewood or Grado Statement 1 Cartridges, PASS - X-ono Phono Stage, Esoteric K03 CD/SACD Player, Lexicon RT-20 Universal Player, Exact Power EP-15A & SP-15A power regeneration and conditioning devices. Symposium Acoustics Svelte pads & RollerBlock Jr's under speakers. ASC Tube Traps, Arcici Suspense Rack System, OPPO and Cambridge Streaming Devices.


DOWNSTAIRS SYSTEM: . . . Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento Speakers, JL Audio F112 Sub, McIntosh MA7000 Integrated Amp, McIntosh MVP871 Universal Disc Player, OPPO BDP-105 Blu-Ray Player, VPI Scoutmaster with periphery ring clamp, VPI SDS Motor Drive, Koetsu Pro IV, or Clearaudio Discovery Cartridges, Mark Levinson No. 25s phono stage, Wadia 170i Transport with a Meridian Bitstream 203 DAC, VPI HW-17 Pro Record Cleaning Machine, Five Richard Gray RGPC 400 devices scattered around the two systems, Arcici Suspense Rack System, Discovery Essence and Essential Cables, 14,000 ± LPs .
Reply With Quote