The Aidas of March all over again

[zettelsm]

I've been in love with Sonus Faber loudspeakers for a long time.

I fell in love with Italian design and craftsmanship many years ago when I had the good fortune to live in Italy for three years. One can't help but gain a deep appreciation of Italian art and architecture when living and working in the land that gave birth to Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci, where the town of Cremona is famous for that epitome of musical instruments, the Stradivarius violin, where Rossini and Verdi, Donizetti and Puccini wrote some of the most enduring music of the classical world. Where Ferrari has a justifiable claim as the pinnacle of automotive achievement.

And Sonus Faber reigns supreme as the most beautiful sounding and finished speakers in the world.

Until now I had to content myself with brief indulgences at audio shows and too short visits at dealers' showrooms. I was lucky enough to hear Sonus Faber's penultimate model, the Aida, on annual visits to Scottsdale AZ over the years. I was struck by the lightning bolt, but a new pair was always out of reach. I had to make do with virtually feasting on Ivan's beautiful eye-candy in his original Aidas of March thread.

However, yesterday a dream came true.

I found a pair of Aidas from a reliable seller based in the UK and after some back and forth, made an offer that was accepted. Serendipitous in that he had shipped a large pair of speakers to the Seattle area two years before, he was able to recommend a reliable Customs clearance agent to expedite them into the US port of entry and make sure they were trans-shipped to my home.

Yesterday after an interminable weekend in my garage, my Aidas were finally set up in my living room and I spent a ten-hour marathon luxuriating in the most beautiful music I've ever had in my home in the nearly fifty years of my love affair with music.

Here are the first set of pictures:

[zettelsm]

Second set:

[zettelsm]

Inside at last:

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by zettelsm

Inside at last:

Those are beautiful, congratulations!!!!

Next step, Ivan will be telling you how great they sound if you tri-amp them [emoji56][emoji48][emoji48]!

[zettelsm]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

Those are beautiful, congratulations!!!!

Next step, Ivan will be telling you how great they sound if you tri-amp them [emoji56][emoji48][emoji48]!

Thank you. I have to keep the appearance to a certain standard if I want to keep the stereo in the living room. Absolutely no problem with the Aidas.

I’m waiting for Ivan to chip in with how I need triple Burmesters!

Steve Z

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by zettelsm

Thank you. I have to keep the appearance to a certain standard if I want to keep the stereo in the living room. Absolutely no problem with the Aidas.

I’m waiting for Ivan to chip in with how I need triple Burmesters!

Steve Z

You can also Tri-amp each side; these would work in a pinch.

[soastrup]

Wonderfull, what a great system and what great speakers. How large is the room?


Enjoy

[zettelsm]

Originally Posted by soastrup

Wonderfull, what a great system and what great speakers. How large is the room?


Enjoy

Thanks for the kind words.

The volume they play into is somewhat irregular shaped, I guess I'd call it a semi-open plan first floor. The nominal living room is 14' X 27' with the Aidas facing down the length of the room. You can see the bay behind the equipment rack, which adds a bit to the overall length. Ceilings are 10'. The back of the living room opens into a large kitchen and dining area.

The left side of the front half of the living room, to the outside of the left speaker is an open entry foyer 17' X 9' X 21', and out of this area are two large open halls to other parts of the ground floor. There is an open staircase to the second level from the foyer, with a balcony and an open hallway to the bedrooms upstairs. So quite a large volume.

I put a GIK Acoustics folding acoustic screen to the outside of the left speaker so that it sees a similar acoustic as the right speaker which is closer to a wall and also has an acoustic panel to the outside. In practice, there is no pulling of the center image and central sounds are firmly centered between the two speakers. The speakers are 9' apart from center to center.

Thank you for your interest.

Steve Z

[DVass13]

That is one beautiful setup. One can only hope that they sound as wonderful as they look. Congrats on the new speakers!

[zettelsm]

Originally Posted by DVass13

That is one beautiful setup. One can only hope that they sound as wonderful as they look. Congrats on the new speakers!

Thank you very much. They sound amazing, and I'm sure will only get better as I fine tune the positioning and the speaker controls a bit.

Steve Z