Guarneri

[larevoj]

Originally Posted by jprice

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

Hi jprice, would you mind sharing with us what speakers you have move on to in your 'Upstairs System' now?

[larevoj]

Hi L4N, thanks for the link and its an interesting read...the amount of craftsmanship that goes into the Guarneri is mind boggling. I have never seen speakers designer use a piece of solid walnut to mold into a damping device for the tweeter...it may look 'low' tech but its the sound that matters

Originally Posted by Luv4nature

Hi there larevoj

The GH tweeter is indeed a variation of dynaudio esotar.

"The tweeter, also custom-built, is a version of Dynaudio's Esotar unit and features a 28mm surface-damped soft dome made of silk. The unit is fitted with a special, large, rear chamber carved from solid walnut. The two drive-units are vertically aligned on the contoured, low-diffraction front baffle, the tweeter on the top."

SONUS FABER Guaneri Homage

The carved rear chamber is particularly interesting. It goes to show the extent of effort put into the making of this legendary speaker.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by larevoj

Hi jprice, would you mind sharing with us what speakers you have move on to in your 'Upstairs System' now?

Don't really understand the question; but, I don't think I'll change the speakers anytime soon . . . I really like the Mementos and, being almost 70 years old, I hope they will last me "forever". I actually listen to the "upstairs system" more than I do my main system - because the main system is another building - and I am very, very pleased with the Memento sound.

Besides, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (otherwise known as my wife) says that "we don't need any more speakers".



I may add a second sub-woofer (JL Labs F-112) at some point, because lots of folks here have said that two subs double your fun - and sound significantly better than just one.

[larevoj]

Originally Posted by Dafos

Curiously, the flagship The Sonus Faber and the just released Aida still maintain the audio technology midrange driver.

Thats an interesting point - anyone know why is that? Is the mid driver similar to Futura's? I can understand if Aida move up to a higher range of mid driver from scanspeak but why to an antire different supplier?

[larevoj]

Haha...my bad I misunderstood you!

I am certain the Memento will continue to satisfy you and your Chancellor of the Exchequer for sometime

In fact I am toying with the idea of installing one unit of JL F112...I have read nothing but good things about it but just not sure if its fast enough to catch up with the Guarneri and I am afraid it may overwhelm my small listening room.

Originally Posted by jprice

Don't really understand the question; but, I don't think I'll change the speakers anytime soon . . . I really like the Mementos and, being almost 70 years old, I hope they will last me "forever". I actually listen to the "upstairs system" more than I do my main system - because the main system is another building - and I am very, very pleased with the Memento sound.

Besides, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (otherwise known as my wife) says that "we don't need any more speakers".



I may add a second sub-woofer (JL Labs F-112) at some point, because lots of folks here have said that two subs double your fun - and sound significantly better than just one.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by larevoj

Thats an interesting point - anyone know why is that? Is the mid driver similar to Futura's? I can understand if Aida move up to a higher range of mid driver from scanspeak but why to an antire different supplier?

Sonus faber drivers, like those of most leading edge speaker makers are their own versions of what appears outwardly to be a stock model of driver. Leading edge driver makers work with speaker designers to tailor a driver to the needs to a particular design. This can include everything from diaphragm material/make up to magnet to voice coil to former to phase plug to basket to spider and yes even damped hardwood enclosures for the tweeter as found on Sonus faber Homage tweeters. There are many more possibilities than that but you get the idea. Then the driver is manufactured to the new spec by the driver maker. That why whenever someone asks me what driver is in a particular speaker, I reply "It began life as .."

Bottom line. The driver you think you can buy off the shelf you cannot. Are these drivers better than the stock driver? Certainly in the context of an entire speaker, speaker designers believe they are. Why else would they spend the time and money to develop them and have them built?

[Kenkirk]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

Sonus faber drivers, like those of most leading edge speaker makers are their own versions of what appears outwardly to be a stock model of driver. Leading edge driver makers work with speaker designers to tailor a driver to the needs to a particular design. This can include everything from diaphragm material/make up to magnet to voice coil to former to phase plug to basket to spider and yes even damped hardwood enclosures for the tweeter as found on Sonus faber Homage tweeters. There are many more possibilities than that but you get the idea. Then the driver is manufactured to the new spec by the driver maker. That why whenever someone asks me what driver is in a particular speaker, I reply "It began life as .."

Bottom line. The driver you think you can buy off the shelf you cannot. Are these drivers better than the stock driver? Certainly in the context of an entire speaker, speaker designers believe they are. Why else would they spend the time and money to develop them and have them built?

Great post. I might add often the speaker builder will also match the drivers into pairs and mark them, like tube matching. I do not think Sonus Faber does this but I know Paul Hales used to do this. So yea, just buying a replacement driver off the shelf seldom works with high end speakers.

Ken

[larevoj]

Actually the question was why different driver manufacturers between SF speakers and between tweeter/mids/woofer of the same speaker.

However, you did point out a crucial point on the differences between stock versus custom built drivers - good insight

Originally Posted by metaphacts

Sonus faber drivers, like those of most leading edge speaker makers are their own versions of what appears outwardly to be a stock model of driver. Leading edge driver makers work with speaker designers to tailor a driver to the needs to a particular design. This can include everything from diaphragm material/make up to magnet to voice coil to former to phase plug to basket to spider and yes even damped hardwood enclosures for the tweeter as found on Sonus faber Homage tweeters. There are many more possibilities than that but you get the idea. Then the driver is manufactured to the new spec by the driver maker. That why whenever someone asks me what driver is in a particular speaker, I reply "It began life as .."

Bottom line. The driver you think you can buy off the shelf you cannot. Are these drivers better than the stock driver? Certainly in the context of an entire speaker, speaker designers believe they are. Why else would they spend the time and money to develop them and have them built?

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by larevoj

Actually the question was why different driver manufacturers between SF speakers and between tweeter/mids/woofer of the same speaker.

However, you did point out a crucial point on the differences between stock versus custom built drivers - good insight

Drivers are matched by individual product design needs, not manufacturer pedigree.

The Guarneri Homage came out in 1993, the Evolution in 2011 and the Memento in between. What is available as a palette of drivers with which to work changes dramatically over 18 years.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by larevoj

In fact I am toying with the idea of installing one unit of JL F112...I have read nothing but good things about it but just not sure if its fast enough to catch up with the Guarneri and I am afraid it may overwhelm my small listening room.

Don't underestimate the speed of JL subs, they are lightning fast.