Amati Futura vs Amati Anniversario

[BillK]

I've now heard the Amati Futuras a few different times and though they've sounded good they don't seem to possess the "magic" that the Amati Anniversario did every time I heard them.

The sound is good, perhaps even more accurate, it's just not "pretty" if you will, and the soundstage doesn't seem to lock in quite as well as before.

Does this sound like it's probably room setup or the associated equipment, or do those of you who have heard/own the AFs think this is a conscious voicing change on the part of SF?

For reference and background, I've owned a pair of Apogee Caliper Signatures for over a decade, my sonic reference as the best sound I've ever heard is a pair of old Apogee Full Ranges, but I like 85% of what the Wilson Sasha W/P can accomplish, the other 15% being because they're a dynamic driver that only fires forward, I can instantly tell, say, that that the sound of that horn in the left channel only is coming from that left channel driver there rather than from what is imaging as a horn "over there" as planers and other speakers that have some rear sound component (like Vivids and the original Revel Ultimas) tend to do.

My dealer has been great and has offered on multiple occasions to arrange an in-home demo, but I want to try and sort out what I'm hearing before I have them schlep a $34K pair of speakers around the state; for example the Sashas sounded incredible at that dealer and it was only when they were in my home that I noticed the highs tended to "beam" a bit.

[Masterlu]

Having owned them both, I do favor the Futura's. My Anniversario's were set up by Bill and sounded fantastic.

The Futura's are not completely broken in yet, or dialed in by Bill (next month) and already sound amazing. They exhibit greater clarity, and even more musicality; very intoxicating IMHO.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by BillK

I've now heard the Amati Futuras a few different times and though they've sounded good they don't seem to possess the "magic" that the Amati Anniversario did every time I heard them.

The sound is good, perhaps even more accurate, it's just not "pretty" if you will, and the soundstage doesn't seem to lock in quite as well as before.

Does this sound like it's probably room setup or the associated equipment, or do those of you who have heard/own the AFs think this is a conscious voicing change on the part of SF?

For reference and background, I've owned a pair of Apogee Caliper Signatures for over a decade, my sonic reference as the best sound I've ever heard is a pair of old Apogee Full Ranges, but I like 85% of what the Wilson Sasha W/P can accomplish, the other 15% being because they're a dynamic driver that only fires forward, I can instantly tell, say, that that the sound of that horn in the left channel only is coming from that left channel driver there rather than from what is imaging as a horn "over there" as planers and other speakers that have some rear sound component (like Vivids and the original Revel Ultimas) tend to do.

My dealer has been great and has offered on multiple occasions to arrange an in-home demo, but I want to try and sort out what I'm hearing before I have them schlep a $34K pair of speakers around the state; for example the Sashas sounded incredible at that dealer and it was only when they were in my home that I noticed the highs tended to "beam" a bit.

Speaker set up is your friend. Your descriptions indicate that most of them you have heard were not properly set up, particularly if it took a rear firing driver to make the speaker disappear. Even pressure within the room is the first goal of proper speaker set.

That said, Futuras are very easy to set up relative to Anniversarios. The dispersion of the dome is more even than the ring radiator so toe in/toe out and rake are easier to get right.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

Speaker set up is your friend. Your descriptions indicate that most of them you have heard were not properly set up, particularly if it took a rear firing driver to make the speaker disappear. Even pressure within the room is the first goal of proper speaker set.

That said, Futuras are very easy to set up relative to Anniversarios. The dispersion of the dome is more even than the ring radiator so toe in/toe out and rake are easier to get right.

Looks like we'll have more time to and

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Looks like we'll have more time to and

[TommyC]

You wound think dealers will try their best to position the speaker for optimal sound. But from what I've read online, dealers either don't know how or don't want to take the time to set up their speakers for clients . We can't expect Bill to set up every single SF speakers. I expect more. The Wilson dealers can do it, why not SF?

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by TommyC

You wound think dealers will try their best to position the speaker for optimal sound. But from what I've read online, dealers either don't know how or don't want to take the time to set up their speakers for clients . We can't expect Bill to set up every single SF speakers. I expect more. The Wilson dealers can do it, why not SF?

As with Sonus faber, there are some Wilson dealers who can and some who cant.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

As with Sonus faber, there are some Wilson dealers who can and some who cant.

Very true !
I have heard very badly positioned WP8 speakers at a friend's place, and they were set up by the dealer. My friend worked on the position by himself after, and he got a much better results after that. But this should have been done by the dealer.
For my PMC speakers, that was worse : they have been delivered by a guy who did not even know what a speaker is !

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

For my PMC speakers, that was worse : they have been delivered by a guy who did not even know what a speaker is !

Jérôme.......Ok mister, where you want these two boxes?

[jfray]

Speaker positioning is critical! Hire a professional to do it, I believe it is a huge piece of the puzzle that is often overlooked. It is worth every penny!!!!!