Guarneri Evolution Review

[Still-One]

Just received my Nov 11 Hi Fi New today with a review of the SF Guarneri Evolution. A very nice review by Ken Kessler.

He had favorable comments regarding the larger woofer and improved tweeter. He was a bit concerned that they would need more than a MC 275 or Quad II Classic to deliver there potential but thought Quad 80 mono's or a MC2102 would do the trick. (In Ken Howard's lab test he thought the Evolutions would't be too hard to drive)

He referred to the Evolution as the kick ass little brother to the Homage's and Mementos. Though it may not have the grace or delicacy of the original it will provide an overall better experience.

Jim

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Just received my Nov 11 Hi Fi New today with a review of the SF Guarneri Evolution. A very nice review by Ken Kessler.

He had favorable comments regarding the larger woofer and improved tweeter. He was a bit concerned that they would need more than a MC 275 or Quad II Classic to deliver there potential but thought Quad 80 mono's or a MC2102 would do the trick. (In Ken Howard's lab test he thought the Evolutions would't be too hard to drive)

He referred to the Evolution as the kick ass little brother to the Homage's and Mementos. Though it may not have the grace or delicacy of the original it will provide an overall better experience.

Jim

I believe Ken called it the kid brother, not the little brother. As Ken pointed out "the Evolution breaks free from any shackles one might assume would be imposed by its driver or cabinet size.lt acts like a much bigger speaker."

Ken suggested Evolution compares to a more modern and younger Barolo. Perhaps as with all Barolos, the ultimate grace is attained with age.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

I believe Ken called it the kid brother, not the little brother. As Ken pointed out "the Evolution breaks free from any shackles one might assume would be imposed by its driver or cabinet size.lt acts like a much bigger speaker."

Ken suggested Evolution compares to a more modern and younger Barolo. Perhaps as with all Barolos, the ultimate grace is attained with age.

The sentence reads "Evolution moves on from Homage as Barolos have changed: modern versions have more kick, less delicacy. So, if you loved the original for its grace, keep it. But if you need that extra 2% more alcohol, drink deeply of the Evolution.

Sounds like most of us would approve.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Still-One

The sentence reads "Evolution moves on from Homage as Barolos have changed: modern versions have more kick, less delicacy. So, if you loved the original for its grace, keep it. But if you need that extra 2% more alcohol, drink deeply of the Evolution.

Sounds like most of us would approve.

My comment was just me having fun with Ken's analogy. He does after all own the classic Barolo, Guarneri Homage. My point was that with more alcohol, only time (remember Evolution break in should be about 600 hours) can begin to reveal the grace and delicacy hidden below the higher alcohol content.

I do agree with Ken though. If I owned Guarneri Homage, I would never sell it. I would just move it to the bedroom - the perfect place for such a seductive Baro.., er speaker.

[kfr01]

mmmmm, Barolo

[cmalak]

Here you go:

[TommyC]

Thanks Cyril, appreciated.

Edit: Just finish reading the review. According to Ken, the Evolution has a more modern sound with more extended high/low/soundstage, but less delicacy/grace compared to the GH or GM.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Thanks Cyril, appreciated.

Edit: Just finish reading the review. According to Ken, the Evolution has a more modern sound with more extended high/low/soundstage, but less delicacy/grace compared to the GH or GM.

See my comment about Ken's Barolo analogy.

I find the differences between Homage and Memento as large, but obviously different.

[metaphacts]

“What the stands contribute are ideal height and angling for an equilateral triangle set-up, its point crossing just in front of the listener. But there's something else the Evolution adds to the recipe: unlike the to-the-millimetre toe-in requirements of the Homage and Memento, the new model even delivers 90% of the imaging with the speakers firing directly forwards.. “

While I agree that the Evolution is far less room sensitive to toe-in than the ring radiator of Memento, toe-in is still a very important part of matching speakers to each other and room. Improper toe in raises the noise floor and robs the speaker (any speaker actually) of low level quiet and resolve. Proper rake is the final piece of the puzzle. Again, due to the smoother off axis response of the silk dome, it's less critical than the ring radiator to reach acceptable but still critical to reach the ideal.

As with previous Guarneri, my brief experience says the ideal set is wider than an equilateral triangle. Putting the speakers too close together tends to congest things between midbass and upper midrange. Crossing tweeters in front of the listener tends to accentuate the effect.

YMMV

[AndyPandy]

The original Guarneri's are also a sensational speaker and one I hope to come across one day.

Thanks for the set up tips Bill.