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Sonus Faber Italy's Best

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  #1  
Old 12-04-2016, 01:12 AM
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Default Amati Futuras in the house

We took delivery yesterday on a beautiful pair of AFs, replacing our B&W 802Ds. Over the past few weeks we replaced the MX136 with an MX151, and put in a C2500 preamp for stereo listening, to drive the front MC501s. A McIntosh MVP901 arrived yesterday too, so a lot of upgrades around the core amplifiers.

Each step has resulted in improvements, but the combination of the Amati Futuras having the C2500 preamp upstream with its tube magic really made the hair on the back of my neck stand up when we were dialing in the speakers.

The soundstage of jazz and ensemble classical we've played so far is wider, and the separation of individual instruments has us amazed. Our Sumiko-trained dealer placed them in the listening room, and it amazed me how the small differences in placement affected the sound, especially the first "fix" of the bass on the left speaker. There is an "air" around the sound, with greater detail, that lends a heightened presence to the music that brings it closer to live than we've had here. The bass coming from these beauties is amazing when one considers the woofers are just nine inches (granted, my frame of reference is the Cerwin-Vegas I used to sell with 15- and 18-inch woofers a LONG time ago), and while deep, it's very fast as well.

I don't know if it's the placement, which is different from what we had with the B&Ws, but they sound much better from the next room than the 802Ds did. All the upgrades have really enabled us to enjoy the music on another level, and we're really looking forward to exploring the music again, and having more "I never heard that before" moments when playing old favorites - had a couple already.

Truly a piece of art.
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Sources: Vinyl: Clearaudio Innovation Wood turntable with 9" Universal tonearm, Da Vinci V2 cartridge, Stillpoints SS & Stillpoints clamp, McIntosh MVP 901, Apple Mac mini via Benchmark DAC 1, Aurender N100C via Schiit Yggdrasil
Control: McIntosh C1100, Mcintosh MX151
Power: Mcintosh MC2301s (front), McIntosh MC501 (center), Mcintosh MC402 (rear)
Speakers: Sonus Faber Amati Futura (front and back), SF Vox center
Power/connections: PS Audio Power Port receptacles, RGPC 400 pro (2) WireWorld interconnects and speaker cable
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  #2  
Old 12-04-2016, 01:58 AM
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Congrats! Loving my Futura's - they will grow on you. As you've noted with proper placement they really sing.
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Main System:
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  #3  
Old 12-04-2016, 06:18 AM
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Congratulations, they are amazing speakers and they look great even when off. They will give you many years of pleasure.
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Old 12-04-2016, 06:49 AM
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Congrats!
Beautiful speakers in all aspects.
You've built a fantastic system, and the Sonus Faber sound indeed fits jazz and classical very well.
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  #5  
Old 12-04-2016, 11:23 AM
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Paul.......Welcome to the Sonus faber family. The Amati Futura's are remarkable speakers that sound every bit as good as they look. Glad to read the Sumiko trained dealer dialed them in for you. I used the Sumiko Master Speaker Placement guidelines to locate my Amati Anniversario's. The improvement in the way bass loads the room and my sound stage localization astonished me. Enjoy your new Amati Futura's in good health.
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A

Last edited by jdandy; 12-04-2016 at 10:04 PM.
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  #6  
Old 12-04-2016, 11:46 AM
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Congrats
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FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #7  
Old 12-04-2016, 11:54 AM
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Congratulations, the AFs are gorgeous speakers and you have many more moments to come of hair standing up on the back of your neck and goosebumps.
What finish did you get? Any pictures forthcoming?
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Old 12-04-2016, 11:58 AM
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Thanks everyone - I've got a lot of work to get done at the office before taking off for Christmas, so it's going to be tough to not pop into the listening room as much as i'd like over the next couple weeks. A good "problem" to have!

Dan, your Anniversario review was a key influence, beyond the listening we've done with SF speakers over the years. The first time we heard a pair of SF's, the Cremona, my wife was smitten with the sound as I was.

When we were placing the AF's at one point as we were getting close, and I was near a far corner, I thought we had the whole 5.1 setup going and jerked my head around to see if the amps running my front center and rear speakers where on. I knew in my brain they weren't, that we just had the C2500 running the MC501s up front, but the sound so enveloped the room from that poor listening position that my ears were telling me something else for a moment.
__________________
Sources: Vinyl: Clearaudio Innovation Wood turntable with 9" Universal tonearm, Da Vinci V2 cartridge, Stillpoints SS & Stillpoints clamp, McIntosh MVP 901, Apple Mac mini via Benchmark DAC 1, Aurender N100C via Schiit Yggdrasil
Control: McIntosh C1100, Mcintosh MX151
Power: Mcintosh MC2301s (front), McIntosh MC501 (center), Mcintosh MC402 (rear)
Speakers: Sonus Faber Amati Futura (front and back), SF Vox center
Power/connections: PS Audio Power Port receptacles, RGPC 400 pro (2) WireWorld interconnects and speaker cable
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  #9  
Old 12-04-2016, 12:50 PM
matt_zak matt_zak is offline
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Congrats on some beautiful speakers both in looks and sound! You should enjoy them and your equipment for many years to come.
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  #10  
Old 12-04-2016, 02:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post


Congrats
Ivan, you're right!

Took a few with the iPhone; will get the Nikon with the wide angle lens in here at Christmastime.

On the second photo, here's proof that Boss-girl is pleased!



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Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0863.jpg (93.6 KB, 292 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0868.jpg (86.2 KB, 294 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0869.jpg (80.8 KB, 286 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0872.jpg (88.8 KB, 306 views)
__________________
Sources: Vinyl: Clearaudio Innovation Wood turntable with 9" Universal tonearm, Da Vinci V2 cartridge, Stillpoints SS & Stillpoints clamp, McIntosh MVP 901, Apple Mac mini via Benchmark DAC 1, Aurender N100C via Schiit Yggdrasil
Control: McIntosh C1100, Mcintosh MX151
Power: Mcintosh MC2301s (front), McIntosh MC501 (center), Mcintosh MC402 (rear)
Speakers: Sonus Faber Amati Futura (front and back), SF Vox center
Power/connections: PS Audio Power Port receptacles, RGPC 400 pro (2) WireWorld interconnects and speaker cable

Last edited by jdandy; 12-04-2016 at 10:19 PM. Reason: enhanced and enlarged photo
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