SF Cremona Auditor M: A Review

[NGeorge]

Note: I previously posted this review at another site before I discovered AA. Well, I'd like to share my experience with the folks here - if that's cool. Thanks and happy to be around!

I'm a sucker for rankings. If it's listed, I go for it. Never mind a home audition, research or in-depth listening. If it's on Stereophile's Class A recommended list, I rush out and buy it without any thought or hesitation, especially if it's relatively inexpensive ($2,000 to $2,500).

Well, I've done it a few times, and each time wound up disappointed not getting that musical bliss, and more importantly, getting poorer in the process.

I know (or have a hunch) anything that costs $2,500 among $50K speakers should be suspect - a quid pro quo entity - and be considered with some, eh, trepidation. Because, you know, after a few months, that same entity disappears from the list. Whatever it is, or was, it would have done its work in the market place. So, aside from the politics of rankings and advertising, I have finally learned my lesson. Further, when you add up all the 'inexpensive' speakers, they become quite expensive! (Here's some food for thought: You usually get what you pay for.)

I have heard of the Sonus Faber brand in the past, but never considered them because I thought the English made the best speakers. This may still be true (see Spendor and Harbeth) but the Danes, Canadians, French have caught on and are now making excellent speakers. And of course, the Italians, too.

I auditioned the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M two weeks ago. In fact, I planned to audition the Auditor M and Harbeth M30 side by side. But when the dealer I wanted to go to didn't return my call (it's by appointment only), I went to another dealer who also carried Sonus Faber, but not Harbeth. Well, I didn't waste any time - I bought the speakers - foregoing comparisons between the Sonus Faber and Harbeth. (Was I too hasty?). At any rate, the dealer made a deal I couldn't refuse: he was willing to take my other speakers (Silverline SR-17.5 and Paradigm Signature S2) for trade which I didn't think the first dealer would make.

How do the Cremona Auditor Ms sound out of the box?

Pretty impressive. These two-way sound full-range. They're clean, transparent and have good bass. They have most of the attributes I like in a speaker: organic, tons of detail and very musical. And so very gorgeous!

One week is not enough time to assess or critique a new component in a system, so I'll hold off doing a 'review.' Today, as I'm running them in, I'd like the Auditor Ms to open up a little bit more. You know, exhibit a little bit of that 'rawness.' This may sound as oxymoronic because for a speaker of this stature, you'd expect it to be refined and educated. But, still, you don't want your speaker to sound too polite. And besides, I do want it all!

See you in a few weeks!

Three weeks later...

Whatever regrets I had not auditioning the Harbeth M30 were dispelled after spending more time with the Cremona Auditor M. It truly made me forget about the could-have, would-have-beens. In fact, I felt like I came out ahead after reading that the Auditor M was very close to the Guarneri Memento sonically. And that some listeners even preferred the Cremona Auditor M over the Guarneri Memento for their accuracy. Well, that's really good to know! Furthermore, I came across some less than stellar reviews of the Harbeth M30s.

At first, I was concerned about the tag placed on the Sonus Faber sound: too polite. Well, it's not so. Not the Auditor M. While being delicate and subtle, it can create a slam. Yes, it can rock as well as it does vocals and classical music. It does not do the lowest octave - but what music really go that low? On "Love and Marriage" and other tracks from Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years (Reprise 26501-2) you experience the playful phrasing of notes and pace of Mr. Sinatra. You hear the different instruments in their own space, in their natural tones, blending and meshing into one cohesive presentation.

The Cremona Auditor M resolves so well that you can actually tell the difference between different guitars. And, the soundstage - being wide and believable - lets you to feel what's going on on the musical canvass. You can 'see' the textured and layered notes. As it holds you captive, it pulls you in to the rhythm of the song as you sway along time and time again. Neither voice nor instruments congest even if they overlap one another. This seamless integration of notes and decay, plus the toe-tapping - this is what you have tried to find countless times as you swapped components, speakers and cables in your quest. This time, it's the speaker - the heart of the system.

The recommended amplifier to drive these monitors is at least 40 watts, and my 47 Lab Gaincard gives out only 25 watts. While it's preferable to use more power, I don't feel the 47 Lab Gaincard running out of breath pushing these 4 ohm speakers. I should mention, however, they're driven on a dual mono mode (using two 25-watt power supplies). Whether it's by coincidence or design, my setup seems fine and this low wattage combination is not an issue.

As for setup, move the speakers at least 2 feet from the wall or the sound will harden up. I think I could still improve the sound by changing the stands. (I'm not sold on the $1,200.00 stands designed for them. Not yet, because they look, eh, different.)* My Target R1s come up to only 22 inches including the spikes. That's too low, as the images do not float as they should. Maybe changing to 28 inches would work better. Also, I'd like to pull the Auditor Ms farther out another foot from the wall but living in a New York City apartment this is easier said than done. So I just have to make do.

Before the Cremona Auditor M, I listened to The Beatles mono and stereo remasters through the Rega RS3 and they sounded super. I really thought that that was it for my upgrading. Then I heard the Auditor Ms, and I just had to succumbed to these Italian wonders. The Beatles through the Cremona Auditor Ms? Even more fab!

The bass is very tuneful, has good depth and articulation with no overhang. The midrange is natural sounding, agile and expressive. Tonally balanced, extended (oh, that sweet, silky top!) and the whole spectrum of sound seemingly seamless - oh, did I say that already?

If the Guarneri Memento costs $15,000 to own and will make you happy, imagine how you'd feel getting almost the same performance for less than half of that from the Cremona Auditor M.

Cheers,

George

*I finally bought the dedicated stands. Did they improve the sound, or were they just for window-dressing? The stands help open up the sound a bit more and the presentation is now even more airy and dynamic. I notice, however, on some CDs I have to sit a bit higher to get the sweet spot. Perhaps the height of the stands (28") would have been better had they kept them at 26" - like the original Auditor? Anyway, if you must listen to those particular discs (which I did), here's how I managed to fix this problem: I removed the front spikes and replaced them with my Target spikes (they have the same hole size), added a nut, so in the end the back has a lift of ½ inch while the front is at ¾, still slightly raising the Auditor M up but help blend the tweeter and woofer. Otherwise, most CDs play without any noticeable blending problem with the dedicated stands and spikes.

[two dot]

nice review, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

now... lets see some photos of those beauties.

[Still-One]

George

Nice review of a fine product. The SF's sure look a lot better than the Harbeth's too.

Jim

[AudioNut]

Can't believe you bought speakers without looking at the Stereophile Rating . . . Shame on you . . . and you actually trusted your own ears . . . Who in the world do you think you are . . . . a real audiophile?

George, I am so proud of you for finding what you like and buying them, and I'm also proud of the excellent review you have written. I do own the Mementos, and when I recently listened to a pair of Auditor M's in a dealer's showroom, I was mightily impressed. Impressed to the point of going home and moving the Mementos around to make the imaging as good as what I had experienced with the Auditor M's. I agree with you. The Auditor M's are GOOD!

You have chosen well and you have done a great job of describing the Auditor M's qualities.

I do agree with what has been written before . . . Pictures Please!

[bachrocks]

Thanks for the outstanding review. I really enjoyed reading it.

[j3brow]

Thank you for your review ngeorge.

Another big fan of the Auditors here.


btw, its a whole nother game when you add a subwoofer (preferrably two). No doubt about it.

[mgard]

George,

That was a great review. It made my heart rate go up! Those Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M speakers are very impressive. There is a Sonus Faber dealer about 45 miles from me that has both the Auditor M’s and the Guarneri Mementos. I was totally entranced when listening to them. Don’t forget the pictures.

[NGeorge]

Hi everyone,

It's great to be around here. Thank you for letting me share these forums with you.

I'll post some pictures once I learn how to do it.

Best regards,
George

[NGeorge]

Originally Posted by jprice

Can't believe you bought speakers without looking at the Stereophile Rating . . . Shame on you . . . and you actually trusted your own ears . . . Who in the world do you think you are . . . . a real audiophile?

LOL!

World's oldest audiophile? Just as long as you're young at heart!

Best,
George

[two dot]

NGeorge,

You are always welcome here!!

Get the address of the pic you want to post, click on the little postcard with a mountain scene, paste the address of your pic and you are there!