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  #21  
Old 11-10-2019, 08:54 AM
radio times radio times is offline
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'es got Stradivari's, and 'ere I am potentially roughing it with the 'umble Sonetto's. I'll be happy crossing the Rubicon with 'em or the Bowers, one must start somewhere as I abdicate my Mid fi crown.
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  #22  
Old 11-10-2019, 11:48 AM
Parabellum Parabellum is offline
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I only had one pair of 3 ways floorstanders and I really like the power and scale. But for some reasons I always liked the bookshelves speakers. I currently have the Totem Mani-2 Signature and they have an isobaric configuration. Two woofers are enclosed in each cabinet in a push pull configuration. This way I get splendid bass performance along the qualities of a bookshelf speaker. One thing I have been considering is a 2.5 ways speaker. This would alleviate the need of a stand and also give some kick bass performance. The models I have been considering are the Dynaudio Focus 260 or the newer Contour 30.
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  #23  
Old 11-10-2019, 02:36 PM
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mcpaf76 mcpaf76 is offline
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For me personally, I think it's fun and challenging to have both and set them both up to their fullest potential. The expectations I had for both were different, but I find each system enjoyable. I believe floorstanders are more challenging and require a bigger commitment to placement, but can ultimately pay off with a more rewarding experience.
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  #24  
Old 11-12-2019, 02:17 PM
LarsT LarsT is offline
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I am just about ready to blow the whole thing and start over. Last night may have been the final straw. I sat down in my family room and just wanted some background music. While there are definitely some limitations in the modest system I have set up, the speakers did disappear, even with a 65" tv between them and little effort given to placement. I was running Roon from my Oppo 203 via HDMI into my Marantz Av8805. Go figure. Maybe I should just get a pair of large monitors for the 2 channel room. I decided to order a pair of Evoke 20's to replace the Excites...why not.

Last edited by LarsT; 11-12-2019 at 02:21 PM.
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  #25  
Old 11-13-2019, 06:13 AM
LarsT LarsT is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1KW View Post
Lars I am surprised the Strads are not giving you the performance your looking for. Maybe if you post a few pictures of your room that would be helpful ?


I’m making progress....baby steps. I still need a rack, more treatments, and a proper furniture.

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  #26  
Old 11-13-2019, 10:28 AM
1KW 1KW is offline
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Lars it looks like your Strads are pulled too far forward, try moving them back several inches and a little less toe in possibly ? The Strads can be much closer to the walls then conventional speaker due to the lute shape. If you can remove the spikes and turn one speaker off. Move the one speaker playing until you maximize the bass then put the other speaker in the system. Lastly adjust the rake height for your listening position.
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  #27  
Old 11-13-2019, 11:03 AM
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daveneumann daveneumann is offline
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Lars, I am also a relatively new owner of Strads. You can see my thread called "Strads!" in the Sonus Faber manufacturer's forum here in AA. There are some good recommendations from others who own Strads on set up, including their particular measurements of distance apart, distance from listening seat, and toe-in. I would also encourage you to read about the Sumiko Master Set-Up process that Ivan has made a sticky in the Sonus Faber forum. I found it extremely helpful in setting up my Strads, which I continue to tweak.

As an ex-owner of Wilsons, Audio Physic and Amati Futura's, my experience is that the Strads present the soundstage and imaging a little differently than narrow baffle speakers. Yes they still do all the typical audiophile stuff, but I have found that I have had to adjust my listening expectations. Instead of listening for soundstaging, imaging, disappearing, etc., I now find myself getting lost in the emotion of the music. Over the short time I've owned them, it is this emotional connection that has created some of the most compelling listening experiences.

Here is an excerpt from Michael Fremer's original review way back in 2005:

"The Stradivari's wide baffle produced a singular sonic picture. Instead of the more common narrow-baffle, low-diffraction sound, in which a speaker "disappears" to leave behind a ghostly apparition of a three-dimensional sound picture, the Stradivari presented a more weighty, unusually solid picture that seemed to be a three-dimensional curtain wrapped behind the baffles and extending well back into virtual space. While more conventional baffles have produced wider, more transparent soundstages and perhaps more focused and upfront images, none has delivered such a solid and physically believable three-dimensional soundstage in my room—aided, I'm sure, by the Stradivari's rich, palpable midrange."

Good luck with your set up process. In my experience, the Strads are worth putting the time into. And like me and others, you may find yourself focusing more on the emotional connection they create versus the soundstaging, imaging and disappearing act of other speakers.
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  #28  
Old 11-17-2019, 10:19 AM
stev809 stev809 is offline
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I've been reading this thread from the beginning and my first thought was, how are wide baffle cone speakers going to image and soundstage compared to the more conventional designs in current favor. Whenever I read reviews of floorstanders I try to note the reviewers room size and final placement. Often I can get them right by using the cardas speaker placement guide and just inching them around, playing with toe in and finally the listening chair distance. Most large floorstanders don't snap that center image into place like bookshelves do, but the bass tends to expand the stage and sound tonally correct.

I see a JL sub in your sig, I don't have the skill/patience to integrate a sub into my 2 channel room and find them more distracting than helpful.
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  #29  
Old 11-17-2019, 11:14 AM
LarsT LarsT is offline
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Thanks Dave and Steve. I will read about the speaker set up tips.

I have experimented with the placement over the last week or so, and it has helped somewhat. The soundstage is a bit more focused than it was previously. Adding the Cary Audio DMS-600 also helped....quite a bit actually. I will have to attempt a proper review once it is fully broken in. It is a fabulous combination of warmth and detail. Most importantly for me, the 600 has improved the high end. However, on the flip side, I now have the DMS-500 in the family room with the new Dynaudio Evoke 20. And, to my poorly educated ears, I have a deeper and fuller soundstage than the 2 channel rig, with just about the same treble. And the treble is rolled off the 500 to avoid brightness in presentation. But I will certainly dedicate some time to try and dial in the Strads. I owe it to them...lol. I would hate to part with them, but like women, looks aren’t everything.
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  #30  
Old 11-18-2019, 09:52 AM
1KW 1KW is offline
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FYI Your Strads can be closer to the side walls then you have them, mine are about 9 feet apart and so is my listening chair if this helps.
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