Extremas - too extreme?

[Freestone]

How gods/great are the extremas compared to more recent monitors?
Are they too sensitive to placement to be practical?
And paired with a rel sub?

Driven by tube mono blocks like vtl 450 or cj 140s?

Is there reputation more from what we remembered?

And are they eclipsed by more modern sonus faber's?

[ronenash]

I had the Extrema's for 6 month as my main speaker before I got the Amati's. The Extrema needs a lot of power. The VTL and CJ amps you mention are the minimum required depending on the size of your room.
Even when they have enough power I don't think the Extrema's are on par with more modern speaker designs from SF or other top manufacturers. They are not as detailed or as transparent as modern high end designs. Their soundstage is also not as big and convincing.
On their side the Extrema's have a georgous mid and an overall very musical presentation. They also play much loader and have more bottom end than most monitor speakers.

[tompj]

I guess it is a matter of taste. The desciption already made seems accurate, but for some the older Sonus faber sound is better than anything made today. It is also very true that Extrema is very hard to drive. Drive them well and they sing like nothing else though.

[Freestone]

I was going to get a used pair of Wilson's (Sophia 3) for my family room, now I have been offered a pair of extremas for several thousand less

But I think I should stay the course though my wife would prefer monitors.

She is spoiled by the looks of the Amati.

I hate to do too much at once but unless I put the systems in now I won't get to it.

[Elberoth]

Extrema is still an absolutely fantastic monitor (even by todays standards) - fast, extended, transparent and natural - but they are very, and I mean VERY current hungry.

So unless you are prepared to invest into sth like Gryphon Antileon to drive them, I would think twice about getting them.

[Freestone]

That's too much amp for my budget!

[Face]

Most class D amps should be able to drive them without a problem. If you prefer the sound of tubes, pick an appropriate preamp for your flavor.

[Elberoth]

Not sure any class D amp is transarent enough to let the Extremas shine ...

[howiebrou]

Extremas look bad enough to use as monuments with or without amplification imho. I wish I had a pair

howie

[Freestone]

Solid state or tubes??
What modern monitor would be as good/better for the price?