What power makes your Sonus Fabers sing

[mgard]

Now since I finally have a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri Mementos, I can comment. Anywhere from 45 to 60 watts really open things up and give me the live "you are there feeling". With the McIntosh MC 601's I could blow the grills off but 60 watt peaks are more the ample.

~Mike

[Douglas]

A friend's Memento's were not optimised with AR REF 110. He has now changed to Plinius SA-102, bridged as monoblocks, with 460 watts into 8 OHMS, and boy did the Memento's come alive, and sounding fantastic with these amps. These speakers require a lot of power to sing properly.

[BWB75]

I sense a trend.

I power my 1998 Concertos with a 200 watt McIntosh MA7900. The meters rarely pass 20 watts but clarity and detail and range all improved when the speakers got more power. These speakers have a reputation for sounding warm and even dark. With the previous (excellent) 50 watt 8-ohm/100 watt 4-ohm amp, which on paper would seem ample, everything sounded sweet, but not neutral or lively. They did, indeed, sound warm and even dark.

With the McIntosh putting out 4 times the power its like I got new speakers for free.

This seems to be a common theme. SF speakers love high power amps, even when not playing loudly.

[Juventino]

I landed myself a pair of Cremona Auditors in Mint condition and currently they are being powered by a pair of Nuprime STA-9's
They are Class A-D power amps and love the sound I am getting from the Sf's.

[dav6662]

Originally Posted by BWB75

I sense a trend. I power my 1998 Concertos with a 200 watt McIntosh MA7900. The meters rarely pass 20 watts but clarity and detail and range all improved when the speakers got more power. These speakers have a reputation for sounding warm and even dark. With the previous (excellent) 50 watt 8-ohm/100 watt 4-ohm amp, which on paper would seem ample, everything sounded sweet, but not neutral or lively. They did, indeed, sound warm and even dark. With the McIntosh putting out 4 times the power its like I got new speakers for free. This seems to be a common theme. SF speakers love high power amps, even when not playing loudly.

That is good to know as I have 200 watts a channel pushing my Venere 3.0 and while they don't come close to using all that power they are very clear and quite lively.

[Masterlu]

dav6662... Welcome to AA!

[vinod_david]

dav6662, welcome to AA.

[RLF]

Welcome to AA dav6662

[4N6]

Originally Posted by Douglas

A friend's Memento's were not optimised with AR REF 110. He has now changed to Plinius SA-102, bridged as monoblocks, with 460 watts into 8 OHMS, and boy did the Memento's come alive, and sounding fantastic with these amps. These speakers require a lot of power to sing properly.

Not sure I agree here. I just switched from a ModWright KWI-200 (400W/4ohms) to a PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP Integrated (51W/ch triode with KT120's). Although the ModWright is a terrific amplifier, the PrimaLuna at 1/8th the power sounds better. The sound with my Memento's is wonderful, with great bass, more air and soundstage depth, and greater detail. Vocals have better body and instrument separation is distinct (when the recording allows). The PrimaLuna just seems to be a great match with the Memento's. This is the best I have heard them sound.

I am not sure that lots of power is required for the Memento's...just QUALITY power and proper system matching. With that being said, I can only imagine the sound if I went to the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Preamp and monoblock HP amps.

[TommyC]

I rarely break 1W with my Accuphase A200 on the Guarneri Memento. Sounds amazing. More enjoyable than 35W class A KT88 tube amp.