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Sonus Faber Cremona vs. Cremona M again, I know

I know this has been debated often before here, but I just wanted to ask yet again since it's been a while since it's come up.
I got a pair of original Auditors for my small 2nd system & like them a lot (their delicacy, vocal texture,and a driverless speak-with-1-voice sound to my ears). I'm really surprised how much I like them because so many speakers disappoint me, even some really high priced ones.

So I'm looking into the Cremona floorstanders for my main system, and wanted some insight in which would be better. I listen to popular music (50's-to-present) with vocals, but like a pure non-rock-concert sound, with controlled bass and non-piercing highs. I like something tame but resolved
and "refined" (I hate to use trite terms, but refined is one I make room for.)
So am I better with the original Cremona or the M?
Thanks.

System: Edge NL12.1 amp, Ray Samuels Tubed B52 preamp (Telefunken 12AU7 tubes, with some ECC802s in there),
EMM CDSA-SE with X-upgrade, Stealth Indra ICs, Cardas Golden Ref. speaker cables, various Shunyata Anaconda power cords, Hydra 8.
rgs92
elviukai's avatar
elviukai
135 posts
 
I have directly compared cremona floorstander vs auditor M some time ago. if memory serves me well original version had more rounded sound and more calm, while M have more imediacy and was "faster" and litle bit hotter on top end. definatley better resolution.but still maintaining sonus faber schoold sound- crispy hights, dark, reserved uper midrange , warm upper bass and still very easy to ears when increasing volume.
rgs92 OP
974 posts
 
Thank you Elviukai! The auditors really sound nice with a tube pre & a solid state amp. The tube pre really helps. I read & was told that they need stands, but I get great results with little 18-inch-high sturdy tables (firm, controlled, detailed, warm bass). And John Atkinson talked about some bite up top, but I hear very nice, maybe perfect highs, nice & liquid & still extended and listenable. Again, the tubes help a lot.
rudge
76 posts
 
I use the cremora M's with Pathos integrated monoblocked. It's a great combination. I have not heard the cremoras. but ugraded to the M's from the concertos and do not find the M's too anaylitical. To my ears, with the Pathos, the M's have a rather warm overall texture, but certainly are still alive enough to convey a real sense of the music you're listening to.
snkhsu
2 posts
 
I own a pair of cremona auditor. I use ASR Emiitter II Exclusive amp. Indeed, I also found that the bass is bloomy, but after i change my power cord. The sound becomes balance. You have to try to configure your cable or interconnect to achieve the balance. Furthermore, Cremona has better tweeter, mid and bass than M model. The problem with cremona is quite sensetive to position and little things in your system. You have to play around before you achieve balance sound. Configuration takes some time.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I own very old Minuettos and pretty recent Cremona Ms and have heard just about everything in between.

The M series did what pretty much every post above describes - tamed the mid bass energy and boosted the presence region, bringing the SF sound more into line with modern convention.

The older SFs were kinder to certain source components and electronics, certain rooms (tho not all), and - especially - certain recordings. The new versions are more neutral.

Marty
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