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Sonus Faber Cremonas or JM lab Diva

I am thinking of buying either the Sonus Faber Cremona Floor Standers, or the JM Labs Divas for my home theater and initially to be used for my two channel. I have actually never heard either, but I like the lower end models by both except the JM Labs 907be which I was not crazy about. I will admit I got the green light to do this from my wife because of the way they look, so I think that choosing between the two is something I can live with, even though I know there are more choices out there. I love the Grand Pianos which I own, nd like the concertos which I have owned in the past. The Novas and the Altos are something special but I have never heard the Divas. I of course plan to audition both, but I would like to hear some opinions of other people. I will use the following equipment

First Sound Pre amp (Deluxe)

Cary v12r (intially not the monos, but I will move to them soon)

Balanced Audio Tech Super Tube CD or Sim Audio eclipse not decided. I would like to go with the Balanced but I am scared it would sound muddy.

I have also considered the Audes Orpheus.

I have even had someone suggest using two JM Labs LR's

Any thoughts?

Ted
tedmcq
glai's avatar
glai
446 posts
 
From your writing, you love the Cremonas and like the JM Lab. Buy the Cremonas. They look great, good resale and it is not as hard to set up, creamonas are slightly warm & slow but more coherent. They are not as resolving or neutral as the faster JM lab but JM lab can sound disjointed with the wrong amps.

I think both would be fantastic with Cary V12. Neither speakers can be biwired or biamped. Sonus grill produce severe artifacts and needs to be removed for critical listening. Not easy to install.

To me,this is a hobby. Buy what floats your boat.
tedmcq OP
20 posts
 
Glai you hit the nail on the head although I am finding that I am getting close to the love stage with the JM Labs and it is kind of scary to think about the Divas.

Let me ask the question this way of everyone. I know there are different tastes and styles and I do not think that JM Labs and SF are sonic opposites, but they are not that similar either. If you had to pick one what would it be? Lets say this that they are on magical pre and amps that make both speakers perform to their maximum potential. In other words everything is equal. 2 answers one for tubes one for solid state.
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
ever sit next to a piano being played in a living room or a mall or in a club? listen carefully to both brands with a bill evans or other piano disc in tow. don't let the audition turn into a female vocal fest. most modern hi end loudspeaker designs nail this. you can't fake the tone and weight of a live piano with a mediocre design.
tedmcq OP
20 posts
 
Jay excellent advise I had not thought of that and I will give it a try today.
washline
202 posts
 
I own the Alto Be's and have auditioned most of the Sonus Faber line as well as the Micro and Diva Be's and 907, 927, and 937 Be's. I'd take JM Labs any day of the week over the Sonus Faber speakers. I do think the Sonus Faber speakers are excellent with certain kinds of acoustic music. But the JMs are more excellent all around. I listen to a lot of electronic and electroacoustic music, which sounds really bad on Sonus Faber speakers. These do much better with classical, vocal, and jazz. But JM Lab Utopia Be speakers handle all of these genres equally well in my opinion. I also suspect that the JM Labs do better with tube amplification as well. Again though, it really depends on your musical preferences above everything else. I need the Be tweeters in order to process the extreme frequencies I listen to. A year ago, I heard the Divas with MBL amplification and was really blown away. I chose the Altos because I preferred the direct rather than reflecting bass. the Cremonas are beautifully designed speakers, but I think the Divas are better. YMMV
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