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Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage?

i would like to know if the sf strads(or anything really) sound good enough to
justify the price. with tad audio, wilson maxx's, avalon
eidelons, rockports, etc. in that price range, imho spending $40k defies rationality, unless you're trying to move enormous am'ts of air in an unusually large room. if i was a loudspeaker manufacturer, throwing everything i know and the best materials available at the project, i feel i could come up with a pair of speakers for under $30k that could do 20-20 with the utmost transparency and musicality, look beautiful, and complement most living rooms with "average" attention paid to acoustics. i trust m. fremer's descriptions of the sf strads (they image like a "3d curtain wrapped behind the baffles??") about as far as i can throw a piano. the sf amatis at $24,000 didn't make enough bass "in his (stupid) room".
THAT review ended with something like "they were to die for". then he sells those and gets wp-7's. however, the rockport antares, uglier than two 600 POUND(!) gorillas, are his "reference" by which everything else must be judged. so much for s.phile's choice of speaker reviewers... so could any MUSIC lovers who actually owns sf strads comment on their sound, and/or why you chose them over something else? should sf have put a 10 in. woofer in the amati's (i think so.)
should m.fremer do something about his freaking room before they hand him another pair of $40k speakers to review? (i think so.)
btw, have a happy and a healthy....
french_fries
howie
230 posts
 
I believe the Stradivari's would be priced at around $26K-30K over in some overseas markets. Considering that everything made here is about double the price overseas. Shipping alone should slap on $1000 each! Then you have customs and taxes, distributor and dealer's cut not to mention exchange rate.

I would love to own the Stradivaris one day in a nicely decorated living room or something and not worry about whether it's worth the money in terms of audiophile sonics. It's so beautiful! Only thing to worry about is the bass might be too much for the untreated room.
the_kid's avatar
the_kid
465 posts
 
"I nominate jeffjarvis's remark above as the Audiogon quote of the year. I'm still smiling over it." Nice, I totally agree! That is funny..

I am huge Sonus Faber Fan as I have owned several of their speakers but $40K is almost enough to get me in the new 2006 Audi S4 I have been lusting over. Although my 2002 Tuned S4 is no slouch. But new S4 or speakers? I will take the car. Public transportation would suck!

I am all for buying best of breed but I just cannot see spending $40K on speakers. MF's review sure makes you think about it but that is a lot of paper for speakers.

Happy Holidays!

Chris

cello
645 posts
 
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Chris,
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The Stradveri will still be sitting in your living room long after the junkyard crusher has had its way with the Audi S4 you lust for. By then, you would then be probably able to sell the Stradaveri's for a decent sum.
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Keep them long enough (100+ years) and the furniture portion would probably worth over $ 100,000.00. So, all in all, it's not a bad deal.
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Excuse me, but I have to run out now and pick up a pair so I can start making money sooner rather than later.
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Rgds, Larry
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the_kid's avatar
the_kid
465 posts
 
Larry,

Good point but I don't know. I usually treat myself to new speakers and gear every year or two. My wife calls it a sickness. I like to try new things. I am sure I would dig em though! Maybe they would stop my wanting to try new speakers.. HMMMM...

Happy New Year!

Chris
semi
649 posts
 
It's true Sonus Faber build their speakers like furnitures and arts.

It's true you paid a big portion of the bill to the nice cabinets.

It's true the asking price does not reflect the sound quality all the time.

But have you seen a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord to appreciate over time? Isn't some Ferrari overpriced in the beginning and continue to increase its value over time?

I am a big fan of Dynaudio and Sonus Faber, the two extreme of speaker manufacturing. But Dynaudio depreciate like any other products especially when replacement model is substaintially better. Check out Sonus Faber's used value here. You are buying art, and art is priceless often time.
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