2. speakers
  3. 1126769507

B&W or Sonus Faber with Musical Fidelity A5?

I'd be interested to hear anyone's experiences and opinions about these pairings:

A) Musical Fidelity A5 amp and CD player, with the new B&W 805s.
B) The same electronics with Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home (which I can buy at a very attractive price).

I could add a subwoofer to either combination if necessary.

I have heard the older B&W N805 (not the new "s" version) and I know the Grand Piano Home. But I don't have the opportunity to hear either of them with the A5 gear (which I have already ordered). Will the Musical Fidelity and Sonus Faber pairing sound over-mellow? On the other hand, will the new 805s be bright with the A5 set?

More important to me than the last degree of detail is the avoidance of "listner fatigue" and my experience of Musical Fidelity tells me that I can expect a smooth and fatigue-free sound. However, will the addition of the Grand Pianos be too much of a good thing in that respect? Or will they complement each other?
Will the brighter 805s be tamed by the A5 and actually provide a nice balance of relaxed presentaion and better detail? Or will they not make the most of the A5's virtues?

If you have either combination or something close, I'd be pleased to hear your thoughts.

Please note, I will not be listening to rock or electronic music. My music collection is 90% acoustic music, especially "early" music with plenty of plucked and bowed strings, and often with baroque singing (Rameau operas for example).

Thanks
wrightstuff
krell_man
827 posts
 
Like S7Horton, I have the A308, not the integrated though, I have the power amp. I'm running B&W Silver Signature's, the 805's grandfather, and the combination sounds great.

I have heard the Sonus Faber Cremora Auditor's with the A308 integrated at a shop in Knoxville, Tn. They sounded great too.

I think, if you can listen to them together, on whatever system is around, just pick the one that you like better. I think that both are a good match for the MF gear.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
You say -
"My music collection is 90% acoustic music, especially "early" music with plenty of plucked and bowed strings, and often with baroque singing (Rameau operas for example)."

I say -
Sonus faber

Given your taste in music, I feel with near certainty that you will be much happier with the GPH.

If You listened to 90% rock it would be the B&W.
jeffjarvis
257 posts
 

My amp is different but I do have the 805s and Cremonas. I find myself tapping my foot and really getting into the music, listening to the 805s.
wrightstuff OP
16 posts
 
Thanks for your response (and to everyone else for their responses too).
I bought the new 805s. They've been playing only a few hours, but straight from the box and working with the A5 electronics, they are mightily impressive. Judging by the first day of listening, it will be no chore breaking these in because they sound so good already.
For those wondering if the difference between the N805 and the 805s is substantial enough to investigate the upgrade, I can already say that even a swift audition should confirm the very worthwhile benefits of the new version.
Right now, the prospect of even better performance with break-in is very exciting.
chengwang
1 posts
 
I bought the new 805s just last week. They are great speakers out of the box. Compared to a pair of broken in N805s, the high is already smoother and bass is MUCH tighter and deeper. The first impression was new 805s have more impact than N805.
More to discover