Totem Forest vs. Sonus Faber Home or Domus Lines

If your ceiling isn't too high, I would look into some used Cremona Auditors (around 3k). Try to audition these - they are awesome in the right room. I would also consider a used pair of PMC OB1s (under 3K). Quite different sounds, but both excellent speakers.

Thanks Jaybo and Newmanoc.

Newmanoc, I have not heard the Cremona Auditor's but I know they have a great reputation. I was a little concerned about the price, though. The Domus Concerto's are $3,450, and I thought that the Cremona Auditor's were way above that due to the cabinetry, etc. Do you own Auditor's? Where did you get that price?

Thanks

Auditors are $3995.00 and their dedicated stands (which Sonus Faber claims are essential) are $800.00. The Auditors are quite revealing and open with lots of detail, maybe a bit too much for my tastes. They sounded (with Linn electronics which may have been part of the problem) a little lean and overly revealing, a bit mechanical. The Concertino Domus sounded superb with the same Linn stuff and I actually liked it better than the Auditors at the store. I've been meaning to borrow the Concertinos for a home audition but the store makes that a bit difficult. Have to take them late Saturday afternoon and have them back 11am Monday.

Sonus Faber speakers are great at lush, wide sounds, which is why many people who love classical music are attracted to them. I love them for dreamy, spacey rock/pop/electronic for the sheer ambient environment they're capable of portraying. After hearing the $40,000 Stradivari a few months ago I even gave serious thought to buying them (and risking a divorce) until...

I found that they really don't rock, which I haven't heard anywhere in the SF line. Put in some faster music (I used the Clash's London Calling in the demo) and it just didn't have the drive that my mid-range Totems have at home. I've never heard the Clash sound so warm and inviting :)

They're wonderful speakers, but I'd only recommend them to people who listen to Jazz and (especially) classical. They excel like no others in that respect.

I'd say go for some Hawks or Forests and enjoy a wider range of music for less money.

My price quote for Cremona Auditors was the price they can be had used -with stands - from reputable people on Audiogon (through careful, patient shopping). I do admit that speakers are the one thing I find a particular pain to deal with on the used market due to size, weight, and fear of damage with shipping. Still, it is how I picked up my current speakers (JM Labs Electra 926s). If you are willing to buy used, your speaker options open up incredibly as it essentially doubles your price range.