Magico V2 vs. Sonus Faber Cremona M

I've had the Primare I30 and the Plinius 9200 on the SF Cremonas. The Plinius 9200 is clearly superior, but it's not the end of the line. Personally, I'd look at a Mcintosh integrated for the SF, the highest powered one you can afford. The bigger Plinius integrated is an option, comparable to the Boulder's price, but offers more power. There's synergy with McIntosh and SF, but some find the combo too warm.

While I'd recommend bring your gear to the auditions, I'd also recommend asking the dealer to pair up the Cremonas and the V2s with what he/she thinks is the absolute best match (speaker/amp/pre/source) in the store. This will give you a better sense of what the speaker is really capable of. No need to pick a speaker that suits the Primare best if you're only going to change out the Primares later. Go with whatever you like best.

Personally, I like the V2s, but you should be able to pick out which you like when you audition. The V2s will be more transparent, but lack a bit of bass compared to the Cremonas if you don't power them adequately. Get the best and highest powered integrated for the V2s, preferably something on the warm/neutral side.

If you can go used, the old cremonas offer exeptional value and you could go separates. Getting away from an integrated opens so many doors, but the main benefit I hear is a lower noise floor, and a sense of freedom and effortlessness to the sound that really makes the extra cost worth it (especially with the inefficient speakers we're talking about here).

Avalon might be another choice. Good luck!

spend the money on travel and wild women, and in a few years, check back on this exciting hobby.

Thanks guys for the invaluable advice. Will keep them in mind when auditioning.

In reply to Onhwy61, yes, my current system is a decent one but it's just not putting a big wide silly grin on my face. I find that I'm trying very hard to enjoy it instead of just enjoying it.

Here's the kind of sound I'm looking for: big-open-airy-holographic-3D soundstage, natural and palpable vocals (which Class A amps are good for), jaw-dropping transparency and clarity, sweet highs and deep and well-defined bass, very low noise-floor and distortion and crisp, coherent and precise timing and rhythm.

Jtein, like others have said: as long as you don't make your choice based on what you hear with your Primare gear, you'll be fine. I mean, I take it you want to hear the best out of the speakers before you decide you like them or not. Not much sense if you'd base your opinion on gear that just pushes them halfway...

If you want transparency and holographic-3D, think Avalon, Thiel, Volent, but not Sonus Faber.
The drawback however is that those kind of speakers do reveal more, but they also reveal all the bad parts of a recording. I don't know what kind of music you listen to, but I'd that 50% of my cd's contain a crappy recording/production. With higly revealing speakers it would be impossible to enjoy them.
That is why I love the Cremona M so much. Like Living Voice they are pretty detailed, without becoming overly revealing and transparent. Almost any recording will sound great on them. But where the Living voice is easy to drive, the Cremona's aren't.
Goodluck!

I also think the speakers you mentioned are not likely to fulfill your criteria. Look into some high efficiency speakers (mid 90s db, impedence preferrably above 4). Then buy matching tubed amp and pre-amp. I think tubes will put that grin on your face. It will take a little research to get a tubed amp that is quiet and with good bass, but there are plenty.