Gemme Tanto V2- any thoughts?

Ckoffend: Thanks for that great response. In "forgiving" do you mean slower? I do not need a ton of bass but I want a speaker that times well and can keep up with the music.I thought that the Gemmes might be very capable due to their interesting lack of a crossover.I definitely do not want wooly bass.

The bass is definately not wooly nor does the speaker ever feel slow. I tried to convey this above. My experience with somewhat "forgiving" speakers is that they often exhibit this sense of slowness - or rounding edges off. I don't like a "slow" speaker or sound. I do NOT feel these are slow speakers by any defination. I don't know your Naim amps really at all. I know they are purported to have a UK sound, somewhat drier (you would have to determine if this is an accuare description or not). But if my understanding that they are a drier amp, I think that the Gemme's would be a very good match with that type of sound - given that they are not an etched or strident sounding speaker.

Have you listened to a pair yet? Where are you located? You could probably contact Gemme to determine if there are any nearby owners and try to get in touch with them for a listen. I think you Naim amps are pretty manageable and I would think somebody would let you bring them over and hook them up.

Please note that my experience is only with the Katanas.

Varyat, you may want to check the Naim forum. Some folks use Naim amps on the Katana and the system was said to sound better than all the Sonus Faber range of speakers which include the Elipsa and Guarneri. I'm not sure whether the Katana or the Tanto is the higher model, but your top of the line Naim amps should drive any of them well.

Ckoffend, a very good detailed assessment of the Katanas. In the Soundstage review of the Katanas the Wilson Watt/Puppy7 was used as a comparison too and the reviewer shares a rather similar experience. May I ask which Wilson model was compared with the Katana in your system? Sophia3 or Sasha?

Ryder, I own W/P 5.1s. I own both speakers (W/Ps and Katana to this day). Personally, I like the 5.1s better than the 6s (but recognize this is just my personal preference - not a statement that they are in fact better). I am not as much of a fan of the Sophia 1 & 2s as I am of the W/Ps (I have not listened to the 3s - fyi).

I have not seen the Soundstage review. When I bought my Katana's I couldn't find any reviews on them specifically, only the smaller Tanto model.

I am not familiar enough with the Naim equipment to comment on the synergy between the speaker and the Naim equipment. Though I am not a big fan of the Sonus speakers (for my target and likes - YMMV).

Thanks for the response Ckoffend. It was much appreciated. Similarly I am not a fan of Sonus Fabers although I'ved owned the Grand Pianos for 3 years. I'm surprised I managed to hang on to it for such a long time though. A friend was also having problems with his Cremonas before he switched to something else.