Opinions on the ; Rosso Fiorentino Sienna or Volterra II Speakers

Hello garebear and riaa,

I know I've spoken to you both recently about RF but I will follow up with some information here.  All reviews we have on the products in the US are available at the link below.  There isn't much out there yet on the Volterra or Siena, but I do have some coverage of the Fiesole 2 which is in the same bloodline as the Volterra.

https://www.audiothesis.com/news/categories/rosso-fiorentino

Here is another link covering the Volterra 1 that for some reason I omitted.  The reviewer has since moved up to the second generation and he is a member here who might be able to contribute to what the 2 offers over the 1.  For me, I found better dynamics, lower self-noise floor, easier integration into systems, a little mellower top end with, strangely, improved detail, and texture upon texture from top to bottom.  The line as a whole does not spotlight, but allows details to happen naturally in the frequency they were intended to be heard at.  In other words, these elements are subtle as intended instead of highlighted by the upper midrange.

https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2018/10/falling-for-the-rosso-fiorentino-volterra-loudspeakers/


Unlike the DEMO setting used on TV's at Best Buy, the Rosso Fiorentino line might not immediately impress through eye-catching settings and then irritate you later on.  They are born and bred to be natural and organic while layering music upon itself.  The correct harmonic structure has the ability to grip musicians immediately, but often times I have to 'introduce' the layering of the music so listeners can begin listening spatially as opposed to just tonally. So many listeners simply haven't heard this level of layering in a system and is one of the key elements that makes RF punch above their price points.

Either speaker could easily be a destination speaker - the one pair of Volterra I've had replaced by a client were replaced by a $60k speaker - but I find the Siena 2 to be the most effortless speaker Francesco has made to date.  It was a 98% complete redesign implementing everything he has learned over the last decade and the result is a mesmerizing experience.

I like to think of Rosso as the Greg Maddux of the audio industry.  They don't have the blazing fastball of Roger Clemens or the imposing figure of a Randy Johnson, but they offer an extremely well executed speaker that can excel in a variety of ways and with a plethora of music with no real weaknesses apparent.  They also have the staying power in a system where clients who buy them really don't move away from the brand, but build around them.

I won't go into the same level of detail as @audiothesis, but I will gladly share my experience with the Rosso line and what has consistently drawn me in across the various models. I own the Certaldo (1), but hope to be able to upgrade to the Volterra II someday.  

First and foremost, for me they strike a perfect balance of being exciting while also being comfortable. Some speakers are very smooth and laid back, but seem to feel boring when you put on something more aggressive. Black Sabbath tends to be a good example. At the same time, they offer a sense of ease when the music calls for it. Acoustic single mic recordings feel engaging and spacious, without sounding like a single wall of sound. I can equally enjoy an Analog Productions pressings of Louis Armstrong followed by a mid quality stream of early Metallica. All the beauty of the classic Armstrong recording will be presented in a precise and refined manner, but I can still somehow enjoy an early Metallica album with all of it's grit and energy without being taken out of the moment being forced to focus on the poor recording quality. To offer some comparisons, nothing quite does Black Sabbath like a good set of JBLs. But the Rosso's come quite close. And some laid back speakers can create a great sense of depth to the sound of a great recording, but they make poor recordings sound flat, sharp, and sometimes unlistenable. 


So that's high level. But if I had to pick one element that has always really stood out to me with Rosso it's the vocal intimacy. That's probably the one thing that constantly draws me in. That's the element that makes me stop what I'm doing and give the track my full attention. 

When considering the whole line, your budget should be a big consideration, but so should the size of your room. If you have enough space for the Sienna, they are worth it. Excellent base quality, big sound, but still outstanding imaging and layering. If you're in a smaller room, I think the Volterra might be a better fit. My room is 13x15, and as much as I'd love to consider the Sienna, in reality it just might not be a good fit. If you're looking between series 1 and 2, I can say that from what I've heard the changes are well worth focusing on series 2. The top end in the series 2 are exceptional, especially in the reference and flagship series. It really brings another level of clarity and laying, without becoming overly sharp or critical. 

I've heard quite a few speakers in my life. I can see why some people might have other preferences. But I'd pick the Rosso's vs competitors I've heard on almost every price point they offer in the line. Pair it with the right amp, and they are downright stunning for my taste. 

My road actually started when I thought it had ended.  I was at a local audio show, Lone Star Audio Fest one year when a friend came to the show and set up his own system.  He had just purchased the Usher Mini Dancer 2 speakers, I don't know if it was the alcohol or what but he put on a BB King cd that just brought tears to my eyes and I said somehow I had to have those speakers.  At the time the retail was $5k at the point of being out of my reach but one day the distributor called and offered $3k, he was getting out of the business and needless to say I jumped on his offer for my endgame speakers.

Fast forward a few years, I was looking for a pair of speakers for my secondary system at same Lone Star Audio and had several days to listen to the Fiesole 1.  Guess what went home with me at the end of the show .......... Fiesoles.  When I got them home they were so close to my "endgame" speakers that I called Skip within a day or two and asked how much to move up to the Volterra 1 and traded in my Ushers.
                                       - to be continued -

Whoa boy...a thread I finally feel the need to follow on the 'gon! LUBS me some Rosso Fiorentinos!

Seriously though, I have had 3 purchases in my audio journey that I have regretted selling. They tempered me to adjust my FOMO mentality and ultimately lead to my first purchase that was based on it being my "end game".

Going back, I had a pair of Silverline Audio Sonatina MkI speakers that I thought were my last pair of speakers. I had fully updated/upgraded the crossovers, rewired them, added outriggers...basically everything I could do without replacing drivers. But they were already good drivers so why bother, right?
I based all of my listening at shows on how they compared to my Silverlines. And I hadn't really heard anything that wowed me enough to consider replacing them.

Fast forward to about 4 or 5 years ago and I was down in Texas at Lone Star Audio Fest. I had known Skip, the owner of AudioThesis, through the Polk Audio forum for a few years and was looking forward to a chance to meet him at the show.
One of his rooms had the first generation of the Elbas in it. And it was fronted by some solid gear. But as I listened, I felt that they didn't do enough things better than my Silverlines to make the plunge. But I saw some potential. 
The following couple of years, I heard more Rosso Fiorentinos and was even presented with a STONKING deal to buy the pair of first gen Sienas that Skip was demoing in his home. I ultimately had to pass though as they would in now way fit my listening space unless I sacrificed having a dedicated home theater and my wife wasn't about to allow that.

Prior to COVID, Skip would have an annual get together at his place to hang out, drink some good booze, eat some awesome food and to, of course, listen to some kick-a$$ gear.
In November of 2019, I showed up no expectations outside of just hanging out with some like minded individuals. Plus, the "star" of the show was supposed to be the Polk Audio L800s (Don't go down this road, Ryan...only darkness exists down that one! LOL). So I figured I would just enjoy the company of good friends.

When I showed up, Skip was setting up the various listening rooms so I jumped in to help out. After folks started to arrive, I meandered around from room to room listening to various speakers and gear. But I kept getting pulled back into his front room with the Elba IIs.
I finally got some time to sit in the sweet spot and worked my way through some of my favorite demo materials.
Looking back at that day, it was one of those "Ah HA" moments for me. It was that day when my thinking went from "The Silverlines do this or that better than these" to "These do this or that better than the Silverlines!"
Folks who know me, know what kind of titanic statement that is coming from me. I was an ENORMOUS Silverline fan boy. I would talk those speakers up every chance I got. And I really did love them.

But the Elba IIs just took everything I loved about the Silverlines and knocked it up so many notches. I found myself just getting lost in the music. And that says a lot considering the number of folks that were wandering in and out of the room.

Eventually, after talking back and forth with Skip, I decided to pull the trigger and order a pair of Elba IIs in Walnut.

When they showed up, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I got them unboxed and did a quick and dirty setup before firing up my amps and letting them warm up for the remainder of the day (class A tube amps) so that I could listen that night. Being that my office is also my 2 channel listening room AND I work from home, it was REALLY hard not to try them out before the end of the day.
But I managed to exhibit some self control and that night, I ended up spending about 9 hours total listening through some of my favorite tracks, albums and play lists.
I have a tendency to listen to a couple of minutes of a song and then just skipping to the next track on stuff I have heard many times before. But that night, it really was like I was hearing everything I listened to for the first time all over again.

The Elbas really brought forth everything I love about music. Without getting too gushy with praise, they are light and airy without being harsh. The bass is smooth and controlled without boominess (I listen to a lot of electronica and organ music so I did add some sealed subs but they do NOT need them...I am just a bit of a basshead sometimes lol).
But the midrange...the midrange is the stuff of legends. Male and Female voices both sound very accurate without any kind of over-emphasis that I hear in the other speakers in my house in the vocal ranges. One particular track, Norah Jones, "Come Away With Me", I can close my eyes and imagine Norah is there in the room with me they are so accurate in this regard.

I don't want to sound like some kind of shill but Francesco (founder and lead designer of Rosso Fiorentino) is on to something. And he listens to his customers/dealers. The Elba II is the result of this. He listened to what folks had to say and made improvements based on the feedback. So much so that the first gen Elbas were something I listened to and thought, "Eh, they're nice...but they aren't really all that memorable." to something I consider my end-game in the Elba IIs.

My opinion (and all of this is simply that), you can't go wrong with either the Siena or the Volterra. I have never just stopped and looked at a speaker like I do with my Elbas. And if he can do that with a speaker at that price point, I am willing to bet that the higher end options are even better (but way too big for my listening space LOL).

Ryan

The Volterras, well, they are tonally accurate, well integrated throughout the music spectrum, with a sound that just oozes music.  I listen mostly to jazz, female vocals, classical, blues, and classic rock and I find that the Volterras are oh so musical but still have the obligatory massive sound stage, monster imaging, great detail without being harsh or edgy.  The music is layered in rich harmonic textures as said earlier... organic, bass is tight and goes low enough.  I have them in a 12x15x8 room and they work just fine.
Add a sweet sounding amp/pre or integrated to them and you are set, they also sound great with tubes.

Word of warning, when you think you are set look out for the upgrades.
Skip brought the Volterras 2's which I paid for before I heard them, as they were sitting side by side I begin to wonder why I would pay extra money when they look identical but boy when they started to play my face lit up and this dumb smile came over me and all I could say was take the 1's with.

If you have to start at one of the lower cost Rossos I guarantee you'll start saving from day one to move up the line.
I can now say my endgame speakers as I can not afford the price of a speaker to beat them and I am very satisfied with their performance.

   : from a music lover