Amplifier for Sonus Faber Cremona M

A guy I know runs Cremona M with a CJ350 amp and Arc Ref3. In a purpose built listening room the sound is quiet stunning. The system punches well above its weight.

His previous combo Modwright pre and Karan amp was pretty awful, really didn't work well at all.

Make sure you try Pathos, I was sold on the looks and reviews, then I heard them. Not great, both the Classic and Logos were poor into a variety of speakers inc speakers that should have loved them like Zingali.

Good luck finding and amp, lovely speakers when you nail it and they look great.

My Luxman L507 integrated (used straight and with a tubed preamp into the power-amp-direct inputs) was marvelous with my Cremona Auditors. Very lifelike, but not tiring or raw, with lots of solid bass.

FWIW, a few months ago I was considering a speaker upgrade, and a fellow Audiogon member I've come to trust recommended the Cremona Ms as a great match with my McIntosh MC275 amp. He has several systems and can afford a lot more expensive stuff and still had the Cremona Ms with 2 MC275 as monoblocks. Eventually he moved up the Sonus Faber line.

So try and audition the Ms with McIntosh tubes. MC2275 integrated, MC275 as stereo amp, with the upgrade option of adding a second one and using them as monoblocks.

BTW, keep us posted on what you try and what you like. I'm also interested in the Cremona M.

I heard the Cremona Ms a few months ago powered by a Marantz PM8004. It's the lowest-price Marantz integrated that uses their HDAM gain circuit. Even with this 70 wpc $999 amp the Cremona Ms sounded fabulous. The Marantzes with the HDAM circuit are from their Reference Series made in Japan. The HDAM circuits are proprietary gain modules that provide as much as 75 dB gain each, with very wide bandwidth and very low noise. Even the PM8004's amp section has an S/N ratio of 125 dB. The 15S2 is a few notches above the PM8004, and should be a very good match. If you Google around, you'll find that these Marantz Reference Series amps are extraordinarily neutral and linear, yet smooth and musical without of hint of edginess or sterility.

I played the opening Diana Krall's "All or Nothing At All," which starts with a rapid upright bass intro by Christian McBride. The humble PM8004 had total control, speed, extension, and fullness of that passage (and the rest of the song), something I would not have expected from a $999 integrated amp. The 15S2 would be that much better. There are several reasons this combo impressed you and I think the Marantz is one of them. The Cremona M is easily my favorite speaker anywhere near that price too.

I have heard the same combo, Cremona M & Marantz 15S2 LE at a Magnolia Design Center. Here in my area, we have several and they like to pair the SF's with the Marantz reference gear.

I agree with Johnnyb53, the Cremona M's sounded fabulous with the Marantz amp. I spent quite a bit of time listening to this combo and the B&W 802/Mac mono blocks with recordings I brought with me. I also preferred the Cremona M's even though they were being driven by an amp a fraction of the price of the Macs. Incredible sound.

Now I am not currently in the market for 10K speakers but if I were, the Cremona's would probably be the ones. And I would have no problem getting the Marantz 15S2 LE too as the amp to drive them. You heard it yourself through this same combo and admitted to preferring the Cremonas.

So, you are asking for a recommendation for these speakers. The Marantz 15S2 LE! Why look any farther? At least to your ears (and mine), they already bested far more expensive speaker/amp combinations. But with you stated budget, if you feel this amp is too low for a 10K speakers, then look at the Marantz 11S3 that provides more power at 5K. Good luck with your search.