Amplifier for Sonus Faber Cremona M

@ Johnnyb53

Marantz makes some pretty good gear that always seems to punch above it's price. I owned the PM-8004 for a very short time to play around with in my second system. I was very impressed with it. It could sell for twice the price and I wouldn't think it was overpriced. Perhaps it wasn't broken in fully or perhaps it was my Proac's I had it hooked up to but I found the PM8004 a little too bright sounding and preferred my little Creek 4330 so I sold it. Other than the brightness it did everything better than the Creek. I doubt the Marantz was even broken in all the way. Maybe I should have waited longer.

@ Paraneer,

You make some very good points. It seems like we had the exact same setups at the Magnolia's we went to. You are right! I did prefer the Cremona M's hooked up to the Marantz 15S2 LE over the much more expensive B&W 802 and McIntosh mono block amp, preamp, combination.

I thought it was because I just didn't like the B&W's that much. They were a bit to analytical and mechanical in their musical approach and a bit too bright. The Cremona M's played with more emotion, warmth and beauty without sacrificing detail. In fact I thought I could hear more details and layering in the recordings over the 802's. All this while being hooked up to inexpensive Marantz 15S2 LE! So that must say something. Don't get me wrong the 802's are still excellent speakers. But for me they just sounded more "Hi-Fi" and less like music.

I will try to get Magnolia to set up some different amps with Cremona M's. After I hear the Marantz, then hook them up to the MC275 tube amp and tube pre. Magnolia does not carry the MA6600 but does have the MA6300. Not as good but maybe that will give me a better idea.

Mezzanine: the thing is, regardless of your matchup of the PM8004 and Proacs, the HDAM-featured Marantz integrated amps are an excellent match with the Cremona Ms. Three separate people on this thread have heard the Cremona Ms powered by either a Marantz PM8004 or a PM-15S2 and *all* of us preferred the synergy of that amp/speaker combination to anything else we'd heard near that price range.

I can take the PM8004 further: I have an Internet audiobuddy who's been using a restored vintage Dynaco stack of separates to drive his stereo. He was finally getting to where he wanted something better. I had recommended he save up for a Rogue Cronus Magnum. In the meantime, at the musicians' forum where we met, I posted a glowing review of my experience hearing the PM8004 driving the Cremona Ms. He was so taken by my recommendation that--even though he's sort of a dyed-in-the-wool tube guy--he interrupted his Cronus savings program and bought a B-stock PM8004. He's running his turntable directly into the PM8004's phono stage, and he's ecstatic with the results. He let me know that he'd been spinning vinyl almost nonstop since it arrived.

A Marantz HDAM amp is not going to have the tonal balance of most tube amps, but it is so honest, so quiet, so tight, so dynamic, and so resolving that it conveys the same sorts of essence of the music--transparency, inner and low level detail, imaging, soundstage--that tube electronics do so effortlessly. Tube lovers may find that the HDAM Marantz amps give them what they value most in tubes without the cost, the looser bass, and the rolled off highs (not that every tube component does that).

After my PM8004/Cremona M experience, if I *ever* have the good fortune to acquire a pair of Cremona Ms, they will be powered by an HDAM Marantz amp. And if I had the budget you have, then I'd go upscale to the 11S3 with 100/200 wpc at 8/4 ohms for $4995 or SC-7S2 preamp for $3995 and 11S1 power amp at $2995 down from $4500.

Really, though at your budget I'd do the PM-11S3 and be done with it. WIth the way that PM8004 energized a fairly large listening room with the Cremona Ms, the 11S3 with 100/200 watts (i.e., very high current capability) should be *plenty.*

BTW, in addition to possible unfinished break-in period, your PM8004 may have needed something as simple as Vibrapod footers to get a better match with your Proacs. I have a sackful of Vibrapods and when I sense midrange glare I try those first and they usually fix it.

Yes, good analogy Mezzanine. The 802's sounded good but just not as musical as the Cremonas. I would be curious to know how you like the Cremonas with the McIntosh MA6300 vs what we already know - the Cremonas and the Marantz. Please let us know after you have this audition. Have fun.

Mezzanine,

Listening is certainly the best way to know. FWIW, both the friend who had Cremona Ms + 2xMC275 and me prefer a Lamm LL2 preamp to a McIntosh tube preamp. Ergonomics are certainly better on the Mc, but the sound of the Lamm is far better with the MC275. I realize this will be a second step for you, but wanted to encourage you to go step by step (speakers + amp first, then pre).

Enjoy the trip to Magnolia!

Hi guys.Not trying to hijack this thread but I just last week picked up a pair of brand new(factory sealed boxes)S.F.Toy Towers for a REAL steal & have been researching integrated amps to drive them.
In your positive listening experiences with the Marantz PM 8004 & the Cremona's were there any areas where the Marantz let the Cremona's down(sound staging,imaging,etc...)& how was the tonal characteristics of the Cremona's(typically Sonus Faber VERY slightly recessed treble)affected by the Marantz?Do you guys really feel the Marantz would be as good as say a Unison Unico Primo(at almost 3 times more expensive)?Thanks very much,take care...