I’ve been waiting on a pair of SF speakers for a while now and I’m hoping they will sound great with either my Hegel H390 or my PS Audio BHK 300’s. My dealer is hoping they don’t and that I’ll buy some Mac separates from them.
McIntosh Sonus Faber love affair, alternatives?
We have heard a lot about the McIntosh sonus faber relationship which now has been legally consummated. Like Taylor and Travis it seems very harmonious.
I am interested in exploring an option involving infidelity. Are there alternatives to a sonus faber speaker with a McIntosh tube amp that are just as good? Or possibly even better? Will Taylor find a better suitor or is she resigned to eternity with this Travis guy maybe for lack of really trying.
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@emergingsoul I am a big fan of SF and have owned MAC gear. For me the answer is yes and I am not clear if my preferences are changing or the new products are advancing. An example of this is I heard Wilson’s new Watt Puppy - I was impressed. I would like to hear them against SF Serafinos. And there are other brands (e.g. Steinheim) that have impressed me. I encourage you to listen to everything you can because so many factors influence your perception and enjoyment. And enjoy the journey. |
Love your listening space and that cabinet in the middle is awesome. Also, the voodoo lounge poster is incredible, and an incredible framing effort as well. Interesting comments about component mating practices and what you have learned. I’m focusing on il cremonese with mcintosh 901 mono tube amplifiers, because it seemed like a great way too biamp, which is working out well Presently have Bowers 802 d3 which is really good but always trying to improve things. |
The obvious alternative to Sonus Faber is Franco Serblin's current lineup of speakers. They are gorgeous and IMO sound better than SFs current lineup. Given his prior relationship with SF, in some ways these are more authentic. McIntosh is good sounding gear. I don't get why people crap on it (even some of their dealers). That said, it is not like their sound is so unique that no one else quite sounds the same or as good. I have a customer getting great results with Franco Serblin and Luxman. Luxman and SF are extremely common matches. I personally like the sound of AVM with both brands. Someone above mentioned that SF sounds good with most amplification and it is sort of their super power. To get everything just right, system synergy meeting your personal taste is most important but that is the case with most speakers. Full disclosure, other than AVM I carry none of the brands mentioned above. Just have spent a lot of time listening to gear. |
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