Excellent presentation of your initial impressions Adrian. Your honesty and detailed description of what you hear is greatly appreciated. I look forward to more detailed analysis on these stunning looking pieces of art. Forza Italia and Forza Sonus Faber!
Just wanted to say I enjoy the videos you guys do Adrian! Even though I can t afford most of it, it's nice to see a dealer doing this and giving $$$ back to those less fortunate. More could learn from your channels generosity. Thank you Adrian!
Loved to hear the idea of donating to your local charities. I’ve been a subscriber for a long time but never really payed to much attention to the videos. Just once in a while as new ones popped up and it would cover a topic of interest to me. But now that I’ve heard of your local giving back to the community, I’ve gain a new found respect for your store and it’s charitable contributions. Well done!
I have watched intently some of your videos on speakers and other HiFi components of Quality and Permofance and enjoyed every presentation of its relevant coverage and appreciate your social responsibility in matching donations and giving them to Charity. Keep it up. Kudos!
Hi Adrian, please keep making your vids on the best gear you can an do buy.It is nice to get info about this amazing gear. Taste is so simple, the best is always good enough.
Adrian - I agree with other comments - as an excellent review. Towards the end of the review you talk about cost which for you and many audiophiles means pleasure and touching the soul. Just like buying million dollar paintings, sculptures or violins, one can ask why? This $$$ range is HiFi Art. How can one put a price tag on musical perfection which is elusive. Music gives meaning to life and a reason for our passions in a very unsettling and dangerous world.
Fantastic detailed review. I would love to have a chance to hear a speaker like this. My vintage AR2ax speakers are doing the job now, but I would love to step into another world and experience what these speakers must sound like.
Thanks Adrian - an excellent review - - I kept telling myself, we're talking about a quarter million dollar speaker - they damn well better do everything well if not great, so I give you a ton of credit for having the courage to break down all of your listening impressions in such an honest and interesting presentation.
Great interpretation of what you have heard so far. I agree in that my audio system is much more important than a vehicle or any other material items. One day I hope to visit your store and meet you all. I live in Saskatchewan, so a few k away. Take care
One big factor with speakers the size of the SE17 is the room. The height makes the ceiling boundary quite problematic unless they are placed in a large room with a very high ceiling.
I'd love to hear these once; the Aida 2 is among my top 3 favorite speakers I've heard. The SE-17 and the Tidal La Assoluta are still on my to-do list (and of course Wilson's WAMM Master Chronosonic).
I always enjoy your videos: I have been a SF fan for a long time and I am the owner of an original pair of Guarneri Homages from 1999. I noticed you are using the c1100 preamp which I am fortunate to own as well. If you have the time, a few comments on the c1100 would be nice. It seems to have been ignored by the reviewers and I think it needs some love and respect. I pair my c1100 to the d1000 & Mc462 for the complete McIntosh sound.
I cant understand why people get so hung up on cost. Some spend 100k on a car, trip, boat, fishing rod, speakers, computers, clothes, and the list goes on. Spend YOUR money on what gives YOU a smile. I never buy a car for others, I never buy a boat for others, I never buy a sound system for others. Its for me.
@@anthonymartino9917 That's your opinion. Music is important enough to me if I had the money it very well might be depending upon how much better it is than anything comparable and the price differential to reach that point.
As always a great honest review yes for me also music is the most uplifting part of my life I started collecting vinyl classical and pop records over 50 years ago and later CDS still have then all
Adrian, thank you very much for this very informative video. In this you mention that you will be making another video with more in-depth impressions of The Sonus Faber SE17 and comparing those impressions with the Wilsons. That was about 7 months ago. Do you have any idea when you might be able to post such a video? Have you had the chance to listen more closely to the SE17? Thanks again!
thanks for this vid -- fascinating comments wrt Beryllium tweeters being fatiguing -- the obvious question is WHY? The frequency response of the Focal version is up to 40khz , whereas it is 18Hz - 36000Hz, Stealth reflex included with the SE-17. Do you find fatigue with all these high end (you said not for the SE17) spks that use B tweeters. How does the Aida compare to the SE17.
Adrian, I am so pleased you brought in this model. I have listened to their previous top of the line model (the dealer claimed to have the only pair in the US) and preferred them over any Wilson he had. The D'Agostino vs Mc 901 is one I am very interested in hearing. Do you happen to carry Boulder Amps? You should be able to make a dozen great videos using this speaker!! Good job! Why doesn't Sonus Faber send over a pro to help with setup???
I can in no way afford these but follow this channel and feel you have brought up a important point. When spending this type of $$$ and even visiting the company in Italy why is their no setup people from the company helping like Wilson audio does? I think will does this for many speakers in the lineup where they will set them up in you home or the dealer will. If I'm not mistaken Peter McGrath used to travel and set up speakers in folks home? Even if they don't in general for their lower line they should for their statement piece. Thanks !
I would love to hear these speakers head to head compared to the Magnepan 30.7s. The Sonus Fabers cost 6.57 x as much as the Magnepans. I'll bet that the actual drivers in the Sonus Fabers are less than one fifth of the total cost of the speaker. Amazing how much a well engineered beautiful box costs. Not an issue with magnegpan.
As a person with a career mechanical engineer, I could never afford those speakers. But I would be able to afford the Nova 3s or maybe even the Nova 5's with some time and patience though. I also much prefer a warm sound over a clinical and sterile sound. Also, love to have low-level detail and high resolve, airiness, and a wide sound stage with a virtual center while having with a nice roundness to a high register.
Great video Adrian I always look forward to every new video that comes out, and I am a committed subscriber. I believe a great motivator for one is the aspiration the setting of a goal to achieve something. If that is obtaining an amazing Hi-Fi system then why not. It takes all kinds in this world and I think none of us would want it any other way.🎧👍🙂
Love the info. Looking at Sonus Faber myself. I like the musical and emotional aspect I hear from the speakers so the new ones more neutral I probably would not like. Everyone going to barillium but I find them too bright. I have heard you really have to dial in barillium tweeters on the right plane of adjustments and also have the speaker discs to stand on to remove some of the harshness. I just find them bright and too overbearing in the music. Some people like the tweet to be in their face. I like a presence but more of a soft balance. Looking at the Aida 2's. Will the field shaper in back help a room that is 12 by 12 with a 9 foot ceiling? I have a relax room. Will be powered by my amps a pair of mono VAC 452 Musicbloc's 450 watts each
Wow, this thing is not even on the Sonus Faber website yet. At this price point, the closest-priced competitor that I can think of is the MBL 101 X-treme (at US$263,000). I don't even want to mention the Wilson Chronosonic XVX which is substantially more let alone the WAMM Master Chronosonic. I have heard many MBL's up to the 101 E MK II, they all punch above their weight and sound amazing with one of the widest soundstages around using its omnidirectional tech. While I think the Sonus Faber SE-17 will sound great, but I will have a hard time to imagine the Sonus Faber can be better than the 101 X-treme together with its 2 x 6' subwoofer towers with a combined total weight of 3,600 lbs.
Hi Adrian, what do you think about McIntosh speakers? It is really so hard to find reviews about them, so it will be really interesting and for sure will become a viral video if you ever review the big XTR ones and compare them with this SF and the XVX Willsons.
🤯🤯 wow Adrian you are so lucky and privileged to have listened to these and others of the worlds finest I would love to be there to listen to them would be a dream of mine.. someday someway.. you commented that you put both bases to face each other I do not think that is a good idea they tend to cancel each other out you’re suggesting putting each one facing the sidewall is a much better idea PS you look so pleased and happy LOL you should be a big fan Steve Costello…👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Adrian, when you spoke about how music influences you emotionally I was wondering, do you solely go to the store to listen to music are what kind of system do you have at home?
@@michaelrovner4165 The distance between the sub driver and the main bass units is a very small fraction of a wavelength at the bass frequencies. Even so, the (tiny) misalignment is nothing compared to the very large timing errors that almost all multi-driver speakers create through their crossovers, and which people generally accept. No need to worry.
Hmm, if you can talk independently about frequency bands of speaker, It can be sign of non coherent source through the working spectrum. Best speakers or systems sound seamless, and dissapear as artificial sources of music.
While the SE-17 is in fact the model number, I'm surprised you don't refer to these by their NAME, "The Sonus Faber." You can emphasize the "The" if you like.
Did you fire Villip because of his pathologic affection for Bananarama? I don't think that is his fault- it is actually a fairly well studied genetic disease.
I disagree with you on your assessment of the sonic characteristics of beryllium tweeters as being bright and fatiguing. Your assessment about beryllium tweeters is a gross generalization and is highly subjective. Your assessment does not apply to all speakers that implement the beryllium tweeter. It all depends upon the implementation of the beryllium tweeter within the design concept of the speaker, and, of course, associated equipment matching. I've owned a pair of the magnificent Revel Salon 2 speakers for many years. The Salons 2 speakers incorporate a magnificently smooth, highly extended, highly detailed and transparent, non- fatiguing beryllium tweeter. No listener fatigue here. My middle-aged ears have grown highly sensitive to bright and fatiguing tweeters, which cannot be tolerated in my system. The Salon's beryllium tweeter highly impressed me upon auditioning them, which was a major determining factors for me opting to ultimately purchase them. However, I do agree with your assessment of the Sonus Faber speakers. Sonus Faber tweeters generally do sound softer and less extended than that of other speaker brands that offer typical metal based or ceramic tweeters. For that reason, I opted to not go with Sonus Faber. But, to each his own.
Excellent presentation of your initial impressions Adrian. Your honesty and detailed description of what you hear is greatly appreciated. I look forward to more detailed analysis on these stunning looking pieces of art. Forza Italia and Forza Sonus Faber!
No need to justify discretionary spending. If this fulfills your passion and adds to your happiness quotient then go for it. Great review as usual.
Lol that’s house monie to a pheasant like me, why am I even here apology’s
Just wanted to say I enjoy the videos you guys do Adrian! Even though I can t afford most of it, it's nice to see a dealer doing this and giving $$$ back to those less fortunate. More could learn from your channels generosity. Thank you Adrian!
Loved to hear the idea of donating to your local charities. I’ve been a subscriber for a long time but never really payed to much attention to the videos. Just once in a while as new ones popped up and it would cover a topic of interest to me. But now that I’ve heard of your local giving back to the community, I’ve gain a new found respect for your store and it’s charitable contributions. Well done!
I have watched intently some of your videos on speakers and other HiFi components of Quality and Permofance and enjoyed every presentation of its relevant coverage and appreciate your social responsibility in matching donations and giving them to Charity. Keep it up. Kudos!
Loving all the content and great presentation all around - you guys have gotten quite good at this!
Hi Adrian, please keep making your vids on the best gear you can an do buy.It is nice to get info about this amazing gear. Taste is so simple, the best is always good enough.
Adrian - I agree with other comments - as an excellent review. Towards the end of the review you talk about cost which for you and many audiophiles means pleasure and touching the soul. Just like buying million dollar paintings, sculptures or violins, one can ask why? This $$$ range is HiFi Art. How can one put a price tag on musical perfection which is elusive. Music gives meaning to life and a reason for our passions in a very unsettling and dangerous world.
Fantastic detailed review. I would love to have a chance to hear a speaker like this. My vintage AR2ax speakers are doing the job now, but I would love to step into another world and experience what these speakers must sound like.
Thanks Adrian - an excellent review - - I kept telling myself, we're talking about a quarter million dollar speaker - they damn well better do everything well if not great, so I give you a ton of credit for having the courage to break down all of your listening impressions in such an honest and interesting presentation.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt 🤣 🤣😂
Great interpretation of what you have heard so far. I agree in that my audio system is much more important than a vehicle or any other material items. One day I hope to visit your store and meet you all. I live in Saskatchewan, so a few k away. Take care
One big factor with speakers the size of the SE17 is the room. The height makes the ceiling boundary quite problematic unless they are placed in a large room with a very high ceiling.
Great initial review! Hopefully the next vid will discuss more in detail the sound field shaper - functionality, benefits, degree of customization.
I'd love to hear these once; the Aida 2 is among my top 3 favorite speakers I've heard.
The SE-17 and the Tidal La Assoluta are still on my to-do list (and of course Wilson's WAMM Master Chronosonic).
Nice job Adrian. Keep up the good work.
I always enjoy your videos: I have been a SF fan for a long time and I am the owner of an original pair of Guarneri Homages from 1999. I noticed you are using the c1100 preamp which I am fortunate to own as well. If you have the time, a few comments on the c1100 would be nice. It seems to have been ignored by the reviewers and I think it needs some love and respect. I pair my c1100 to the d1000 & Mc462 for the complete McIntosh sound.
I cant understand why people get so hung up on cost.
Some spend 100k on a car, trip, boat, fishing rod, speakers, computers, clothes, and the list goes on.
Spend YOUR money on what gives YOU a smile.
I never buy a car for others, I never buy a boat for others, I never buy a sound system for others. Its for me.
Yep - I remember hearing people deriding those who would spend (at the time) $75K on a Porsche when they were driving a $75K Tahoe.
That is true but I also feel there is no speaker with 250k sorry!
@@anthonymartino9917 That's your opinion.
Music is important enough to me if I had the money it very well might be depending upon how much better it is than anything comparable and the price differential to reach that point.
Good comment!
I actually sold my car so I can afford this little setup...
th-cam.com/video/xvdqI5qZa6g/w-d-xo.html
They do look much nicer than the Wilson speaker, but which would i prefer sound wise i don't know, and probably will never know lol....
As always a great honest review yes for me also music is the most uplifting part of my life I started collecting vinyl classical and pop
records over 50 years ago and later CDS still have then all
Adrian, thank you very much for this very informative video. In this you mention that you will be making another video with more in-depth impressions of The Sonus Faber SE17 and comparing those impressions with the Wilsons. That was about 7 months ago.
Do you have any idea when you might be able to post such a video? Have you had the chance to listen more closely to the SE17?
Thanks again!
Great video Adrian
Great speakers too
Thanks
thanks for this vid -- fascinating comments wrt Beryllium tweeters being fatiguing -- the obvious question is WHY? The frequency response of the Focal version is up to 40khz , whereas it is 18Hz - 36000Hz, Stealth reflex included with the SE-17. Do you find fatigue with all these high end (you said not for the SE17) spks that use B tweeters. How does the Aida compare to the SE17.
Where is the second part?
Would be nice to know how does it compares to the Aida and the Wilson XVX.
Adrian, I am so pleased you brought in this model. I have listened to their previous top of the line model (the dealer claimed to have the only
pair in the US) and preferred them over any Wilson he had. The D'Agostino vs Mc 901 is one I am very interested in hearing. Do you happen to carry Boulder Amps? You should be able to make a dozen great videos using this speaker!! Good job! Why doesn't Sonus Faber send over a pro to help with setup???
I can in no way afford these but follow this channel and feel you have brought up a important point. When spending this type of $$$ and even visiting the company in Italy why is their no setup people from the company helping like Wilson audio does? I think will does this for many speakers in the lineup where they will set them up in you home or the dealer will. If I'm not mistaken Peter McGrath used to travel and set up speakers in folks home? Even if they don't in general for their lower line they should for their statement piece. Thanks !
I would love to hear these speakers head to head compared to the Magnepan 30.7s. The Sonus Fabers cost 6.57 x as much as the Magnepans. I'll bet that the actual drivers in the Sonus Fabers are less than one fifth of the total cost of the speaker. Amazing how much a well engineered beautiful box costs. Not an issue with magnegpan.
As a person with a career mechanical engineer, I could never afford those speakers. But I would be able to afford the Nova 3s or maybe even the Nova 5's with some time and patience though. I also much prefer a warm sound over a clinical and sterile sound. Also, love to have low-level detail and high resolve, airiness, and a wide sound stage with a virtual center while having with a nice roundness to a high register.
Great first impression review, obviously only for the lucky few. Cheers
Thanks! Those were not in the Sonus Faber room at the Rocky Mountain Show 2 years ago, so I am curious.
Hope to drop in tomorrow =)
Great video Adrian I always look forward to every new video that comes out, and I am a committed subscriber. I believe a great motivator for one is the aspiration the setting of a goal to achieve something. If that is obtaining an amazing Hi-Fi system then why not. It takes all kinds in this world and I think none of us would want it any other way.🎧👍🙂
Love the info. Looking at Sonus Faber myself. I like the musical and emotional aspect I hear from the speakers so the new ones more neutral I probably would not like. Everyone going to barillium but I find them too bright. I have heard you really have to dial in barillium tweeters on the right plane of adjustments and also have the speaker discs to stand on to remove some of the harshness. I just find them bright and too overbearing in the music. Some people like the tweet to be in their face. I like a presence but more of a soft balance. Looking at the Aida 2's. Will the field shaper in back help a room that is 12 by 12 with a 9 foot ceiling? I have a relax room. Will be powered by my amps a pair of mono VAC 452 Musicbloc's 450 watts each
It’s beautiful! I appreciate your channel! ☮️🖖🏽
Wonderful speakers.
Gotta start saving up!
Would be very nice to hear some sound demos.
Beautiful Speaker's
Wow, this thing is not even on the Sonus Faber website yet. At this price point, the closest-priced competitor that I can think of is the MBL 101 X-treme (at US$263,000). I don't even want to mention the Wilson Chronosonic XVX which is substantially more let alone the WAMM Master Chronosonic. I have heard many MBL's up to the 101 E MK II, they all punch above their weight and sound amazing with one of the widest soundstages around using its omnidirectional tech. While I think the Sonus Faber SE-17 will sound great, but I will have a hard time to imagine the Sonus Faber can be better than the 101 X-treme together with its 2 x 6' subwoofer towers with a combined total weight of 3,600 lbs.
Do a sound demo. We want to hear what 250k sounds like. ❤
Hi Adrian, what do you think about McIntosh speakers?
It is really so hard to find reviews about them, so it will be really interesting and for sure will become a viral video if you ever review the big XTR ones and compare them with this SF and the XVX Willsons.
🤯🤯 wow Adrian you are so lucky and privileged to have listened to these and others of the worlds finest I would love to be there to listen to them would be a dream of mine.. someday someway.. you commented that you put both bases to face each other I do not think that is a good idea they tend to cancel each other out you’re suggesting putting each one facing the sidewall is a much better idea PS you look so pleased and happy LOL you should be a big fan
Steve Costello…👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Adrian, when you spoke about how music influences you emotionally I was wondering, do you solely go to the store to listen to music are what kind of system do you have at home?
Don’t know why but I always have my concerns with speakers which have their bass drivers on the sidewalls of their cabinets
very astute of you...the time alignment is wrong with these designs...loss of transients and dynamics when everything doesn't line up in time
@@michaelrovner4165 The distance between the sub driver and the main bass units is a very small fraction of a wavelength at the bass frequencies. Even so, the (tiny) misalignment is nothing compared to the very large timing errors that almost all multi-driver speakers create through their crossovers, and which people generally accept. No need to worry.
SONUS FABER IS GOOD TO YOUR BRAIN!!!!!& EAR'S!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Please use boulder amplifiers to bring out the best from the speakers
17:55 to 19:50 I will have to play that part of the video for my wife, a good explanation of why .
Hmm, if you can talk independently about frequency bands of speaker, It can be sign of non coherent source through the working spectrum.
Best speakers or systems sound seamless, and dissapear as artificial sources of music.
Voicecoil diameter of 3" or 4" have nothing to do with how much air is moved. Voicecoil winding height do...
I love sonus faver
I'll have a pair after I bought my Ferrari Roma...
While the SE-17 is in fact the model number, I'm surprised you don't refer to these by their NAME, "The Sonus Faber." You can emphasize the "The" if you like.
No loudspeaker should EVER BE PRICED as the same as HOUSE at $250k, no matter how good it sounds!
Thats JUST UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!
Did you fire Villip because of his pathologic affection for Bananarama? I don't think that is his fault- it is actually a fairly well studied genetic disease.
I disagree with you on your assessment of the sonic characteristics of beryllium tweeters as being bright and fatiguing. Your assessment about beryllium tweeters is a gross generalization and is highly subjective. Your assessment does not apply to all speakers that implement the beryllium tweeter. It all depends upon the implementation of the beryllium tweeter within the design concept of the speaker, and, of course, associated equipment matching. I've owned a pair of the magnificent Revel Salon 2 speakers for many years. The Salons 2 speakers incorporate a magnificently smooth, highly extended, highly detailed and transparent, non- fatiguing beryllium tweeter. No listener fatigue here. My middle-aged ears have grown highly sensitive to bright and fatiguing tweeters, which cannot be tolerated in my system. The Salon's beryllium tweeter highly impressed me upon auditioning them, which was a major determining factors for me opting to ultimately purchase them. However, I do agree with your assessment of the Sonus Faber speakers. Sonus Faber tweeters generally do sound softer and less extended than that of other speaker brands that offer typical metal based or ceramic tweeters. For that reason, I opted to not go with Sonus Faber. But, to each his own.
You know, over time, I've come to realize you just can't trust your team on crack.
Turn xover. Off. = Full range
Buy it before you're broke!
No speaker is worth that kind of money.
put the mic closer to your mouth, so hard to hear what you are saying.
Too cheap
Just another speaker company over charging.fot nothing special. The
The cost of the parts is minimal but they are basically just cashing in. Shame on you.
Cost is irrelevant. It all depends on your means.
Actually cost depends on the market.
Meh.
"Meh" - pithy. Also revealing, not about Adrian or SF, but about yourself.
What’s that proverb about a fool and their money being parted? LOL
No blind A, B testing for these hobbyists.