That's why most speakers are made of far stiffer and less expensive MDF. Why are the cabinets so constructed? Because using solid wood would create seriously nasty resonances. I think it's more company "color" than anything else, though the cabinets of the expensive Sonus models differ from most others in that they're built from solid, seasoned (dried two years in a kiln) wooden staves, or slats, which are chosen one by one "so as to control the harmonic structure of the resonances." I'm not sure how one does such choosing merely by looking at a slat of wood, but it means both beauty and expense: each chosen stave must be clamped and hot-glued to the next, and finally hand-sanded and varnished like a fine violin. Is that an admission that its baffles "sing"-something no speaker designer with whom I'm familiar would advertise? I don't think so. Rather, the company sees the speaker baffle as "an instrument which amplifies sound, not merely a container of sonic power with technically approved dimensions." According to Sonus Faber's product literature, a love of violin making inspired the woodworking excellence-and not merely for its physical beauty.
Sonus faber grand piano domus series#
The Grand Piano is the top of Sonus Faber's "affordable" Concerto series (see Martin Colloms' review of the Concerto in the January 1998 Stereophile), and the company's first and only floorstanding speaker.
Sonus faber grand piano domus manual#
One thing I did learn: the company's incredibly sexist! The Grand Piano's owner's manual begins "Dear Sir." Puh-leeze! And I'm glad I didn't, both because my months with the Concerto Grand Piano were musically satisfying, and because it gave me an opportunity to learn more about Franco Serblin's company and why he opts for all that fancy wood. How could I say no to a review opportunity? So here's a pair of Sonus Fabers that stand on their own two feet, are graceful-looking but not "wooded out" to the max, and, at $3500/pair, would seem to be reasonably priced. Plus, you're paying a premium for the magnificent woodworking and exquisite design-something I wasn't into, since I live with my stereo in a basement office/workshop/listening room some (who shall remain nameless) refer to as the "habitat for inhumanity." And then you have to put them on costly stands. What I've never liked was the US price: too high. Now I can have my cake and eat it I will experiment a little more on levels as I have a sneaking feeling that a slightly brighter speaker at the same db will sound better at a slightly lower db.I've never heard a pair of the Italian Sonus Faber speakers I didn't like.
I noticed that the setting used was nearly 3/4db over the others. I went back and ran the Cremona levels again. Now the bad points of the Cremona were now all there in the Domus. I then ran the test with the centre at this new level. At the new higher level the needle was a fraction over the other as opposed to be noticeably under When checking db levels I found that 1db more on the domus centre was closer than I had been running this speaker. Well I found a very, very interesting and valuable point that explained it all.
I'm wondering how I can keep the good points and lose the bad points. A feeling that the whole is made up of parts, your attention seems to be drawn to the centre on occasion A slight forwardness to the centre soundstageĢ. Increase in weight to the voices and soundstage that really adds scale and dynamics.ġ. Dramatic improvement in slam, dialogue clarity and definition (gun shots have a clearer and faster leading edge to the sound for example)Ģ. The Cremona is 2-3 db louder than the Domus so adjustment is required each time a change is made.ġ. I then put the system back together and compared the old centre to the new on system. The slightly forward (By comparison to the Elektors) balance was now much less forthright.
As soon as the grill is on the balance seems much more even (The article measured a 1.5db drop in higher frequencies) It also helps off axis response. Overall the characteristics were the same BUT I then read an article on the Cremona when first reviewed (2003) it seems the grill has a marked impact on the top end. I made numerous comparisons to the Domus centre and the Elektor front (using one speaker) Then this evening I played with the speaker using one channel for dialogue and the sub. I left it on all weekend playing Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis (Nice ) The problem I was initially finding was the contrast to the fronts and in film it seemed to draw attention to itself a little too much. Much more body and weight in the lower mid and bass (before roll off at 60Hz)Ī little brighter in overall presentation More dynamic, a greater sense of transients and speedĪ cleaner and in some areas slightly leaner (midband) The characteristics of this speaker by comparison to the Smaller center are :
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