Sonus Faber Venere 2.5...what I think about those

[acalex]

Yes, especially after I realised that master sound makes mono blocks in pure A class (50W) with no negative feedbacks at a killing price. They also very nice and already approved by the OH .

Maybe in a future... since they work so well with SF

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I have had the 2.5's for over a week now on demo, thye have been running for 8 hours a day.

I have to say they are an interesting speaker.... not what I expected. They are very detailed yet soft and warm.

I did think they were bright for the first few days but now they are very warm. They do need lots of power, I have a pair of Kudos C2's that were hooked up to my AMR77 and I notice I have to have the volume setting 4 or 5 levels higher with the 2.5's running.

I like the sound a lot but not sure they are keepers, there is a lack of control on the bass leading to bloom on certain tracks that the Kudos just seem to control better.

The other thing is the plinths? they are so light weight, a single piece of glass i find the speakers pass a considerable amount of vibration to the floor.

Overall a very nice sound for most tracks but not sure I will be swaping out my Kudos just yet.

Cheers,

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi all,

I have had the 2.5's for over a week now on demo, thye have been running for 8 hours a day.

I have to say they are an interesting speaker.... not what I expected. They are very detailed yet soft and warm.

I did think they were bright for the first few days but now they are very warm. They do need lots of power, I have a pair of Kudos C2's that were hooked up to my AMR77 and I notice I have to have the volume setting 4 or 5 levels higher with the 2.5's running.

I like the sound a lot but not sure they are keepers, there is a lack of control on the bass leading to bloom on certain tracks that the Kudos just seem to control better.

The other thing is the plinths? they are so light weight, a single piece of glass i find the speakers pass a considerable amount of vibration to the floor.

Overall a very nice sound for most tracks but not sure I will be swaping out my Kudos just yet.

Cheers,

Welcome to the forum.

What an interesting amp you have (AMR AM-77).....do you have their CDP as well?

Is the floor they are sitting on a suspended wooden one?

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the welcome note.

I have not found the matching CDP at a reasonable price yet but I am on the look out. I have been using a Teac CD3000 from the new distinction range with fantastic results.

My floor is solid wood over a solid stone floor.

I do like the 2.5's im just not sure they are any better or worse than the Kudos C2.

I might try the Usher Dancer ones to see if they impress me. Has anyone tried them?

Cheers,

 

[acalex]

Thank you for the welcome note.

I have not found the matching CDP at a reasonable price yet but I am on the look out. I have been using a Teac CD3000 from the new distinction range with fantastic results.

My floor is solid wood over a solid stone floor.

I do like the 2.5's im just not sure they are any better or worse than the Kudos C2.

I might try the Usher Dancer ones to see if they impress me. Has anyone tried them?

Cheers,

I have tried the 2.5 at the end of a pure class A valve amp with no negative feedbacks (20W) and was actually very impressed by the authority...they sounded so much better after a week of 24/7 playing...

 

[CnoEvil]

Thank you for the welcome note.

I have not found the matching CDP at a reasonable price yet but I am on the look out. I have been using a Teac CD3000 from the new distinction range with fantastic results.

My floor is solid wood over a solid stone floor.

I do like the 2.5's im just not sure they are any better or worse than the Kudos C2.

I might try the Usher Dancer ones to see if they impress me. Has anyone tried them?

Cheers,

I read the 6 moons review, and they said that a possible weakness of that amp, is it behaves very like a powerful Valve amp and so has a low damping factor, which can come across as slightly warmer bass, compared to the best SS amps.

I think the SFs with this amp will be very musical sounding, though it's always worth looking about...

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I agree the amp is very warm. AMR have upgraded this in the 77.1 new version with extended bass.

To be honest I love the warm presentation, but it was the lack of control that I was concerned about with the SF 2.5's. I have tried loads of AMP's I had the Teac AI3000 for a while and found it quite bland. Before that I had a full Cyrus set up but found that too bright. I love my AM77.

Going to give the SF's 2.5's another few days then try the Ushers.

My second system is a Unison Research Unico Amp with a Pioneer PD802 as a transport via a MF Dac with a pair of DTM stand mount speakers.... does anyone know anything about DTM? british company but I can find anything about them on line. The speakers are simply amazing, bought them cheap after an audition as a present for my Dad for Christmas for his budget system, tried them at home and decided to keep them as they are that good. Got dad a set of B&W instead.

:dance:

 

[Macspur]

Hi Andy and welcome.

Sorry not familiar with that particular Usher speaker... I've only heard one other model and it had a very flat response, not altogether unpleasing though.

Do you have any other brands in mind?

Mac

 

[Anonymous]

The other option I looked at was the new GX range from Monitor Audio..... not sure about the metal cones with the AM77? might end up being too bright.

I really like the looks of the Focal range but they seem very expensive? are they worth it? My budget was around £2-£2.5k.

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice,

I have just hooked the Kudos back up for a quick comparison and they are much more in control of the bass and the room.

Mid range is as good if not better than the SF's.

The treble is not as good.

Sound stage is much fuller but that might not be down to the speakers and more my room size, the SF's are physically much larger than the Kudos so the Kudos might be filling the space correctly and the SF's might simply be too big for the sapce?

I am not a fan of the GX speakers, the grills look naff.

I will try the Ushers and might try the Focals but £5500 a pair!!! ouch !! There goes my wifes Xmas!!

Cheers

 

[CnoEvil]

The other option I looked at was the new GX range from Monitor Audio..... not sure about the metal cones with the AM77? might end up being too bright.

I really like the looks of the Focal range but they seem very expensive? are they worth it? My budget was around £2-£2.5k.

Cheers

IMO. The lack of control you hear is down to the low damping factor, but this softer presentation is a small price to pay for the musical, fatigue free sound.

I have found Focal sounds very well on the end of Valve sounding amps, so maybe one to try.

Hard for me to comment on MA as I don't like them.

Usher are certainly worth a listen.

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks for the advice,

I have just hooked the Kudos back up for a quick comparison and they are much more in control of the bass and the room.

Mid range is as good if not better than the SF's.

The treble is not as good.

Sound stage is much fuller but that might not be down to the speakers and more my room size, the SF's are physically much larger than the Kudos so the Kudos might be filling the space correctly and the SF's might simply be too big for the sapce?

I am not a fan of the GX speakers, the grills look naff.

I will try the Ushers and might try the Focals but £5500 a pair!!! ouch !! There goes my wifes Xmas!!

Cheers

You are looking at good speakers.

Are you thinking of the Focal Electra 1028BEs?....if that's the case you should be comparing at least the Mini 2s. There is also the Focal 836V.

Both Focal and Usher should give a cleaner more controlled sound than the SFs.

Do you have access to Vienna Acoustics?....maybe another possibility.

There is also Mark and Daniel Audio Labs Muse 11a that could work (if you can find them)

Don't be a stranger and let us know how you get on.

 

[csq2]

I'm also thinking of upgrading my speakers. Have you compared the Venere series to KEF R series? Can't decide between PSB Imagine T or Kef R500.

 

[CnoEvil]

I'm also thinking of upgrading my speakers. Have you compared the Venere series to KEF R series? Can't decide between PSB Imagine T or Kef R500.

I don't think your talking to me.....but I've great time for the R500s and have never heard any PSBs.

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

I wouldn't worry too much about damping factor of your amp in conjunction with a set of passive dynamic speakers. the resistance of the lead and impedance of the crossover screws the effect of damping nicely anyway. it's more important how the speaker is tuned itself rather that looking at your amp side. it looks like in case of SF the self damping of the woofer may not be fully optimised. or maybe SF severely distorts at the bottom? hence the excessive boom.

I will try the Ushers and might try the Focals but £5500 a pair!!! ouch !! There goes my wifes Xmas!!

Cheers

if you're looking at speakers at that price level you should maybe give an ESL a try? if you have access to Quads it will not hurt to give them a listen. failing that maybe Magnepan MG1.7 could b an option? not an ESL but very similar principle.

 

[Anonymous]

SF's are going back today and will be collecting a demo of the Usher One Diamonds. Will let you know how I get on.

 

[CnoEvil]

SF's are going back today and will be collecting a demo of the Usher One Diamonds. Will let you know how I get on.

Here is a very interesting review: http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/index.php/loudspeakers/65-reviews/388-usher-dancer-mini-one.html

According to the review, these will be the polar opposite of the SFs......and they need 7 days continuous run in before they sound right, so hopefully your demo ones have had this.

If you want a sound that's less soft and dark, these should do it. If you find they sound exceptionally clean, but verging on the over-analytical, Focal might be a happy medium (or Kef R Series / ex-dem Kef Ref 203/2).

 

[Macspur]

Thanks for the advice,

I have just hooked the Kudos back up for a quick comparison and they are much more in control of the bass and the room.

Mid range is as good if not better than the SF's.

The treble is not as good.

Sound stage is much fuller but that might not be down to the speakers and more my room size, the SF's are physically much larger than the Kudos so the Kudos might be filling the space correctly and the SF's might simply be too big for the sapce?

I am not a fan of the GX speakers, the grills look naff.

I will try the Ushers and might try the Focals but £5500 a pair!!! ouch !! There goes my wifes Xmas!!

Cheers

You are looking at good speakers.

Are you thinking of the Focal Electra 1028BEs?....if that's the case you should be comparing at least the Mini 2s. There is also the Focal 836V.

Both Focal and Usher should give a cleaner more controlled sound than the SFs.

Do you have access to Vienna Acoustics?....maybe another possibility.

There is also Mark and Daniel Audio Labs Muse 11a that could work (if you can find them)

Don't be a stranger and let us know how you get on.

I heard the Focal 836V on the end of some Naim gear last year, admittedly in a store demo room and I was very impressed with them... great detail and tremendous base, which could be a problem in the wrong environment.

I also once had a home demo with some Mark&Daniels... superbly made... their cabinets are made from some marbel effect rezzin and are extremely heavy... Progressive Audio in Kent would be able to get hold of these if you were interested.

Mac

 

[CnoEvil]

I also once had a home demo with some Mark&Daniels... superbly made... their cabinets are made from some marbel effect rezzin and are extremely heavy... Progressive Audio in Kent would be able to get hold of these if you were interested.

Mac

Mac, what did you think of them (they are not a usual speaker on here)......and do you believe they would suit a warm, valve sounding amp?

 

[Anonymous]

Me again :rockout:

Well after recovering from putting my neck, back and leg out liffting the Ushers in to place they are in and connected. I have never seen such a well made speaker!!

They sound totally different to the SF's and the Kudos, very nutral but 100% in control. I love the way they sound with the female voice I just cant stop playing Blonde and Adele....

The stereo image is large and very defined, each instrument has its own place but they all blend to make a very convincing sound that fills the room. There is no low end bloom or lack of control.

Going to keep listening over Christmas but so far I think I like them!! :dance:

Cheers

A

 

[CnoEvil]

Me again :rockout:

Well after recovering from putting my neck, back and leg out liffting the Ushers in to place they are in and connected. I have never seen such a well made speaker!!

They sound totally different to the SF's and the Kudos, very nutral but 100% in control. I love the way they sound with the female voice I just cant stop playing Blonde and Adele....

The stereo image is large and very defined, each instrument has its own place but they all blend to make a very convincing sound that fills the room. There is no low end bloom or lack of control.

Going to keep listening over Christmas but so far I think I like them!! :dance:

Cheers

A

This is all good....though I still think Focal are still worth a listen.

Let us know what your final decision is

Cno

 

[Macspur]

Me again :rockout:

Well after recovering from putting my neck, back and leg out liffting the Ushers in to place they are in and connected. I have never seen such a well made speaker!!

They sound totally different to the SF's and the Kudos, very nutral but 100% in control. I love the way they sound with the female voice I just cant stop playing Blonde and Adele....

The stereo image is large and very defined, each instrument has its own place but they all blend to make a very convincing sound that fills the room. There is no low end bloom or lack of control.

Going to keep listening over Christmas but so far I think I like them!! :dance:

Cheers

A

They sound like they may well be the same model I heard and yes, they were extremely heavy... as you say a very neutral presentation with superb detail... I really did like them, but I wasn't sure if, in the long term, I would be disatisfied with the lack of base.

Cno, the M&D could well have been a keeper for me, but apart from being out of my budget at the time, in my room the base was a little boomy. However, in the right environment, would be a great match for a tube/class A amp.

Mac

 

[Helmut80]

Has anyone seen the pictures of the Venere 3.0 from CES? Wonder if that means they'll get rid of the Liutos.

 

[Paul@HiFi-Lounge]

I have to say that this new range from SF has really got my attention, reading through this thread has been really interesting if possibly a little dissapointing, has anyone heard a fully run in pair yet as I really want to these to sound as good as they look.

I spoke the the SF rep the other day out of interest and he did say that the Liuto range had indeed been discontiued.

In the next issue of HiFi Choice they are actually reviewing the Venere 2.5, now that is one review I can't wait to read.

Here are a selection of pics that I have been admiring lately, not sure what finish I prefer, I usually go with walnut but really like the white at the moment.

 

[CnoEvil]

I have to say that this new range from SF has really got my attention, reading through this thread has been really interesting if possibly a little dissapointing, has anyone heard a fully run in pair yet as I really want to these to sound as good as they look.

I spoke the the SF rep the other day out of interest and he did say that the Liuto range had indeed been discontiued.

In the next issue of HiFi Choice they are actually reviewing the Venere 2.5, now that is one review I can't wait to read.

Here are a selection of pics that I have been admiring lately, not sure what finish I prefer, I usually go with walnut but really like the white at the moment.

If you can persuade the SF rep to leave a pair with you to try, let us know what you think.........and it does have to gel with your other products.

In theory, they should be very good.