You amp is severely underpowered for the speakers you have and those Sonus Fabers. You will find that a better match will radically improve bass performance. I would check out:
Zu Audio Soul Supreme - Killer speaker and very exciting/dynamic. Will be driven well by your amp.
Tekton - Not the most attractive speakers in the world but will deliver big sound for you. If you would like to read a positive review just look for any post by millercarbon.
Paradigm Prestige 95F- this will be bright like your B&Ws but technologically is a step forward and is a lovely speaker.
I am a dealer but have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned. I personally would go with Zu but my hunch is you will like the Paradigms more aesthetically.
Good luck |
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I heard the Sonus fabers setup at a local deal and would find a way to get those in my system. They sounded lovely and are beautiful as well. I agree the PL might be underpowered but see if you can take it to the shop for a demo then you'll know for sure. Might be worthwhile to upgrade that as well if your dealer can work a good deal on a trade.
Good luck! |
I did the same thing you did last year after owning B&Ws 800s for about 18 years. The important thing is to listen to as many speakers as possible that check off your requirements, and perhaps, something may surprise as you give a good listen. I made road trips and went to shows (most pre COVID and some during COVID) to visit others who had speakers I had an interest in. I had listened to Avant-garde, Klipschorn, Klipsch Jubilee, Classic Audio Loudspeakers, Legacy Aeris, Spatial Audio and others that escape me. Of all the listening tests I did, none were as good as or compared to what I heard with the Classic Audio Loudspeakers T1.5 reference. It was by chance that I was able to snag a demo pair after I sold the 800s.
Make sure your amp is up to the efficiency requirements of whatever speakers you decide on. My speakers are extremely large and efficient. With the field coil 18” deep bass and 15” inch mid bass drivers, field coil compression horn and tweeter, it’s simply amazing. It helped inform my decision by listening to a variety of speakers and knowing what type of sound I was looking for. Been listening to stereos since early 70s, so my ears are somewhat seasoned to what I like and dislike in a speaker. Good luck. |
I listen to very similar music as you do and did the speaker search a few years ago. I settled on the Vienna Acoustic Liszt speakers which are out of your budget range. When I was at the last RMAF, I was quite taken by the Fyne speakers. They are high efficiency and would recommend a listen. Also don't rule out a demo pair to save some money and move up the line with your budget. As a side note I heard the Zu and Tekton offerings at RMAF and I though they sounded "hifi", just my opinion. |
The Primaluna has no problem at all driving the B&W's, in fact I got more bass out of the speakers when I switched from my old Classe Audio separates and went to the Primaluna and SF are more efficient than the B&W. The one dealer I was looking at is driving a pair of Sonetto V's with my EVO 300 amp in their showroom. I think everyone underestimates the PrimaLuna's 60 lbs toroids. |
Primalunas have a lot of grunt. I have the Evo 400 amp and it is a great match with Salk Songtower speakers. Even when I had the Dialogue Premium with 4 less tubes...no problems at all.
I would highly recommend Salk speakers. Very pleasing and organic sound. They have a wide range of speakers and I will most likely upgrade up the line in the near future. The finish quality is very high across the lineup.
As a brand/line, they're not super efficient...nor are they inefficient. They're relatively easy to drive for most modestly powered amps.
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Best to demo speakers before you buy as tastes/preferences are subjective.
It would be ideal to try out speakers in your home, but shipping makes this cost prohibitive.
Perhaps dealers would let you bring your Primaluna to hook up to their speakers for a demo, maybe the Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII? |
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Some Tannoys would go great with the prima luna. They respond well to tubes. However, in looking at your budget, Tannoys may well exceed it. To save money, yet still get great sound, I’d be looking at a pair of wharfedale lintons with stands...about $1500. They have rave reviews everywhere, go very well with tubes, sound great and look great. Take the money you save and buy more music or grab a nice pair of auditorium 23’s speaker cables to go with the lintons. There is a great review of the lintons at tone audio. They will certainly sound different than the B&W. |
My Primaluna Dialogue HP has plenty of effortless power with my Schmidtlambrix Monk801s. These full range speakers do tend to be easier to drive though. This speaker company made it simple to purchase with their money back guarantee. |
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I own the Sonetto Vs and use a SS amp with 300 watts of power so I can't speak to your specific integrated amp.
I love the Sonetto Vs. I don't think they are hard to drive (after all they are 90 db) and I would encourage you to give them a listen.
I have not heard the Sonetto VIIIs so I can't speak to them.
I have heard the Olympia Nova IIs and they are $10k and a significant improvement over the Sonetto Vs in all ways. (I heard them with an Audio Research integrated amp).
Prior to the Sonetto's I had the Sonus faber Venere 3.0 and they replaced my Mission speakers I had for 20 years.
Good luck with your endeavor. |
The monitor audio gold 200 generation 5 sounds phenomenal. I had the 300 in my home and they were incredible sounding but I finally settled on the platinum 200 Gen 2. The new gold Gen 5 is about 80 to 85% of the platinum, I was absolutely floored at how big of a jump they made from the generation 4. That amt tweeter is incredible, very three-dimensional and open everything sounds very natural. |
The monitor audio gold 200 Gen 5 sound incredible. I had the 300s in my home and they floored me how good they were but I finally settled on the platinum 200 Gen 2.I can't believe how big a jump they made from the Gen 4 to the Gen 5. the Gen 5 is about 80 to 85% of the platinum series. That AMT tweeter is phenomenal sounding very three-dimensional accurate and warm |
As stated here: you will need a good SS amp with a min of 300W rms.
With your speaker choices, you need adequate power to get the best sound.
tou don’t want to u derpower such wicked speakers as your choices.
Many will tell you a 100 or 125W integrated is enough.
don’t believe the hype.
get a very good amplifier, or a good pair of monoblocs for those speakers.
those Sonetto speakers are very nice, congrats.
they need a nice power amp to be able to do what they do best.
Under powering leads to more blown drivers and issues than “having the proper power and headroom”
enjoy your search.
300W !! Min.
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Wow, minimum of 300W. Wow, its amazing then I guess that I did not blow up my B&W's I had for 21 years running them on a measly 150 w Classe Audio amp. Thanks, I'll look for some Bose bookshelf speakers that my Primaluna can handle. |
I really like Sonos Faber speakers. My only reservation in a room that big is that they are on the small side especially given the amount of power you have to drive them. Adding subwoofers would help if you are using them with a two way crossover. The recommended power for those speakers is 50-300 Watts
You might want to consider listening to speakers that are more efficient upwards of 96 dB/watt/meter. I think Klipsch Cornwall IVs would fill that room nicely, you would have less trouble with room interaction because dispersion is limited and 42 watts will drive them to painful levels. But, whatever you are thinking of should be carefully auditioned with your amp I might add. The interface between an amp and speakers is I think much more important than it is given credit. The character of the sound can change rather dramatically due to impedance changes depending on the design of the amp. A good part of the reason you hear conflicting opinions of loudspeakers is because they were being driven by different amps. Any good dealer will allow you to plug up your amp. Always listen to a speaker with the amp you are going to use, always. The program source makes relatively little difference.
Good Luck and enjoy your new room! |
@jmphotography
no need for the sarcasm. Simply giving my opinion.
Have used 100, 125, 150 W receivers, and integrated amps since the mid 80’s.
Found that having enough power and headroom was a huge plus for the sound and enjoyment of the music.
Enjoy the hunt.
best wishes. |
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You might want to consider a JBL HDI-3800. Very efficient at 92db and large enough to fill your room and would also compliment your taste in music. |
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Tannoy for your Female vocals. |
Did you ever make a choice? I'm curious as I am in a very similar situation. I want to upgrade my 30-year old system from Mission 70II bookcase speakers. My room is a similar size (16x29x9 1/2) The speakers would be on the short wall at one end of the room. Plaster walls, sheetrock ceiling. Somewhat reflective room-hardwoods, a few rugs, not a ton of upholstery and a baby grand piano. Speakers would go on each side of a fireplace with windows on each side. Looking at: Lumina V, Paradigm Founders F80 and Fyne Audio 501. Will need new amp. Listen to rock, jazz, lots of Beatles.
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I have dealers that will let me bring home their demo products and if your dealer has concerns that your current amp could be a problem with the speakers I would expect him to work with you.
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If you can stretch for some Tannoy, they pair pretty well with Primaluna.
Like, really well. I'm running both Tannoy and Primaluna and it is very sweet indeed.
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@arcticdeth
@jmphotography
I have experienced the same thing as arcticdeth with a variety of speakers over the years. Unless you have super-efficient horns lots of watts are your best friend when listening at realistic (85-95 dB) peak levels, imo.
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