@overthemoon Yeah, it comes down to system pairing mostly, from my experience. I've heard some amazing SETs with low low power drive some pretty hefty speakers pretty easily, with beautiful results. It's just...not easy (or cheap) to test a ton of different things to find that *perfect* pairing. Unfortunately, not really a good hifi shop near me (the only ones that carry any sort of higher end audio equipment are primarily home theater specialists, so there's not a lot of variety and it's pretty much all solid state.
Fyne 703 vs Sonus Faber Olympia Nova V
I've narrowed my shortlist for a speaker upgrade down to these two models and was wondering if anyone had any feedback on either one. Not looking for alternative suggestions.
I primarily listen to Jazz (but occasionally some other things from various other genres, but I'd sacrifice on the other stuff if the Jazz is sublime.
The SFs seem like they would be a bit easier to drive and more tube friendly, but from feedback I've received on other threads, the Fynes seem to work with tubes pretty nicely as well.
SF wasn't even really on my radar since I always equated them with wildly expensive speakers, but I've only ever heard/seen their higher end offerings. Fantastic, but I'd expect anything with a price tag $30,000+ to sound great when paired up correctly.
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@mmcgill829 I don't think you need a ton of power to drive them - technically their efficient speakers at 91db. My first audition with the Olympica Nova Vs was with an Audio Research Integrated amp - it was 80 watts. Frankly it opened my eyes on 'watts, power and dynamics'...the ARC 80 watt integrated made my 300 watt McIntosh seem low power. |
Get a Modwright hybrid integrated amp it has 225W into 4 and 400 into 8 but still has a tube buffer in the preamp. It is also under 10k! tube amps you need big money to get good ones that make modern power. I mean think about it you are using box speakers you’re not using horns get out of the tube amplifier fantasy unless you’re spending big 100-200k money for VAC monoblocks or switch to horns. |
@overthemoon Great! I've gone back and forth about the Nova III vs the V. I started looking at the III since its price is more in line with the Fyne 703 for comparison purposes, but from what I've read, it's more than worth stepping up to the V if I decide to go that route, with pretty dramatic improvements in the V vs the III. Do the V's really need a ton of power? I know the Moon amps tend to output quite a bit. I'm more of a tube guy myself, but most of the tube amps end up in the 50-100 wpc range. |
I own SF Olympica Nova Vs...I love them. They were my first upgrade so they have seen me change amplifiers from McIntosh to Moon and then up the Moon range. The speakers are my end-game speakers and that was proven when I upgraded from Moon M400s and to Moon 860A V2 amplification. There’s lots of good speakers but between $10k and $20k that I like better than the Olympica Vs. Good luck in your decision and enjoy the journey! |