Magico V2 vs. Sonus Faber Cremona M

Jtein, Your situation is complicated but not uncommon. I recommend you pick the speaker before the amp. Not sure if bringing the Primares along to audition is good or bad. Sure, you may know the sound of your amp well enough, but then are you really hearing the speaker with the proper synergy? If you cannot upgrade the amp for another 1-2 years, then go ahead and bring it.

Do take off some time to audition. You need to be very goal-focused. For example, I absolutely had to have a speaker that reproduced the scale of a large performance. I would not upgrade without that condition being met. All speakers have strengths and weaknesses. Musical priorities will help make decisions.

Call each place and make an appointment. Inquire as to what they carry, and ask them to set-up before you arrive. Be sure the equipment is on for several hours before you arrive. That way, you could spend 1-2 hours at each place. Listen to music you like, not sounds or highlights that impress. Some speakers need 5 minutes of auditioning to exclude. If you stay overnight, go back and listen to your top 2 for several hours straight. Tell the dealer what you are doing and get your prices. Come back home, do research, ask Audiogon again, and pull the trigger. Have fun.

Being that by your own admission you are new to high end audio, why are you trying to "upgrade" from what seems to be a high quality, well put together system?

I've had the Primare I30 and the Plinius 9200 on the SF Cremonas. The Plinius 9200 is clearly superior, but it's not the end of the line. Personally, I'd look at a Mcintosh integrated for the SF, the highest powered one you can afford. The bigger Plinius integrated is an option, comparable to the Boulder's price, but offers more power. There's synergy with McIntosh and SF, but some find the combo too warm.

While I'd recommend bring your gear to the auditions, I'd also recommend asking the dealer to pair up the Cremonas and the V2s with what he/she thinks is the absolute best match (speaker/amp/pre/source) in the store. This will give you a better sense of what the speaker is really capable of. No need to pick a speaker that suits the Primare best if you're only going to change out the Primares later. Go with whatever you like best.

Personally, I like the V2s, but you should be able to pick out which you like when you audition. The V2s will be more transparent, but lack a bit of bass compared to the Cremonas if you don't power them adequately. Get the best and highest powered integrated for the V2s, preferably something on the warm/neutral side.

If you can go used, the old cremonas offer exeptional value and you could go separates. Getting away from an integrated opens so many doors, but the main benefit I hear is a lower noise floor, and a sense of freedom and effortlessness to the sound that really makes the extra cost worth it (especially with the inefficient speakers we're talking about here).

Avalon might be another choice. Good luck!

spend the money on travel and wild women, and in a few years, check back on this exciting hobby.

Thanks guys for the invaluable advice. Will keep them in mind when auditioning.

In reply to Onhwy61, yes, my current system is a decent one but it's just not putting a big wide silly grin on my face. I find that I'm trying very hard to enjoy it instead of just enjoying it.

Here's the kind of sound I'm looking for: big-open-airy-holographic-3D soundstage, natural and palpable vocals (which Class A amps are good for), jaw-dropping transparency and clarity, sweet highs and deep and well-defined bass, very low noise-floor and distortion and crisp, coherent and precise timing and rhythm.