Opinions on the ; Rosso Fiorentino Sienna or Volterra II Speakers

I am in the process of ordering the ELBA 2's.  Whats REALLY Cool is they will paint them ANY Color you want for no extra money (You have to provide the paint code).  For a slight upcharge you can get the sides done in LEATHER instead of veneer/paint.  The distributor sent me 2 photos of a pair that have BLUE Leather on the sides with the rest in Black...Totally awesome looking.  You can check out ZERO FIDELITY's youtube review of the Elba 2's. It was done about a year ago. I can forward you the photos/provide links if you wanna see them.

Thank you RIAA and much appreciated and hope you enjoy them for a long time. However, I was looking for of an answer on their overall sonic characteristics. Thank you  

Check out the YOUTUBE Vid and that should tell you all you need to know.

Hello garebear and riaa,

I know I've spoken to you both recently about RF but I will follow up with some information here.  All reviews we have on the products in the US are available at the link below.  There isn't much out there yet on the Volterra or Siena, but I do have some coverage of the Fiesole 2 which is in the same bloodline as the Volterra.

https://www.audiothesis.com/news/categories/rosso-fiorentino

Here is another link covering the Volterra 1 that for some reason I omitted.  The reviewer has since moved up to the second generation and he is a member here who might be able to contribute to what the 2 offers over the 1.  For me, I found better dynamics, lower self-noise floor, easier integration into systems, a little mellower top end with, strangely, improved detail, and texture upon texture from top to bottom.  The line as a whole does not spotlight, but allows details to happen naturally in the frequency they were intended to be heard at.  In other words, these elements are subtle as intended instead of highlighted by the upper midrange.

https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2018/10/falling-for-the-rosso-fiorentino-volterra-loudspeakers/


Unlike the DEMO setting used on TV's at Best Buy, the Rosso Fiorentino line might not immediately impress through eye-catching settings and then irritate you later on.  They are born and bred to be natural and organic while layering music upon itself.  The correct harmonic structure has the ability to grip musicians immediately, but often times I have to 'introduce' the layering of the music so listeners can begin listening spatially as opposed to just tonally. So many listeners simply haven't heard this level of layering in a system and is one of the key elements that makes RF punch above their price points.

Either speaker could easily be a destination speaker - the one pair of Volterra I've had replaced by a client were replaced by a $60k speaker - but I find the Siena 2 to be the most effortless speaker Francesco has made to date.  It was a 98% complete redesign implementing everything he has learned over the last decade and the result is a mesmerizing experience.

I like to think of Rosso as the Greg Maddux of the audio industry.  They don't have the blazing fastball of Roger Clemens or the imposing figure of a Randy Johnson, but they offer an extremely well executed speaker that can excel in a variety of ways and with a plethora of music with no real weaknesses apparent.  They also have the staying power in a system where clients who buy them really don't move away from the brand, but build around them.

I won't go into the same level of detail as @audiothesis, but I will gladly share my experience with the Rosso line and what has consistently drawn me in across the various models. I own the Certaldo (1), but hope to be able to upgrade to the Volterra II someday.  

First and foremost, for me they strike a perfect balance of being exciting while also being comfortable. Some speakers are very smooth and laid back, but seem to feel boring when you put on something more aggressive. Black Sabbath tends to be a good example. At the same time, they offer a sense of ease when the music calls for it. Acoustic single mic recordings feel engaging and spacious, without sounding like a single wall of sound. I can equally enjoy an Analog Productions pressings of Louis Armstrong followed by a mid quality stream of early Metallica. All the beauty of the classic Armstrong recording will be presented in a precise and refined manner, but I can still somehow enjoy an early Metallica album with all of it's grit and energy without being taken out of the moment being forced to focus on the poor recording quality. To offer some comparisons, nothing quite does Black Sabbath like a good set of JBLs. But the Rosso's come quite close. And some laid back speakers can create a great sense of depth to the sound of a great recording, but they make poor recordings sound flat, sharp, and sometimes unlistenable. 


So that's high level. But if I had to pick one element that has always really stood out to me with Rosso it's the vocal intimacy. That's probably the one thing that constantly draws me in. That's the element that makes me stop what I'm doing and give the track my full attention. 

When considering the whole line, your budget should be a big consideration, but so should the size of your room. If you have enough space for the Sienna, they are worth it. Excellent base quality, big sound, but still outstanding imaging and layering. If you're in a smaller room, I think the Volterra might be a better fit. My room is 13x15, and as much as I'd love to consider the Sienna, in reality it just might not be a good fit. If you're looking between series 1 and 2, I can say that from what I've heard the changes are well worth focusing on series 2. The top end in the series 2 are exceptional, especially in the reference and flagship series. It really brings another level of clarity and laying, without becoming overly sharp or critical. 

I've heard quite a few speakers in my life. I can see why some people might have other preferences. But I'd pick the Rosso's vs competitors I've heard on almost every price point they offer in the line. Pair it with the right amp, and they are downright stunning for my taste. 

My road actually started when I thought it had ended.  I was at a local audio show, Lone Star Audio Fest one year when a friend came to the show and set up his own system.  He had just purchased the Usher Mini Dancer 2 speakers, I don't know if it was the alcohol or what but he put on a BB King cd that just brought tears to my eyes and I said somehow I had to have those speakers.  At the time the retail was $5k at the point of being out of my reach but one day the distributor called and offered $3k, he was getting out of the business and needless to say I jumped on his offer for my endgame speakers.

Fast forward a few years, I was looking for a pair of speakers for my secondary system at same Lone Star Audio and had several days to listen to the Fiesole 1.  Guess what went home with me at the end of the show .......... Fiesoles.  When I got them home they were so close to my "endgame" speakers that I called Skip within a day or two and asked how much to move up to the Volterra 1 and traded in my Ushers.
                                       - to be continued -

Whoa boy...a thread I finally feel the need to follow on the 'gon! LUBS me some Rosso Fiorentinos!

Seriously though, I have had 3 purchases in my audio journey that I have regretted selling. They tempered me to adjust my FOMO mentality and ultimately lead to my first purchase that was based on it being my "end game".

Going back, I had a pair of Silverline Audio Sonatina MkI speakers that I thought were my last pair of speakers. I had fully updated/upgraded the crossovers, rewired them, added outriggers...basically everything I could do without replacing drivers. But they were already good drivers so why bother, right?
I based all of my listening at shows on how they compared to my Silverlines. And I hadn't really heard anything that wowed me enough to consider replacing them.

Fast forward to about 4 or 5 years ago and I was down in Texas at Lone Star Audio Fest. I had known Skip, the owner of AudioThesis, through the Polk Audio forum for a few years and was looking forward to a chance to meet him at the show.
One of his rooms had the first generation of the Elbas in it. And it was fronted by some solid gear. But as I listened, I felt that they didn't do enough things better than my Silverlines to make the plunge. But I saw some potential. 
The following couple of years, I heard more Rosso Fiorentinos and was even presented with a STONKING deal to buy the pair of first gen Sienas that Skip was demoing in his home. I ultimately had to pass though as they would in now way fit my listening space unless I sacrificed having a dedicated home theater and my wife wasn't about to allow that.

Prior to COVID, Skip would have an annual get together at his place to hang out, drink some good booze, eat some awesome food and to, of course, listen to some kick-a$$ gear.
In November of 2019, I showed up no expectations outside of just hanging out with some like minded individuals. Plus, the "star" of the show was supposed to be the Polk Audio L800s (Don't go down this road, Ryan...only darkness exists down that one! LOL). So I figured I would just enjoy the company of good friends.

When I showed up, Skip was setting up the various listening rooms so I jumped in to help out. After folks started to arrive, I meandered around from room to room listening to various speakers and gear. But I kept getting pulled back into his front room with the Elba IIs.
I finally got some time to sit in the sweet spot and worked my way through some of my favorite demo materials.
Looking back at that day, it was one of those "Ah HA" moments for me. It was that day when my thinking went from "The Silverlines do this or that better than these" to "These do this or that better than the Silverlines!"
Folks who know me, know what kind of titanic statement that is coming from me. I was an ENORMOUS Silverline fan boy. I would talk those speakers up every chance I got. And I really did love them.

But the Elba IIs just took everything I loved about the Silverlines and knocked it up so many notches. I found myself just getting lost in the music. And that says a lot considering the number of folks that were wandering in and out of the room.

Eventually, after talking back and forth with Skip, I decided to pull the trigger and order a pair of Elba IIs in Walnut.

When they showed up, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I got them unboxed and did a quick and dirty setup before firing up my amps and letting them warm up for the remainder of the day (class A tube amps) so that I could listen that night. Being that my office is also my 2 channel listening room AND I work from home, it was REALLY hard not to try them out before the end of the day.
But I managed to exhibit some self control and that night, I ended up spending about 9 hours total listening through some of my favorite tracks, albums and play lists.
I have a tendency to listen to a couple of minutes of a song and then just skipping to the next track on stuff I have heard many times before. But that night, it really was like I was hearing everything I listened to for the first time all over again.

The Elbas really brought forth everything I love about music. Without getting too gushy with praise, they are light and airy without being harsh. The bass is smooth and controlled without boominess (I listen to a lot of electronica and organ music so I did add some sealed subs but they do NOT need them...I am just a bit of a basshead sometimes lol).
But the midrange...the midrange is the stuff of legends. Male and Female voices both sound very accurate without any kind of over-emphasis that I hear in the other speakers in my house in the vocal ranges. One particular track, Norah Jones, "Come Away With Me", I can close my eyes and imagine Norah is there in the room with me they are so accurate in this regard.

I don't want to sound like some kind of shill but Francesco (founder and lead designer of Rosso Fiorentino) is on to something. And he listens to his customers/dealers. The Elba II is the result of this. He listened to what folks had to say and made improvements based on the feedback. So much so that the first gen Elbas were something I listened to and thought, "Eh, they're nice...but they aren't really all that memorable." to something I consider my end-game in the Elba IIs.

My opinion (and all of this is simply that), you can't go wrong with either the Siena or the Volterra. I have never just stopped and looked at a speaker like I do with my Elbas. And if he can do that with a speaker at that price point, I am willing to bet that the higher end options are even better (but way too big for my listening space LOL).

Ryan

The Volterras, well, they are tonally accurate, well integrated throughout the music spectrum, with a sound that just oozes music.  I listen mostly to jazz, female vocals, classical, blues, and classic rock and I find that the Volterras are oh so musical but still have the obligatory massive sound stage, monster imaging, great detail without being harsh or edgy.  The music is layered in rich harmonic textures as said earlier... organic, bass is tight and goes low enough.  I have them in a 12x15x8 room and they work just fine.
Add a sweet sounding amp/pre or integrated to them and you are set, they also sound great with tubes.

Word of warning, when you think you are set look out for the upgrades.
Skip brought the Volterras 2's which I paid for before I heard them, as they were sitting side by side I begin to wonder why I would pay extra money when they look identical but boy when they started to play my face lit up and this dumb smile came over me and all I could say was take the 1's with.

If you have to start at one of the lower cost Rossos I guarantee you'll start saving from day one to move up the line.
I can now say my endgame speakers as I can not afford the price of a speaker to beat them and I am very satisfied with their performance.

   : from a music lover

Ryan, never say endgame speaker. lol

I'll chime in as a dealer, not new to the industry but new to RF. I have a pair of Elba 2 and they were somewhat of a revelation for me. I've heard so many speakers over so many years, many from very well-known manufacturers. Like many, my interested was piqued by the TAS article and I'd been watching the brand for a bit prior.

Honestly, I could not have expected what I heard when I first plugged the Elbas in. Regardless of price the Elba 2 gets some critical things right that few others have. It's portrays a slightly bottom-up presentation but absolutely not at the cost of detail and certainly not to a fault. In fact, there is a "quiet character" to the overall presentation that I feel lets me hear further in to recordings, revealing more detail than speakers that are more forward-tilted. It seems that the crossover design is executed so well that there is a synergy between the drivers that allows the speakers to cast an incredible, dimensional sound stage with utter smoothness throughout their range. The top end also has the ability to sort of "float" with delicacy, smoothness and palpable sense of ease. The speakers make great bass as well. One of my measures for success isn't just how the speakers produce bass on their own but how seamlessly and easily they integrate with one of our staples, REL subs. And the Elba does so as well as any speaker I can remember trying. The Elba 2 isn't perfect but at it's price, it's a steal. And it absolutely does not do anything that bothers me, which I cannot say about most speakers, regardless of price.

I understand that coming from a dealer this may sound biased. Fine. But in all honesty, I think Elba 2 would sell at several thousand dollars a pair more than they do, at least based on performance. And while looks are subjective, I personally find them attractive. If this was a larger speaker company, I think they'd be wildly disruptive. The last speaker I heard do this many things inherent to my listening enjoyment, this right, was a $36K pair of Sonus Faber Amati Futura. I'm a fan and look forward to sharing just how good RF is with my clients. I also realize that I'm not addressing the speakers that the OP was asking about. I just haven't spent time with the rest of the line yet. But considering what RF was able to do with the Elba 2, I have all the faith that this is a very talented designer and that all of the products will exceed expectation.

BTW, the first demo I had was with a young couple who'd been all over the Bay Area listening to speakers all over the price spectrum. Elba 2 powered by Hegel H590 ended their audition process rather quickly.

I have had opportunities to own RF speakers. I have Elba II and Siena in my system. I used to have Certaldo that I traded in for what were going to be Voltera II. But talking with Skip back and forth, I decided to upgrade to Siena for my main stereo system. I have good size room (22*20*8 ft3) and am very glad that I upgraded to Siena. They fill the room very easily. The super tweeter does some crazy magic to the soundstage, especially listening to live music tracks. I tend to listen to jazz, female vocal, and some bollywood music. Both Siena and Elba II are gem to have. They do not color the music. They put out soundstage that is very natural and wide. The look great as well. The finishing work that RF does is equally as great as how these speakers perform. And when paired with "correct" match of cables, things just keep getting better and better. I have had them paired with both tube preamp as well as SS pre amp, and in both cases, they just knocked things out of park for me. I have been listening to them for about a year (well, for about 6 months for Elba II), and would gladly say that neither Siena nor Elba II are going anywhere for a long time to come. They do feel like "end game" speakers for me. I would never hesitate in recommending RF speakers. Elba II especially at that price point are a steal in my opinion considering how they sound. You will not go wrong with the RF speakers.

Call me stupid, but I don't need or want showy, bulky pieces of sculpture in my room. I'm yet to be convinced they are in any way superior, and I don't certainly believe the influencers and their hidden agenda.

After all, it's the sound and not the looks that matters.

@pedroeb i don't think anyone is chirping about looks and as for bulky speakers there are only two models that I would consider large.
you can find the specs here:
AudioThesis - Roso Fiorentino

@pedroeb if you can audition them, give them a chance. You will see what they can do.

@pedroeb
Florentia and Siena are big. Well, the Florentia is huge. But the Volterra is far from huge and the Certaldo is tiny when compared with the Volterra or the Elba. The Elba is actually almost identical in size to the Dali Zensor 5 or 7...if not slightly smaller.

But only passing mention is made of looks in pretty much all of the posts above.

Every brand has their proponents and their detractors, to be sure. But I have yet to meet anyone that has spent any time with the current Rosso Fiorentino lineup that has had anything but positive to say about how they sound.

And ultimately, that's what is important. How they sound to the end-user. 

Interesting thread to read never having heard these speakers. Unpretentious and just get out of the way kind of sound.  I’d describe my new Graham Audio LS5/5s similarly.

Here's the review from Zero Fidelity of the original Volterra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq-lADSd40E

The problem buying a speaker from a not very well known niche manufacturer is that you'll never be able to resell them cuz nobody knows about them.

Good morning  Urbie - thank you for your response as I am the OP on this thread and THAT is exactly my concern with these speakers. However on the other side of the coin, every successful audio manufacturer was new at one point in time if you think about it. They all had to start somewhere. The recent positive review of the Elba 2 in The Absolute Sound and word of mouth could....could make this company and speaker company a household name and you can possibly get their speakers at a competitive bargain price  now before their prices to go up. If they are that good, you / me might just keep them for awhile and get some of our money back if we ever do need to sell them. Just a thought and this what I am thinking about them now...….stay well.      

urbie,

There is truth to your words, but Rosso Fiorentino is not a brand that is going to stay that way for much longer.  I have worked with the brand for six years now and been acting distributor for about four.  We are establishing ourselves and the TAS review was a pinnacle for the Elba 2.  Other models will be getting reviews shortly and the brand will continue to grow.  At this point in time, the dealer network is expanding and interest is growing across the country.  There are things happening behind the scenes to prepare for the growth because the writing is on the wall.

Speakers are the toughest product to establish due to it being 'easy' to build and the market is flooded.  The RF line is not a 'me too' brand and anyone who has spent more than a passing moment with the brand can attest to that.  They are destination speakers that those who want a taste of the high end can strive for without having a six figure bank account.

In my time working with the brand, two pair of Rosso have hit the used market.  One was the Volterra mentioned above that was replaced by $60k speakers.  The other was a pair of Elba 1 where the client had extreme medical bills and had to sell.  He called me to apologize (new one for me) and assured me once back on his feet, he would be ordering a pair of the Elba 2.  I do get trade-ins, but that is only to move up the line to a higher tier model or to the second generation. My point here is that owners don't really sell the speakers because it is that difficult to find products to better them without spending a substantial amount of money.

I have heard the Sienna (I think rev.2?)
They were every bit as good as the reviews I’m reading here, in regards to spacial information, uncolored and and detailed voicing of female and male voices, instruments etc.
I only heard the stand mounts without any sub whatsoever, the bass they produced was fast and punchy for a stand mount, in fact the midbass was as good as any standmount I’ve heard so far.

The decoupling of the midbass driver from the baffle was no doubt a large contributing factor in the manner in which the bass resolved, it is truly excellent.

The integration between the drivers are virtually, audibly seemless - they do not have revealing cabinet resonances that give them away, at least on all media I heard on them, they got out of the way of the presentation and "vanished" so to speak.


I would have to listen to them side by side, but similar impression to the Sonus faber ELECTA Amator III that I heard, unfortunately in different rooms at different times, with different gear (obviously). Seriously, if the rest of their product range voices anything like the Sienna, they are worthy of an audition.

…..well it would seem at this point that no Audiogon members currently own either the Sienna or Volterra II Speakers. Interesting and note taken by the original OP regarding these speakers. Thank you all for responding.      

@garebear  I have owned the Fiesole I, Volterra I and now own the Volterra II. They are my reference speakers.

The problem buying a speaker from a not very well known niche manufacturer is that you'll never be able to resell them cuz nobody knows about them.

The nice thing about since having my Certaldos is that I don't worry about resell because I have no interest in moving away from them until I can afford to move up to the Volterra II... and honestly a Volterra III might exist before I can write that check. I fully understand that for many people they start shopping for the next speakers before the current ones even arrive. It's a big part of the hobby for most people. If you like to shuffle speakers in and out, it's certainly something to consider. But I've stopped shuffling since getting Rosso in the house. I would likely replace every other component in my system before I start speaker shopping again. Obviously never say never, but the sound on these just don't get old for me. Sure, other speakers look interesting. But none have captured my attention in quite the same way. 

…..well it would seem at this point that no Audiogon members currently own either the Sienna or Volterra II Speakers. Interesting and note taken by the original OP regarding these speakers. Thank you all for responding.

Sorry, I'm a little confused by this statement. @mboldda1 has the Volterra II, I believe he mentioned that in his comments. Upgraded directly from the Volterra 1. @davejumpin also mentioned that he has the Sienna. So there are members here that have both. 

Anyway, hopefully you can get ears on them and decide for yourself. Obviously we can share our opinions all we want, but it has to be your ears that love them. Have fun with the process! 

PS - if you're looking in Sienna price range, I think a flight to audition speakers is a small expense for the insurance to ensure you love them. I never understand people that are willing to drop that kind of money based only on word of mouth, but to each their own!  

@garebear I have Siena and Elba II in my system. What I had posted was based on what I see and hear. I am very delighted that I went with RF. 

@garebear  where are you located?
I saw a dealer somewhere that if you took a flight to come listen to something they carry and purchased it, they would refund you the cost of your tickets.  maybe a place to start.

Good evening mboldda  - thank you for your follow up as it is appreciated. Rosso Fiortentino's lack of dealers here in the US is a bit of a concern for me. "' Skip '' was a pleasure to speak with who is the national distributor with ; Audio Thesis as you know, did fantastic job going over the merits of both of these speakers. However, the Volterra's in my room may be too small and I still have questions with those speakers on how the bass would perform. The Siena's for $35,000 have a lot of competition in that price range from the likes of ; Wilson Benesch Act 1's, Franco Serblin Ktema , Wilson Audio, Magico, Vimberg and even Avalon. This point in time for me they seem to be really too much of a gamble......      

Personally, I feel that investing 10% into the price of a speaker to set up live demos is a good insurance policy to ensure you end up with a speaker you love for a long time. With a $35K budget, that easily justifies a couple flights to see what you connect with. Especially with the possibility of a dealer covering flight costs after purchase. 

On the other hand, some people enjoy regularly changing up gear, and I get that. If you know that you're the type to change every few years no matter what, I'd patiently shop used. But if you're looking for a longer term speaker, I think a flight or two for live demos is a good investment. Between LA and NYC you can usually find just about anything you want to demo with some phone calls and planning. DFW, Denver and Chicago seem to be other cities with good audio networks if you wanted more options. 

Thank you ; displayname as your response is appreciated. Just as a thought, if this line of speakers was more established here in the US I wouldn't have to fly all over the country just to hear them at a dealers store as I could otherwise just drive to hear them. Big difference..... 

That's totally valid. I'm not sure where you're located, which is a factor as well. Unfortunately, physical hifi shops just aren't as common these days. I'm in DFW so I do have the luxury of being able to find Rossos, and many other brands, within driving distance to audition in person. However, there are still several brands I would love to consider that would require a flight to audition. Fleetwood, Triangle, Tannoy and even several of the brands you mentioned: Wilson Benesch, Franco Serblin, Vimberg, and Avalon would all require an out of state trip to audition. 

This is true for most people in the US. If you want to audition high end speakers, you really only have a few options. 1) stick with options in driving distance 2) Travel to an audio show and hope the brands and models you want to hear are represented or 3) order blindly based only on reviews and hope for the best 4) take a dealer trip. 

That experience isn't exclusive to Rosso. It's the reality for the vast majority of the higher end hifi industry. Most places simply don't stock speakers that retail over $10K. And outside of a major cities, most places don't stock hifi gear at all. I know you said "fly all over the US" but that really isn't the case. If you plan a trip to the LA area accordingly, you can find most brands available in the US there. 

Also, if you were just talking about the Elbas, then the price of a trip probably isn't worth it. But if I was shopping in the $30K range - I think a trip to LA is pretty cheap insurance if you're not satisfied with the options available in your area. Not exclusive to any one brand. It's just probably the best place to hear the largest number of brands outside of a loud and crowded audio show. 

I've heard some very interesting posts and reviews and I believe a true dedicated Audiophile will take all necessary actions to build a system of their dreams. After all, we all love music and the Rosso brand will be one to elevate our listening experience. I own the beautiful blue leather pair of Elba 2 and out the box, I immediately realized that these speakers had the most incredible CrossOver that allows any selection of music to express an elegant Soundstage presence. Not to mention the classy design and color of choice to suit a man or woman's taste.
 As I am a deep listen of Jazz and other genre of great music, these speaker's reproduction of all instruments allows you to close your eyes and imagine the musicians presence in your space. That says a lot in comparison to many high-end speakers priced far beyond what you would pay for the Elba 2. This and the rest of the Rosso brand models I've heard (PIENZA, FIESOLE, SIENA) will likely take a huge leap over other higher priced speakers in the US (Wilson, Magico, Vandersteen, etc.) in the coming years and at it's current price point, musically the sweetest sounding speaker I've heard in some time. I will only upgrade until I get to the pinnacle of greatness with the Florentia. That's my dream for my truest musical experience. I hope everyone take the time to experience what I am in the DFW area. 

the new pieza series 2 is out now.

I heard the volterra 2 ‘s at a show and was so impressed we are showing wit the, at the Lone Star Audiofest this weekend in Dallas. 

Infigo Audio and Rosso will be showing at the Lone Star Audio Fest this weekend Galleria Embassy Suites Dallas, Texas!