Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors/Cremona - Integ Amp

I don't own Cremonas nor Auditors, but I have good friends who do on my recommendation. Both use the McIntosh MA6900 integrated amp. Cremonas are 4 ohm speakers and don't put most SS amps in their best sounding load. The Mac autoformer amps sound sensational on these speakers, plus the speaker needs more power to sound good than it's 90db/w/m efficiency rating might otherwise indicate. When I considered building 2 systems around both speakers, I was consistently pleased with the synergy between all the Mac autoformer amps and the big and small Cremonas. If you can hear Cremonas and Mac amps together at one dealership, treat yourself to a few moments of amazement and ask to hear the Cremonas wired up to a pair of MC1201s. $16,000 or amps on $8000 of speakers makes perfect sense when you hear that.

Phil

JR with Cremonas or Auditors.....nooooooo. Cold, cold cold.

Phil

The Rowland amps are quite lifeless, but clean. Sterile, dry, toneless. I am characterizing this relatively. They particularly sound this way into 4 ohm speakers. I have heard JR on Cremona Auditors and thought the resulting sound lacked body, tone, and dynamic expression. It just didn't sound like music, which I know the Auditors are capable of. In an integrated, the Mac MA6900 is far better for that speaker.

Phil

Scottsman,

There was no problem with the front end or cables when I listened to Rowland and Mac autoformer amps on the same systems. Some people prefer the Rowland sound, IME. I'm not one of them and simply report why and what I hear. And what I describe has been consistent with Rowland in any combination of gear I've heard them in. They carry a distinct signature that apparently resonates with some folks. It is a clean, analytical, clinical sound that works for some. Rowland amplification to me, whether ICE or normal topology, hasn't risen above hifi sound and has lacked tone evident in the acoustics of real instruments. But its sins are of more of omission than commission, to my ears. That is, they do not introduce fatigue factors or obvious distortions. In the overall scheme of things, good amps well made. Compared to Mac autoformer amps, not in the same league by my evaluation.

Phil