How high are your ceilings? It depends on your musical tastes and volume levels you play music at. Personally, I think you'll be fine. The Auditors like a little bit of room to breathe anyways. |
I agree, the ceiling height is key. I have a room of similar size, with high ceilings, and the Auditors definitely did not cut it when I took them home to audition. It made me sad, because they are beautiful, and in a smaller room they sound great. In my opinion, they are also the best bargin in the SF line. |
Hi,
Roof is 8 ft high. But I will moving the system to a higher roof room sometime in the near future...So currently it is 20 x 20 x 8...pretty soon it will be 20 x 20 x 18. Can you please let me know whether Auditors can work in these two rooms ? I read that Auditors can take upto 250 watts. I hope they can fill the bigger room at that wattage
Grakesh |
To my knowledge and in my experience, Sonus Faber speakers actually work better with higher ceilings, but probably not with 18ft ceilings in mind (wow that's high). I think it comes down to speaker positioning and how far you're willing to go to make it work. If you're going to have the speakers placed close to the walls and your listening position way out in the back, I would say no it wouldn't work so well.
I think it'll work better if you treat the room as if it's a much smaller room. Obviously you have to set up the speakers properly. But I think you might want to set it up using more common distances such as having them 8-9ft apart, 3-6ft from the side walls (not equal of course). But more importantly, you probably want to have the listening position much closer, near the center of the room rather than 1/3 into the room from the back. Even with other speakers, you might be better off dividing up the space in your room rather than utilizing the entire space. I'll let others with more direct experience to comment. |
The Cremona Auditor can successfully drive a 20' x 20' x 8' room. However, despite their 90db/w/m efficiency rating, they need power to sound unconstricted and assertive. Also, being 4 ohm speakers, Auditors do not put most solid state amps in their best sound zone. McIntosh autoformer amps are particularly synergistic with Cremonas and Cremona Auditors. The MA6900 integrated sounds sensational on Auditors and in this case I make a rare recommendation of this amp over the Cary SLI80. A good preamp with a Mac MC252 or MC402 is even better, but that might exceed your space and funds.
If you choose to later add a subwoofer, be careful. Most subwoofers are too slow to mate well with that fast little cone in the Auditor. The Zu Method is an excellent match.
Phil |
If you use a REL sub to give it more weight, that might stretch the capability of the Auditor with regard to room size.
Art |
Hi,
Which of the following options would you recommend for my 20 x 20 x 18 room for 2 channel set-up?
1. SF Cremona Auditor with REL Subwoofer
2. SF Grand Piano Domus
I am planning on using Cary SLI-80 as my integrated amp. Would you recommend Plinius 9200 SS Integrated amp (200 watts/ch ) over Cary SLI-80 for driving SF Cremona Auditor (or) Grand Piano Domus ?
Thanks
Grakesh |
Newmonac,
You are saying cremona Auditors did not cut it for you in your bigger room..Can you tell me what size room you are referring to ? Can you let me know what you saw in terms of performance that drove you away from cremona auditors in a bigger room with higher roof ?
Thanks
Grakesh |
My room is 23x18, with a sloped ceiling that is around 16 or 18 feet at the peak, and with three walls and an opening to a foyer/hallway. My current speakers are JM Labs Electra 926s. They fill the entire house with music - music you can feel throughout your whole body. When I had the Sonus Faber Cremonas (full range) home, they did not fill the house nearly so well nor wasd the detail as good. And when I brought home the Auditors, well, they sounded so much worse than my Electras that my wife asked me to turn off my system (she really hated them).
In the small rooms I have heard them in, I think the Auditors sound wonderful. They just didn't cut it at my house. I would be very careful about buying a pair until you have heard them in your own room. |
Grakesh,
I would not mate an REL subwoofer with Cremona Auditors. It will sound too slow. You need something much crisper and I suggest the Zu Method subwoofer. They also have a smaller version coming. You can get 60 day return privileges.
On amps, the Cary will be fine. I would not recommend the Plinius SS over the Cary as it will not sound its best into the Auditor. If you want to go SS, then a McIntosh autoformer amp is the ticket, due to the SF 4 ohm load. The MA6900 integrated sounds sensational on these speakers, as will an MC252 or above power amp.
The Domus won't sound as open and transparent as the Auditor. You could also look for a pair of used Cremonas if you want full range, as they can be had for the price of new Auditors + stands.
Phil |
"I would not mate a REL subwoofer with Cremona Auditors. It will sound too slow."
Wow, not my experience. REL makes wonderful subwoofers and they sound great with Auditors (in the right room). In fact, I am not sure I understand at all where that comment is coming from. I am very sensitive to equipment speed, as it is central part of my taste in audio. Nothing about the REL pieces I have heard is slow. |
"The Domus won't sound as open and transparent as the Auditor."
I agree entirely. The Auditors are a much better sounding speaker. |
If you hear a Zu Method, an REL will sound like it gets moving tomorrow, by comparison.
The REL is pretty good against a generally bad lot of subwoofer designs. It doesn't sound even close to being in the moment with the Auditor's main driver, to me. The Zu is just better in every important respect.
Phil |
I have audition both the Domus & aremona auditors. To me, cremona auditors are much better sounding. i use them with velodyne DD12 with success. With your room size, you will need a sub if you get the auditors. You may get away with floor standing Cremona. If you definitely don't want a sub, Thiel 2.4 ( in the same price range) sounds great in a large room without sub |
Gali,
In what size room do you use your cremona auditors - velodyne DD12 combo ?
How do you compare Cremona and Cremona Auditors ? I was thinking Cremona will be full range and so will also help in HT. It is this same approach that made me consider GP Domus.
Thanks
Grakesh |
213cobra,
Thanks for givin the input. I see that Zu Method is damn expensive for me to buy new and I dont see any used ones
Grakesh |
20 x 12 feet with speakers on long wall. I did audition both at the dealers. Without subs, Cremona is way better at orchestra and piano music. Auditors are more coherent but overall similar transparency and sound. It lacked bass below 45Hz. With sub, Cremona Auditors are practically the same as Cremonas with sub. Auditors offer easier room placement. |
Grakesh,
Don't know what your price range is for a subwoofer. But watch Zu. They are introducing a smaller sub, equally fast, for less, soon.
Phil |
Glai,
What is the roof height where your Cremona Auditors are played ...I mean 20 x 12 x ??
What are you driving your Cremon Auditors with ? What integrated amp would you recommend for Cremona Auditors ?
I auditioned Cremona Auditors with Pathos Logos and that combo is excellent
Thanks
Grakesh |
213Cobra,
I would like to spend around $1000 for a USED/NEW sub which can match Cremona Auditors nicely in a 2 channel set-up....particularly the one that can help me fill a room of size 20 x 20 x 18
Thanks
Grakesh |
Grakesh,
I think the upcoming smaller Zu subwoofer will be around $1500. Frankly, at $1000, I recommend forgoing the subwoofer and waiting until you can accumulate the cash for one of the Zus. But as a backup if you must have a subwoofer now, you might consider something in your price range from SVS (svssound.com).
Phil |
Hi,
If I go with Cremona Auditors, Cary SLI-80 and REL sub....
1. How can I hook-up the sub into the system ? (Cary SLI 80)
2. Some folks have suggested putting in two subs into the system to amke it sound non-directional. If so, how can I hook-up two subwoofers to cary sli 80?
3. How can I make sure the sub and auditors synch with each other for the differen frequencies of the sound ?
Thanks
Grakesh |
