Sonus Faber Cremonas or JM lab Diva

Taking what Chris said one step further, the JM Labs are more resolving and transparent than the Grand Pianos - at least in the systems I heard them in - and so will not be tolerant of electronics and recordings that lack quality. This is a double edged sword and I frequently have to be careful what electronics I get for my JM Labs as to not have an overly-detailed sound with so many "hyperhifi" components around. My personal preference is to have transparent speakers and tweak the sound to my liking using the electronics but the other way around may be better for others, like yourself. I think Cary V12s would work great as long as their noisefloor is low enough.

I have listened to the Divas several times and really like them. The Be tweeter is a little more laid back than the tioxid I have and so they are slightly less critical than mine. My dealer says the Divas sound just like the Altos, giving up only a little bass extension - but not weight. Arthur

Hi again, I have actually sold the Jolida and replaced it with an AA Prima mk2. Disclaimer - All these comments refer to their use in MY system: In a way, I miss the Jolida - the AA is very very detailed almost to the point of being distracting from the music. It makes the noise floor of every CD apparent which I am not too sure I like.

On the other hand, the resolution is off the charts compared to the Jolida which in hindsight kind of glossed over a lot of information. Having said that, I wouldn't say one is really better than the other (when comparing the Jolida with NOS 5751s), just very different styles. The AA is kind of nervous and impatient whereas the Jolida is relaxed and composed. I wasn't expecting such a difference actually.

I am coming around to the AA though and it sounds sublime with my Kora Explorer 90 which can use a little speed and detail. They are a fantastic match - better than the Mc/BAT for the above reasons. Incidentally, BAT doesn't design anything that sounds muddy. I think my preamp contributes a lot to the over-the-top-detail issue which is a problem I never had with the Jolida. It is all about system synergy!

I have not heard of the centers being used for LR. Kind of a novel idea but the centers do look like mini Utopias so don't see why not. But then again, aren't their crossovers biased towards the midrange?

One last note is that some people I know who visit this site prefer the previous Utopias (with Tioxid tweeter) over the new Be Utopias. Since you liked the 926s better than the 927s, you may also be in the boat. In this case, there are fantastic deals available and you may want to choose this route for the highest value.

But then again, are you unhappy with your SFs or do you just want a change? If the latter, in what ways?

I feel experimentation is really the only answer and so armed, I just make purchases on a whim to see what they are like and sell what I don't care for. If I wait for a good used deal, it's no different than having money in the savings account since I can resell with little or no cost to me.

Knowing the boundries of the possible "soundscape envelope" is the only clear way of determining what your musical tastes are. Of course, there comes a time when it becomes a moving target and I used to fret over that but now I just go with the flow and am much happier doing it. Speakers are physically tricky to just impulse-buy so I agree with you that seeking some outside advice can limit chances of winding up with a speaker that isn't your style but in the end, exploration will be the ultimate source of information and, as a distinct bonus, will yield a direction for your future upgrades. Good luck! Arthur