Check the thread Amplifier for Sonus Faber Extrema in the archives, that will give you a start. |
hi!
a Krell ksa-250 was what i used at the time i had the Extremas and it gave them proper power and the chance to show they're musicality too...
you can find this amp from time to time on the 'Gon for a reasonable price
good luck!
Azjake |
still one of the the finest monitors ever made...lots of clean ss power...any hi end brand. |
I drive my Extremas with the Gryphon Antileon Signature and they just sound incredible. I have also heard them with Pass Labs XA 160 and CJ Premier 8A and they also sound great as well. I think any high quality high current amp should be able to do the job. |
The Extremas need lots of power.
I wouldn't use a tube amp on them.
You need a powerful solid state amp or mono blocks.
My friend is using 2 Meridian 557 amps bridged on the Extremas.
The Amps bridged are like 800 watts.
We first heard this combo at the Stereophile show in 1996.
The system sounded unbelievable. |
I heard these "amazing" speakers in a set up running 100 wpc tubes.Forgot the mfgr.,though!
My point is that these speakers amazed me with their huge stage presentation,and dynamics.Very fine timbres,which are critical,to me!
One very important point,though.The owner had added the wonderful Townshend Super Tweeters to these speakers.The difference was simply AMAZING.Much better air and detailing.To me,a MUST with these great designs,which take on a new dimension with the add on tweeters.BTW,this makes sense,as the stock tweeters roll off at about 17khz.
The Townnshends simply start just above that point,and the integration was superb,yielding some of the best highs I've experienced.
Just my two cents. |
Sorry,I forgot to mention that the Extremas have the "LOOK" and build quality that screams out "If you ever sell me,you are nuts"!!They have a gorgeous look to them that states "Heirloom" quality.The build seems like it is absolutely exemplary,and it is stunningly beautiful to look at.In the "KEEPER FOR LIFE" class with,Quad 57's,Original Rogers LS35a's,Jadis Eurithmy's,Avalon Ascent mk-2s,and some(few)others.
I don't own these Sonus designs,btw,but can appreciate them nevertheless!
Best! |
i am still puzzled to this day why sonus faber would discontinue the extrema- a virtual ton of positive reviews of their sound continues to proliferate the internet forums. my brother has a pair on sound anchor stands (which are an excellent match for wilson cubs or the extremas) and they are so solidly built and, when properly set up, compete with monitors or floorstanders equally well- they are certainly a unique cross between the two. he powers them with pass aleph 1.2's (200w/ch) which is more than adequate and again, are a product i wish nelson pass never discontinued either! maybe the XA-series are better (they certainly cost alot more), but go back and read the stereophile review of the aleph 1.2's- they are favorably compared to good tube amps. just put on some blue-note jazz on my brother's stereo and "you are there"... |
Mark Levinson 33H. I heard this setup in a dealers showroom and the sound was simply spectacular. |
I'm willing to bet one reason for the discontinuation was difficult load.Many Euro hobbyists like low powered tube stuff(great,btw)and that is a NO-NO with the Extremas!Did I say that these speakers are Gorgeous,and Unique looking???
There was a nice,used,pair available about two months ago.In mint condition.I was hoping my friend would pick them up,as he has a wonderful amp,for matching.The Rowland 8T.He passed.His loss!!
Best! |
sirspeedy,
I see that you are a great fan of the Extremas and I don't blame you. They look gorgeous and sound equally great when set up properly. While I like the performance of these speakers, the main reason I bought them was for their looks. They certainly make great decorative pieces of art. |
I don't want to dominate this thread,but,if anyone "really" wants to hear these wonderful speakers,they MUST have a good "add-on" super tweeter.Like the Townshends,or some of the other offerings on the market(MURATA?).It makes a significant impact on performance.Unless you only care about the looks -:)
Best! |
sirspeedy,
How do you add on the super tweeter? |
I guess I'm in the minority here about the looks. The woodwork was indeed exquisite, but I never liked the big, almost yawning look of the woofer from the front. An amazingly good speaker, though, when properly driven. |
The Townshend super tweeters(really SUPER,btw)hook up with it's own cable,to the speaker binding post,or amp posts.Really easy!The thing I like about these is that it sits "low" on top of the speaker,and is very close to the original(somewhat rolled off)tweeter.This allows a great blend.The Townshends are,also,"tiny" and do not take away from the overall gorgeous look of the Extremas.Some of the other super tweets are set higher in their enclosure,and may not blend as well as the fabulous Townshends.
Best! |
These are the speakers I compare all others to. I've never owned a pair but have heard them on several occasions and the impression has stuck with me for many years. In my opinion, they are fantastic. The only caveat is that they are hard to drive and need a big room. |
I heard them once at a dealer and it was one of those unforgetable audio experiences. Playing Sonny Rollins Way Out West, they sounded spooky. A bit dark overall and less detailed compared to some more popular high-end speakers but man did they sing. A speaker that I have considered many times, but never purchased, mainly because it would require a change of amps. |
If a pair ever pops up for sale in the US I'll have to consider them. The amplification issue makes it a tough choice. Plus, Sumiko's policy with respect to service is not a friendly one IMHO.
I'm certainly not married to low powered tube amps, but still the cooler sounding monster ss aren't really for me either. I've had many amps over the years, but have settled on a great pair of Aleph 2s.
Threads like this is why I appreciate being an Audiogon member. |
Sirspeedy, I use my Townshends with Talon Hawks monitors (said to go to 40Khz flat) and they do indeed make a notable difference even here: set at 2 on their dial. I would suggest that you experiment with cables. I use the same cable as I use for my speakers and I think the synergy is increased. When I used the supplied copper cables there seemed to be a tonal imbalance with my silver core cabling. It seems more integrated now but I am still experimenting.
Cheers |
Hi I purchace one pair to Extremas, my power is Krell
KSA-300s its very, very powerfull & musical, for me is
the first posibility in amplification.Thanks |
i would 2nd or 3rd the opinion of using Krell amplification with this speaker like the krell 250 or the krell ksa300s. These speakers love power. |
I have Krell fpb 750 mcx , is it good mats for Extremas ? |
