Sonus Faber Guarneri's

Thank you very much Dovetail!

Thanks mucho Greg.

I've always had the SF's in the back of my mind and now that I'm going to change amps, I'd like to do so with them in mind in the future. I'm looking into a mod'd up Lectron JH 50 - an EL34-based 50W tube amp - and the person doing the mods has the Guarn's with the same amp and says it is a wonderful match. Literature says 30-200W needed, but with the 200 staring at you (and the sentitivity) you know what that really means. I have a smallish room for this system and mainly listen when I'm writing or take a break for a glass of wine or have company over, so not as critical for that sit-down-and-immerse-for-three-hour-experience, or for loud listening. My problem is that I'm VERY picky on mids and on the musicality route even in that context (I've also been a stalwart Quad owner in the past and if don't go with the SF's down the road may go back to the Quads, and the Lectron would be good there too). The Gaurn's sounded like they'd fit the bill (I heard them years ago, but didn't hear as well then, but liked them very much). I mostly listen to violin, live jazz and blues and female vocals and piano on this second system, so I can also work within those parameters.

We'll see...

Would still like to hear any comments, especially on the old vs. new models.

Thanks again.

Mark

Thanks Gregm and Mjc. Probably a couple of years off on the SF's, but some of my buying decisions now will effect that system, so I wanted to start mulling it over. You've given me some great advice. Thanks again fo the help.

Mjc: on the VAC, yes, I am familiar with it - nice piece. My problem with it is all the 300B outputs. NOS systems ALWAYS sound better if properly done, and you are pretty much left with the Golden Dragons that VAC distributes if you want to run the thing, ie. for me, at least, drudging up multiple pairs of new issue WE300B's at $400 a tube - and you really have to because the GD's sound harmonically brittle in comparison - gives me a cerebral hemmorhage just thinking about the expense, much less the logistics! Thank you, though, a good choice. I think I'll end up with a Lectron JH50 EL-34 based amp, or, more likeley, a Cary 805 SE (not a push pull SE like the VAC).

Thank you, rsyou, for your thoughts. Yes, I have a Joule too. That is an interesting balance you have there between the Goldmund and the Joule, probably sounds nice (came very close about five years ago to mating them together myself).

Yes, the Pass stuff is nice, and older O's too, which are a great deal if you can find them used. But I'm pretty much a tube guy these days, for good and bad. The Aleph's do have a single-ended feel to them, relative to other SS, although I would not say that they are warmish; just not as much distortive artifacts and more natural continuity between voice and surrounding space, on transients and so forth. But still not tubes, good ones, I don't think. Good suggestion though - one I might make to someone else myself. Thanks again.

Unfortunately, the SF project is, presently, taking a back seat to a new house and my inability to stay away from the 2000 Bordeaux's; poor men do not mix well with rich man's hobbies...