Sonus Faber Question

Awesome thank you for that response just the kind of information garnered from experience I was hoping for. I'm going to check those out greatly appreciated! 

Hey Ken thanks for that feedback. I definitely agree amplification upgrades will be on the horizon after the speakers - I certainly will reach out again to learn more about those options moving forward. Appreciate it!      

Thanks for that info! I wish I hadn't made so many lateral moves myself but that's the reason for the thread; live and learn. The rabbit hole of reviews and omnipresent thread arguments is time consuming and, more often than not, less than informative. I'm really glad to get the info / feedback I've gotten here. I was hopeful but was half expecting the usual series of sidebars about other speaker manufacturers that are better, etc.     

Thank you krell I will look into those as well. Two questions if you catch this - sub needed with these? Any idea what to pay for them in the used market?

Mazian - I just checked those Serafinos out - those are the most amazing looking speakers I have ever seen. They would be a far in the future 2nd step up for me and my budget unfortunately. Interesting to hear your thoughts on the V's vs Olympica 3's I thank you for your input.

Thanks Kenny that's the plan. 

wsrrsw - Checking those out now

Thanks everyone

Regarding budget I was hoping trade-in on the Sonetto IIIs (excellent condition, all original boxes, etc.) plus 5k to 6k max if possible (and worthwhile in terms of the jump in sound quality) would be the budget. 

Room treatment insight would be welcome. The room is imperfect, to say the least, but there is no chance of changing rooms. You have:

- A rectangle 14 X 26

- Large bay windows on either side of the long end (on the 14' walls)  

- Bay windows constitute the center 10' of the 14 total feet of each end

- System and speakers must go on one of the 14' walls

- Same issue for both 14' wall - 10' of windows in the center with 2' of sheetrock on either side

- On one 26' wall (and on both ends of it) you have a 4' run of sheetrock (where the system and speakers must stay) then an open 3' doorway that cannot be closed (no actual doors). In the middle of that wall is a large fireplace and built-in bookshelves

- On the opposite 26' wall you have a 14' window with 6' of sheetrock on either side

- The floor is carpet

- The ceiling is 8'

- The speakers are on spikes

- The primary listening position is 14' from the speakers

- Speakers are 2 1/2' from the wall (TV, etc. in center of the 14' wall) 

- Room is pretty heavily furnished and decorated

Thanks wsrrsw

Anyone know how big the difference is between the Olympica II and III?

Also would either or both Olympicas likely be superior to the new Sonetto G2 line dayglow mentioned?

Would those be for behind the speaker, to the side, both, elsewhere? I am a total novice regarding treatments

Thanks krell got it! Posts posted out of order

Wow there's really a lot of great information here thank you for the input everybody. A lot of combined experience on this thread it seems.

@wsrrsw - Thanks for that example & site recommendation. Regardless of the move I make speaker-wise it seems like experimenting with a couple panels is a no brainer. I can't do a third center panel between the speakers in my layout because the window is there but can at least messing with placement for one per speaker.

@garebear - I have to admit I am curious about amplification recommendation goals as I move up the Sonus Faber line. @kennyc alluded to the same logical eventuality earlier in the post. If either of you have thoughts on amplification for future reference I wouldn't mind picking your brains on the topic.

@alexatpos - Thank you for your thoughts. This touches upon a huge gap in my knowledge. I have only owned floor standing tower speakers. So I haven't looked into their monitor style speakers / stands. I'd be interested to check out the models you mentioned. Is there a way you might be able to relay the sound benefits / signature / differences between the monitor style models you mentioned vs a speaker like the Olympica III for example, which has been mentioned a few times? Is it primarily the thought they would be more appropriate for the room size / layout or would you say you could obtain better sounding monitor speakers for the same cost?  

@rick_n I can get away with the speakers approximately 36'' from the wall max if people are around. They are light and easy to move out further when listening by myself after the kiddos have gone to sleep. The speakers are actually just about that exact 8.5' from each other which is good then. It's actually easier to move my speakers tan the seat because we have a sectional. Unless I hang out on the ottoman!

@dayglow Interesting thoughts I'd like to take advantage of the trickle-down tech if there's a big leap forward in this G2 series. But even then I wonder with the depreciation of used gear value-wise wouldn't you still get better value buying a better line used? I'm not sure how to weigh that... 

@ghdprentice  Since you heard the i50 with the Olympica Nova 3 and liked the result would you think my PrimaLuna Evo 300 would pair well with the Olympica 3? I know you it was the Olympica Nova 3 with the i50 (and I know PrimaLuna isn't Audio Research) but as they are both tube integrateds at similar price points and the speakers are the same line (albeit at different evolutions) would you think the pairing would make sense as there are a lot of similarities, it seems (PrimaLuna Evo300 with Olympica 3)? 

@krell303  Thanks for pointing out the brand - a free consultation would be great and totally agree on the WAF. Awesome find appreciate it.   

@rick_n Another nice find thanks for that - totally agree on the WAF for this as well!

@alexatpos I appreciate you taking the time to compose that post - it definitely helps me understand the product lines in terms of chronology and potential quality as compared to one another. Very helpful since there have been so many lines over the years, and being new to the brand myself, sorting through pieces when they have become available on the used market has been difficult in terms of ranking potential value and quality relative to one another. Interesting regarding the SFs as well - good to have more options from the same family more or less to choose from.  

@ghdprentice  Thanks for jumping back in. I'm definitely not a headbanger (anymore) - my tastes are in blues, jazz, 70s and 80s, Floyd, Dead, singer songwriter, reggae, 40s-50s vocals, CSN, Radiohead, Talking Heads, female vocals, eclectic along those lines. No loud metal, rap, opera, country, very little classical. And you're definitely not out on a limb just curious to get your guess having heard the i-50 pairing. Otherwise I'm just searching the internet for random reviews and opinions. Hearing that you have a PrimaLuna in your office makes the guess even more educated. So your summation makes a lot of sense to me in regard to the low risk move and its place in the upgrade cycle. A very helpful post. If I start now and make wise moves in this and future upgrade cycles maybe my system can look like yours at the end of the day. Wow!