Sonus Faber Guarneri system

by daveyf on Sonus Faber GuarneriLinn Radikal DJeff Rowland model 8TConvergent Audio SL1Grand Prix audio MonacoLinn LP12Opinions PleaseShakti HallographJadis JA 30Mk2Lyra KleosEsotericLyraZen Wave
System '25 with Finite Elemente
System as of 2025
With Finite Elemente Pagode Signature '25
Finite Elemente Pagode
After the new plinth..
With CAT SL1 REN BPX
Current system with Jadis JA30Mk2's, Dual REL T5i Subs
Jadis JA 30 Mk2 with KT 150's
Jadis JA 30Mk2 KT 150
Jadis JA 30Mk2
REL T5i
Grand Prix Monaco
Grand Prix Monaco
Linn Radikal
Updated plinth 2024
Linn LP12 Radikal D
Jeff Rowland Model 8T modded
Current system
Linn at night
Shakti Hallograph
Rowland on Grand Prix Monaco with Apex footers
Shakti Hallograph
Jadis JA 30 mk2 and Audio Art
Jadis JA 30mk2
Current set up
Lyra Kleos
CAT SL1 Renaissance BPX with phono
Current system and room

Description

In my small dedicated listening room with vault ceilings this is the best system so far. Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage's which were some of the last pair to be brought into the US along with new Jadis JA 30 Mk2 Mono Blocks utilizing KT150's and Smooth Plate Telefunken tubes, a CAT SL1 Renaissance Black Path BPX with phono. The Linn LP12 Radikal D, Karousel/Kore is the front-end with a Lyra Kleos. Esoteric DV60 SACD player, Esoteric D-05 DAC, Alternate ss amp: Jeff Rowland model 8T modded by Jeff. Room tuning devices include the Real Traps Mondo Traps, Mini Traps and Shakti Hallograph's. Grand Prix Monaco amp stands. Audio Art SE-1 power cords with Furutech connectors.Zenwave power cord PL1 with Furutech NCF 50, Zenwave D2 Ultra ic's, Graceline 1.5 meter ic and Black Cat PC-1 Silverstar power cord for Rowland. Two REL T5i subs...running high level off the amp outputs and with Signal subwoofer cables and Supra pc's. Nessie Vinylcleaner. Finite Elemente Pagode. Finite Elemente Cerabase footers under Pagode
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 11’ × 10’  Small
Ceiling: 13’

Components Toggle details

    • Linn LP-12 Radikal D/Karousel
    belt, 33, no arm, mtr drive upgraded to Radikal D . New Karousel bearing.
    • Linn Radikal
    Radikal D power supply for the LP12
    • Linn Trampolin 2
    Upgrade to the basic Linn base. Minimizes the impact of the support for the table.
    • well tempered wta
    Well Tempered 'Black' arm updated with VDH cabling running all through and dual weighting system
    • Lyra Kleos
    Tremendous resolution.
    • Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage
    New in '06. These are absolute works of art with sound to match. In my small room they are magnificent
    • Convergent Audio SL-1 Ren BPX
    New CAT SL-1 Renaissance Black path BPX with phono
    • Jadis JA 30 Mk2
    Incredible tube mono block utilizing KT150's. 45 watts/ch of Pure Class A
    • Jeff Rowland Model 8T
    250w x 2 upgraded top plate, original choke power supply, far superior to later dual mono unit. Modded to transimpedance modules and ground connect.
    • Nordost Tyr
    Amazing cables and a BIG improvement .
    • Nordost Tyr
    Phono cable
    • Nordost Frey
    Bi-wire Superbly fast and detailed
    • Nordost Red Dawn Rev 11
    2.5 mtr bi-wire set with mini spades for ARC amp. Very fast and detailed.
    • ps audio micro lab
    Micro lab used on Digital only
    • Harmonix footers
    under Esoteric and Radikal D
    • HARMONIC TECHNOLOGY CYBER PLATINUM
    DIGITAL IC RCA /RCA
    • Grand Prix audio Monaco amp stand with Apex feet
    Grand Prix Audio amp stand in Black with Apex footers under Rowland.
    • Grand Prix Audio Monaco amp stand
    Monaco amp stand with standard acrylic shelf under the ARC D70Mk2
    • Signal cable REL Speakon link cable for REL sub
    • REL Acoustics T5i
    small sub for a small room. 8” long throw driver...Newest model.
    • REL Acoustics T5i
    Second REL T5i, balances the system. Newest model. Long throw 8” woofer.
    • Audio Art Cable SE-1
    Dual cables. Furutech fi-28 R plugs...great match with the Jadis amps.
    • IVAC CUSTOM 1
    All gold power cable for transport.Custom made by IVAC with custom made hospital connectors for REL sub
    • Black Cat Cable PC-1 Silverstar PC
    This one is a game changer for the Rowland amp. Chris Sommovigo has brought one heck of a pc to market!
    • Graceline Cable Graceline One Kibou
    Ic for the CAT to the Rowland
    • Zenwave Audio D2 Ultra
    ic between Esoteric player and preamp.
    • Zenwave Audio PL11 with Furutech NCF-50
    PC for the CAT preamp.
    • Supra LoRad 2.5 Power cable
    DIY Supra Lorad 2.5 in a 1.5 meter run with a 15 amp Wattgate iec and Wattgate plug for the REL sub
    • Cable elevators Plus
    Ceramic lifters to move cables off floor
    • Target turntable/amp stand
    Stand for CD transport
    • Real Traps Mondo Traps
    Dual Mondo Traps for bass trapping. Acoustic room treatment devices. IMHO, a must for any true 'phile.
    • Real Traps Mini Traps
    Mini Trap on rear wall behind listening position.
    • Signal Cable Inc. REL Speakon Link
    REL subwoofer cable from Signal Cable. A BIG improvement on the stock REL cable.
    • Shakti Hallograph
    Room tuning acoustic device. Fundamental improvement
    • Esoteric DV60
    SACD player
    • Esoteric D-05
    Will be for use with a future streamer. Dual mono DAC.
    • Oyaide R-1
    Receptacle
    • Furutech E-TP66G
    Power strip
    • Sablon Audio Corona Reserva
    Power cord from the wall to the Furutech strip
    • Nessie Vinycleaner
    Best record cleaner I have owned.
    • Finite Elemente Pagode Signature S06
    Four shelver.
    • Finite Elemente Cerabase Classic

Comments 217

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Owner
Joey,
That is a good question,the new Memento's have the ring radiator. Sourced from Scanspeak I believe. IMHO, the Dynaudio Esotar in the Guarneri Hommage ( which are my version) sounds smoother and is more extended than the radiator in the Memento.( Having heard both)
Also, the Hommage uses the Audio Technologie mid/bass driver( which I also feel is a superior mid/bass driver to the Memento's ( a 150mm doped paper unit I suspect sourced from Dynaudio) and has the ability to be bi-wired which the Memento does not. ( This is again IMHO a major drawback, since I am a very strong believer in bi-wiring).Lastly, the Memento's cabinet are made solely from Maple and again appear inferior to the Hommage's. The Memento's are also far more expensive. I still would have considered them if I thought they were actually superior, however, like many things in audio, the latest sometimes can be a marketing gimmick and actually I believe they are inferior.

daveyf

Which Gs have the new Ring radiator tweeter? Looking at yours, you have the soft domes... why didnt you get the ones with the Ring?

Just curious.

Joey

joey_v

Owner
John,
I have a very small dedicated room for the system... appx 10X11 with a vault ceiling that extends to 15'. I doubt any speaker could reproduce bass in this room. The Hales I had previously were very good for their time, but the Guarneri's are in a different league.
I have heard many speakers in the last 25 years since I started in this hobby and the G's are my current reference. Incredible ability to portray lifelike imaging ( given room size of course) great depth and tremendous high freq air. I play small ensemble, solo string instruments and blues. I also like voice and intimate recordings with great warmth. Nothing I have ever heard is better than the G's in this regard. When I move to a larger room ( If I do) then I might use a sub. It will be a major issue to get one that will work with the G's though.

daveyf

I am a SF fan (both the city and the company), I am sort of waiting for a used paif of Amati's to come up that i can afford.

How did you take the reduction in bass when you dropped (gently) the SFG's into your system? I suspect that are much to refined to be able to integrate a sub to..

Thoughts?

Thanks, John

jb8312

Love your system.. (Especially Your Choice of Speakers)I bet it sounds great..

Cheers,

Chris

the_kid

Owner
System edited: New Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage. They are the best speaker I have ever heard and I have been an audiophile for over 25 years! With the Rowland and the CAT, the Guarneri's come to life!

daveyf

Owner
System edited: Will add pics of the Guarneri's soon. They are IMHO some of the most beautiful sounding and looking speakers I have ever heard. I bought these brand new and they are still breaking in. With the Rowland amp and CAT pre-amp they are magnificent.

daveyf

Daveyf,

What are the Microscan plates?

dgad

Owner
Dgad,
My X-over is stock, however, Paul changed the x-over connectors and the tweets towards the end of the run of the Sig 2's. Mine are a very late pair with all the later changes. The tweets are still MB Quart but are round and are apparently slightly more efficient than the previous version. The connectors on the speakers and the x-overs were also changed to copper Cardas models.
The foam that was originally on the ealier units was also built into the grilles.

daveyf

I have a pair of Sig IIs & a Muse matching sub w. personality card in storage in my garage. A little damaged on the cabinet. I loved them & owned them for a long time. Traded them w. a friend who eventually got out of audio. Did you modify the crossover? If so what did you do? Also did you modify the tweeter. Mine has a square plate & is the dual magnet MB Quart II. I used to blow my tweeter all the time & have a few spares in a closet. I used a Krell 600 with them when I had them.

dgad

I had limited (but not zero) listening experience, with the Hales. They seemed like a very good speaker, with a somewhat laid back sound, although not overly so. They SORT OF put me in mind of the Aerial line, but that may be off base, and people with more experience may strongly disagree. At any rate, it's very sad that such a fine company went out of business. I really hate to see that happen.

mdhoover

Owner
Thanks guys,
The Hales displaced a pair of very modded Acoustat 3's. Like all speakers though, as soon as the manufacturer went out of business, the speakers plummeted in value.
So, like Jsujo says, I feel that in the used market today they are simply a steal. Oddly, while I once in the while get the upgrade itch, I have not really heard any speakers that are that much better that I have to have them. Although the Kharma's came pretty close.

daveyf

I think its a well thought out system,,Having the Hales must be a good start for anyone, given how good they are and their prices on Audiogon...I am glas that you are using a tube preamp as well..

Cool system!

jsujo

Hey buddy, great system!

I once listened to a Hales Revelation3 and a Transcandent 8 which i still have in memory. It was the first speaker that impressed me. I heard a Wilson Watt Puppy and some big Meridians that day, but the Transcandent 8 and R3's got stuck in my mind. One of the same experiences i had with all Apogees i heard till now.

Great system!

-Flo

florianw

Owner
Any opinions?

daveyf

Owner
System edited:

daveyf

Owner
System edited:

daveyf

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