Thank you Franco Serblin for Sonus Faber Stradivarius speakers ...

[Jack]

Joe is a photographer.

[dlb2]

I'm sure Joe will treat us to a nice film noir looking black and white. 😉

Sent from my HTC One.

[joeinid]

[Sean]

Congrats, Joe!

Has the Naim gotten a spin with them yet?

[joeinid]

Thanks Sean. Yes, the SN2 sounds awesome on the Strads.

Congrats, Joe!

Has the Naim gotten a spin with them yet?

[Mike]

Are the Elipsas and Strads going to be phased out of production? I know that Paragon Sound is selling BNIB Elipsas for $11K because they state on their website that those are no longer being produced. Maybe the Elipsa is now only available as the Elipsa SE?? Or maybe both the Elipsa and Strads will no longer be produced?? I have no idea...just asking in case someone knows the details. Thanks.

Great question. Elipsa's maybe....Strads, I would be surprised. I think they are still a good seller for Sonus Faber.

I much prefer the sonic qualities of Franco's speakers and the Strads were his masterpiece.

[wisnon]

Great question. Elipsa's maybe....Strads, I would be surprised. I think they are still a good seller for Sonus Faber.

I much prefer the sonic qualities of Franco's speakers and the Strads were his masterpiece.

Based on the SQ of the Ktemas, I will believe anything you say about Signore Serblin. Genius.

[Mike]

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/ContentsF...ws_0404_LR.pdf

[Bavarian05]

My Strads are PERFECT! Exactly what I wanted in a speaker.

Congratulations Joe!
I would love to see some photos of them in your room when you have time. Enjoy them. They are absolute treasures.

[joeinid]

Thank you. I love these things!

[KeithR]

Hope you guys have many years of enjoyment.

The audio merry-go-round gets really old

I've heard the best Mac amp on the SFs are the 1.2kws...

[joeinid]

Ah, now you are talking. I've always wanted a pair. They are impressive indeed.

Thanks Keith.

Hope you guys have many years of enjoyment.

The audio merry-go-round gets really old

I've heard the best Mac amp on the SFs are the 1.2kws...

[AudioExplorations]

Hi Joe, quite some changes in the system I see.... glad to see your still having fun with the audio hobby! Hope you are keeping well.

[joeinid]

Hi Joost,

Yes, I've been mixing it up. I am mostly settled but still plan on adding a toy or two.

Absolutely having fun. I finally have the sound that I love. I am going towards the sweeter/warmer side without losing detail and gaining so much musicality (for me). Thank you for the kind words. I see your system has been very stable. I have to be honest and tell you that I do miss my Dartzeel amp. It's a great piece.

Hi Joe, quite some changes in the system I see.... glad to see your still having fun with the audio hobby! Hope you are keeping well.

[madfloyd]

Joe, didn't you order Harbeth's?

[sharkmouth]

Joe, didn't you order Harbeth's?

...well of course he did. We all know there's too much of Joe for monogamy..

[joeinid]

Joe, didn't you order Harbeth's?

Hi Ian,

I certainly did. My ETA is probably first or second week of November. If that's true, it will be 7 months from the deposit.i know it's hard to believe but true.

...well of course he did. We all know there's too much of Joe for monogamy..

Ah Kev you know me too well. I have the patience of a saint as well.

Having the Strads takes the edge off.

[larevoj]

Congrats Joeinid! FWIW I have heard the Strad paired with the ARCRef75 and sounds amazing. I like it even more then the Ref250...have a listen

Cheers~


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[Mike]

"Without subjecting it to analytical scrutiny in order to figure out what was causing it to happen, this speaker, more than any other I've reviewed, communicated music's emotional content. Listening to the Stradivari was a sensual experience—more in the chest than in the head.

Appreciating this wasn't based on checking off items on an audiophile's list of performance parameters. The seamlessness of the sonic whole discouraged that kind of exercise—even in the mind of a veteran reviewer. That first day of listening to the Stradivaris at home, I felt what I'd felt in Sonus Faber's listening room. I also felt it the last day, and every day in between. If you get a chance to listen, don't expect to be bowled over or wowed or to have your molecules rearranged. Be prepared to fall in love."

- Michael Fremer, Stereophile

[mep]

"Without subjecting it to analytical scrutiny in order to figure out what was causing it to happen, this speaker, more than any other I've reviewed, communicated music's emotional content. Listening to the Stradivari was a sensual experience—more in the chest than in the head.

Appreciating this wasn't based on checking off items on an audiophile's list of performance parameters. The seamlessness of the sonic whole discouraged that kind of exercise—even in the mind of a veteran reviewer. That first day of listening to the Stradivaris at home, I felt what I'd felt in Sonus Faber's listening room. I also felt it the last day, and every day in between. If you get a chance to listen, don't expect to be bowled over or wowed or to have your molecules rearranged. Be prepared to fall in love."

- Michael Fremer, Stereophile

Funny how people love a reviewer when they are extolling the virtues of a product we own and love. That love is fickle though. As soon as the former genius reviewer says something negative about something we own, he's dumber than a new baby hog. For the record, I think MF is a great reviewer and I think he calls it as he sees it and nails it more times than he misses it.

[Mike]

Funny how people love a reviewer when they are extolling the virtues of a product we own and love. That love is fickle though. As soon as the former genius reviewer says something negative about something we own, he's dumber than a new baby hog. For the record, I think MF is a great reviewer and I think he calls it as he sees it and nails it more times than he misses it.

I hope you're speaking generally. I for one think MF is a terrific reviewer. JV is the one who causes me to shake my head - repeatedly.


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[mep]

I was speaking generally Mike. You read far more negative comments about reviewers than you do positive comments it seems. JV seems to be the favorite whipping boy on many forums. I think JV is a talented writer with a deep understanding of music. I generally enjoy his reviews, but he tends to write about gear priced in the stratosphere that I have no real personal experience with and therefore can only judge based on what I hear in fleeting moments at audio shows which really doesn't count.

[Mike]

That's one of the things I love about John Atkinson. He has a way of finding and reviewing some nice gems that aren't priced into the stratosphere (Classe CP800, Pass XA60.5, Revel Salon 2, etc.).


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[joeinid]

My Strads are the best. I have never, ever, been so satisfied with a speaker. Mine are not going anywhere. I will be buried with them. So satisfying and involving.

"Without subjecting it to analytical scrutiny in order to figure out what was causing it to happen, this speaker, more than any other I've reviewed, communicated music's emotional content. Listening to the Stradivari was a sensual experience—more in the chest than in the head.

Appreciating this wasn't based on checking off items on an audiophile's list of performance parameters. The seamlessness of the sonic whole discouraged that kind of exercise—even in the mind of a veteran reviewer. That first day of listening to the Stradivaris at home, I felt what I'd felt in Sonus Faber's listening room. I also felt it the last day, and every day in between. If you get a chance to listen, don't expect to be bowled over or wowed or to have your molecules rearranged. Be prepared to fall in love."

- Michael Fremer, Stereophile

[Mike]

That's great to hear Joe. Once a great speaker, always a great speaker. I just thought that quote summed them up perfectly.


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[mep]

I have always felt that JA is a 'truth teller' and calls them as he sees them both in his reviews and his measurements. Integrity is the word that comes to mind.

[rbbert]

I was speaking generally Mike. You read far more negative comments about reviewers than you do positive comments it seems. JV seems to be the favorite whipping boy on many forums. I think JV is a talented writer with a deep understanding of music. I generally enjoy his reviews, but he tends to write about gear priced in the stratosphere that I have no real personal experience with and therefore can only judge based on what I hear in fleeting moments at audio shows which really doesn't count.

The reason he is a "whipping boy" is that his opinions change so frequently, are so absolute in nature and phrasing, and usually involve (as you say) expensive equipment that few others will have a chance to hear for more than brief listening periods, to say nothing of own.

[Myles B. Astor]

That's great to hear Joe. Once a great speaker, always a great speaker. I just thought that quote summed them up perfectly.


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How much of the emotional connection is the front-end vs. the speaker?

[joeinid]

Thanks Mike. I agree. You know what I am experiencing. I heard your first pair of Strads even before you did and I fell in love with them. It has been a long, tortuous journey, but I am forever grateful to have landed where I am now. I am eager to get home after work and fire up my system. I listen to anything and everything. Wow! Life is good.

That's great to hear Joe. Once a great speaker, always a great speaker. I just thought that quote summed them up perfectly.


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[Mike]

How much of the emotional connection is the front-end vs. the speaker?

They invoke emotion whether I'm using the Hegel, Cary SET amps or of course, the Pass amps. Since the "speakers with soul" and "emotion" seems to be a common theme, I would say its definitely the speakers.


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[joeinid]

Hi Myles,

Hmmmmm. I have to say it's more speaker than amp for me, but the amps make a difference. Tubes over SS for emotion and involvement. I am not crazy about tube maintenance, but it's not as bad as my head thinks. I love what I hear through ALL my amps but love the LM-219IA and ART monos the most.

How much of the emotional connection is the front-end vs. the speaker?

[tunes]

Joe,
Not sure if I missed this so apologies if I have and this is old news to others, but do you still have your Dartzeel gear? I'd be curious to hear whether the 108b is a good match with the Strads.
Chris

[Mike]

"Beyond the sonic particulars, and more difficult to describe and explain, was the Stradivari's ability to convey music's emotional content. The speaker was not the most analytical and revealing design I've ever heard, but it was illuminating enough. It was, however, the most emotionally communicative speaker I've ever heard. Can a speaker have "soul"? I don't know, but this one comes the closest to making me think so."

- another quote from Fremer in the review.


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[joeinid]

Hi Chris,

Funny you should ask. I sold my Dart gear late last year. I delivered the 108 amp to the guy who bought it. Sure enough when I walk in, what do I see? A beautiful pair of Strads. I nearly fell over. I begged him to hook it up right then and there. Holy cr@p, it was glorious. I could have kicked myself. The Strads were still on my radar but I had a way to go before I was able to get them. Now? The Dartzeel amp would be top 1, 2 or 3 amps that I would use.

So my answer is a resounding YES!!!!!!!!

Joe,
Not sure if I missed this so apologies if I have and this is old news to others, but do you still have your Dartzeel gear? I'd be curious to hear whether the 108b is a good match with the Strads.
Chris

[tunes]

Thanks Joe.
I would love to hear the combo.
Very familiar with the Strads but not the Dart gear but I have become more interested the more I read. Have never had a chance to hear Dart unfortunately.
Chris

[joeinid]

Dartzeel is wonderful and I would have loved to have the amp on my Strads now.

An awesome combo was the Dagostino preamp with the Dartzeel amp.

[Bavarian05]

Joe,

I would love to see some photos of your Strads!

Thank you,
Jason

[MRJAZZ]

Joe,

I would love to see some photos of your Strads!

Thank you,
Jason

Had a pair of STRADS five years, or so, ago, from a client trade in. They are gorgeous speakers, both sonically and visually. Would love to see pics of yours, and Mike's pair.

[joeinid]

Will try and get some pictures posted.

[TechnicalPie]

YouTube

[Lucidear]

Technicalpie,
Superb videos,
I really enjoyed all four segments on the Strads and many more of your sessions...
any chance you'd match these speakers with the other amp in the video, The Gryphon Anthileon evo and post it online?
Thanks