Sonus Faber Lumina V Amator
When comparing speakers, the biggest challenge is that most stores in my area (Huntsville and Nashville) cannot demo speakers in a controlled environment like your home. It’s usually a large and / or untreated space, you can’t hear them on your model amp, the chair and speaker distances aren’t triangular, the demo room is full of other speakers and subs, etc. So you’re spending all of this money without really knowing what you’re getting.
Well, I chose the lumina V amator because they’re a nice combo of warm and lively, they fit my threshold of pain at the time, and they image well. But I’ve always had this devil on my shoulder telling me I can do much better (maybe that’s everyone). When I’m in the store, I’m not hearing major differences between mine and a high dollar rig, but I know I’m not hearing a good representation. I mean, I heard an MA1200 running two higher end magnepans and walked away thinking I had won that deal with my MA252 and amator v’s and REL t7x pair.
So here’s my direct question for anyone who has specific experience with the amator speakers: how do they stack up in a well treated room against one step up (say give or take 10k)? Like an Olympia Nova, KEF reference 1 bookshelf, Wilson Sabrina, etc. I’m not asking about characteristics because I know they’re all different. I just mean sound quality. Deeper imaging, larger soundstage, just better overall performance regardless of individual speaker characteristics…
I mean, the music disappears almost completely from my speakers, the image is insane in the center and feels 10’ deep at least, they’re punchy and warm, I should be happy right? My only gripe is the wall of sound isn’t very big - doesn’t extend past the speakers or at 10 & 2 very much. It’s more of a triangular image than a wall of sound, so to speak.
I’ve just not had enough real-world quality demos to know how good a rig can actually be, and how far the range varies from good to great.