Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors - Room Size

The Cremona Auditor can successfully drive a 20' x 20' x 8' room. However, despite their 90db/w/m efficiency rating, they need power to sound unconstricted and assertive. Also, being 4 ohm speakers, Auditors do not put most solid state amps in their best sound zone. McIntosh autoformer amps are particularly synergistic with Cremonas and Cremona Auditors. The MA6900 integrated sounds sensational on Auditors and in this case I make a rare recommendation of this amp over the Cary SLI80. A good preamp with a Mac MC252 or MC402 is even better, but that might exceed your space and funds.

If you choose to later add a subwoofer, be careful. Most subwoofers are too slow to mate well with that fast little cone in the Auditor. The Zu Method is an excellent match.

Phil

Hi,

Which of the following options would you recommend for my 20 x 20 x 18 room for 2 channel set-up?

1. SF Cremona Auditor with REL Subwoofer

2. SF Grand Piano Domus

I am planning on using Cary SLI-80 as my integrated amp. Would you recommend Plinius 9200 SS Integrated amp (200 watts/ch ) over Cary SLI-80 for driving SF Cremona Auditor (or) Grand Piano Domus ?

Thanks
Grakesh

Newmonac,

You are saying cremona Auditors did not cut it for you in your bigger room..Can you tell me what size room you are referring to ? Can you let me know what you saw in terms of performance that drove you away from cremona auditors in a bigger room with higher roof ?

Thanks
Grakesh

My room is 23x18, with a sloped ceiling that is around 16 or 18 feet at the peak, and with three walls and an opening to a foyer/hallway. My current speakers are JM Labs Electra 926s. They fill the entire house with music - music you can feel throughout your whole body. When I had the Sonus Faber Cremonas (full range) home, they did not fill the house nearly so well nor wasd the detail as good. And when I brought home the Auditors, well, they sounded so much worse than my Electras that my wife asked me to turn off my system (she really hated them).

In the small rooms I have heard them in, I think the Auditors sound wonderful. They just didn't cut it at my house. I would be very careful about buying a pair until you have heard them in your own room.

Grakesh,

I would not mate an REL subwoofer with Cremona Auditors. It will sound too slow. You need something much crisper and I suggest the Zu Method subwoofer. They also have a smaller version coming. You can get 60 day return privileges.

On amps, the Cary will be fine. I would not recommend the Plinius SS over the Cary as it will not sound its best into the Auditor. If you want to go SS, then a McIntosh autoformer amp is the ticket, due to the SF 4 ohm load. The MA6900 integrated sounds sensational on these speakers, as will an MC252 or above power amp.

The Domus won't sound as open and transparent as the Auditor. You could also look for a pair of used Cremonas if you want full range, as they can be had for the price of new Auditors + stands.

Phil