Proac or Sonus Faber Monitor Speakers

About five to six years ago I owned Sonus Faber Concertinos and ProAc Tablette 50 Signatures at the same time and was able to compare them at great length.

Back then, I was using a Blue Circle tube preamp and a Blue Circle solid state amp along with a Bel Canto DAC 1.1. My speaker cables were Analysis Plus Oval 9.

I thought both speakers had an organic sound, more so with the Concertinos though. They sounded fuller and more "woody" in my set up. The Tablette 50 Sigs also conveyed a slightly warm sound but had much better focus and soundstaging.

The Sonus Fabers created a wide soundfield, but I couldn't locate the instruments within it the way I could with the ProAcs. ProAc suggests setting up their speakers as an equilateral triangle with the listener as the third point, and the face of the speakers pointed directly at the listener. I always liked splitting the difference between aiming them straight forward and directly at me. It made the center focue slightly fuzzy, but created a much wider soundstage. I didn't notice any focusing of the soundstage when I aimed the Sonus Fabers at me. Everything just got narrower.

A lot will have to do with the rest of your system and your personal taste. Different equipment may yield different results. Also, the newer models of each respective manufacturer may sound different from the speakers I compared.

I preferred the ProAc sound and eventually also bought ProAc 1SCs and 2.5s.

Agree with just about all of the above posts. It will depend on your sonic tastes. The Sonus Fabers do have a beautiful sound, but it is a much smaller soundstage and a more "laid back" presentation, as the reviewers like to say. I prefer the ProAcs myself, which have much better imaging and soundstaging, resulting in a more realistic reproduction of the original recording space. The ProAcs are also usually easier to drive, very generally speaking. They are a good match for tubes.

I too agree with most that have been said here about the two speakers. They both are rather different in character, the Proacs being more accurate and truthful to the recording and the Sonus Fabers being more warm, colored and lush-sounding. It really depends on musical taste and preferences as there are fans for both these speakers.

I personally prefer speakers that are more neutral like the Proacs. The build quality on the Sonus Fabers are better though, exquisite Italian craftmanship especially on the higher models. The cabinets of the Proacs are typical British. My descriptions are based upon my previous experience with the SF Grand Pianos that I owned for nearly 3 years. A few other Sonus Fabers I've listened elsewhere are the Extrema and Electa Amator. I've listened to the Proac floorstanders at a local dealer but forgotten the model.

Ryder,

I agree with you about SF warmth. I did not like to say so but I think Proacs have a different design goal - the "precise" approach - whilst SF are more in the gorgeous luscious sound approach camp. Horses for courses but certainly different breeds IMHO.

Thanks for the opinions everyone. Great info. from people who have compared both brands.

I recently sold a pair of 8 Sig's and will go with something a little larger. I want to try a pair of Proac 2's or I could sell my Krell 400xi and purchase a pair of D two's. I REALLY want a pair of D Two's.