Sonus Faber Stradivari ....

Martin_S791

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Oct 25, 2018
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If this thread is still current....
Maybe someone can help me.

Ie., HELP!!!

I am about to pull the trigger on a pair of Sonus Faber Stradivari Homages.
I have the choice between:
  1. A three year old pair. With about a hundred hours on them.
And
  1. A new pair. One of the 35 pairs being made - for the 35th anniversary.
Price is going to be about the same - believe it or not - with the new pair coming out overall about 2,000$ more.

Has anyone heard the 35th anniversary model?
Does anyone know of any differences between them?

Upgrades, changes to the tweeters for example. Component changes?

Is there any reason to go for one or the other?
 

Emre Üçöz

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Aug 1, 2011
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Cant give any opinion on the 35th anniversary version but Y would definitely go with the 3 year old model. Since that model was the pinnacle of Franco's design. Later all the new and old iterations have lost the SF sound.
 

Martin_S791

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Oct 25, 2018
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Cant give any opinion on the 35th anniversary version but Y would definitely go with the 3 year old model. Since that model was the pinnacle of Franco's design. Later all the new and old iterations have lost the SF sound.
Thanks :)

Anyone else maybe?
 

Martin_S791

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Oct 25, 2018
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The 35th Anniversary models are exactly the same as previous production with the exception of badging.
Now that's interesting. I can get a pair of 35th anniversary Stradivari for just on 20K USD.
The question is, do they sound the same as the older ones made when Franco Serblin was running things?
Is 20K for a pair of new Stradivaris a good price? For the sonic performance I am getting.
 

miniguy

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Dec 18, 2013
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San Diego area
Now that's interesting. I can get a pair of 35th anniversary Stradivari for just on 20K USD.
The question is, do they sound the same as the older ones made when Franco Serblin was running things?
Is 20K for a pair of new Stradivaris a good price? For the sonic performance I am getting.

I said they’re exactly the same, so they sound exactly the same. $20K is well below dealer cost so what’s stopping you?
 

Ron Resnick

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microstrip

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I have owned a pair of Graffiti Stradivari - perhaps the more elegant large speaker I have owned - the Aida's were fat ladies ... :) . As far as I remember they needed power and preferred solid state - I think was not too happy with the VTL 750s with them. Although apparently sensitive, the impedance was low and asked for a lot of current.

Great speakers driven by Cello electronics, but I had to keep them far away from the walls to avoid an excessively rich sound in the bass, and never managed to make them sound detailed at low levels.

BTW, the castors were not supplied by SF and my audio racks have improved (who knows?....) a little since that time ...

a1.jpg
 
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Mikeeo

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Oct 21, 2015
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If this thread is still current....
Maybe someone can help me.

Hi,

Just saw this thread after I acquired a 35th anniversary pair!
I do believe something was done to the construction during the 3-4 last years of production as at least those with the finish Rosso Violino had a much more red tone. To me this indicates that either other wood was used or they changed the lacquering. The 35th anni looks just like the original version. Wether it is true or not some has commented on that the more red finish didn't sound the same or as good. If some one did a comparison it would be interesting to know if this holds true!?
Anyway, getting a recently manufactured pair of Strad's feels great and for me these still fully compete with new other brand constructions. To me, the Strad was the last great speaker from Sonus Faber, but I am a big Franco S fan.

Mike
 

Ron Resnick

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bk16

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Jul 16, 2017
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Hopefully I am not too late to chime in here. hello everyone, im new to the WBF family and just became a proud owner of the 35th edition Strads. Was using a CJ pre&power combo to drive them but have sold the power amp just recently and in the process of deciding on a different power amp most likely a gryphon mephisto stereo. will post some photos when switch back to mobile phone.
really like the forum here. Lots of good info and happy sharing members.

Cheers

Evan
 

Ron Resnick

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Congratulations on your purchase! Welcome to WBF, Evan!

What c-j power amp were you using?
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Hopefully I am not too late to chime in here. hello everyone, im new to the WBF family and just became a proud owner of the 35th edition Strads. Was using a CJ pre&power combo to drive them but have sold the power amp just recently and in the process of deciding on a different power amp most likely a gryphon mephisto stereo. will post some photos when switch back to mobile phone.
really like the forum here. Lots of good info and happy sharing members.

Cheers

Evan
Wow! Congrats! That is a tremendous pairing (CJ + Strad)!...and I also owned the original Strad + Gryphon Antileon pairing which also was wonderful. Not only is the Mephisto a far superior amplifier to the original Antileon, I also strongly believe it is also a far better partner to the Strad.

Is there a difference in construction or sound of the 35th Anniversary Strad?
 

bk16

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Jul 16, 2017
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Congratulations on your purchase! Welcome to WBF, Evan!

What c-j power amp were you using?
Thank you Ron. I’m so glad to found a place to share the experience and happiness. they were the gat2 and LP275m.
Cheers
 

bk16

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2017
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108
Wow! Congrats! That is a tremendous pairing (CJ + Strad)!...and I also owned the original Strad + Gryphon Antileon pairing which also was wonderful. Not only is the Mephisto a far superior amplifier to the original Antileon, I also strongly believe it is also a far better partner to the Strad.

Is there a difference in construction or sound of the 35th Anniversary Strad?
Hi Lloyd, thanks. I have been following your HiFi journey quite awhile now and really benefited from lots of your experience and great advice/opinions shared by you through the years. Great effort! Regarding the 35th edition I believe that only the speaker case has gone taller a little bit plus the 35th badge on the front panel everything else is the same. May I please ask how do you connect the gat2 to the Mephisto using adapters or custom built interconnection? Thanks
Evan
 

bk16

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2017
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I was fortunately to having the choice to choose the colour that my local dealer happens to have both available. End up getting the graphite as I thought in long term view the darker colour will make less visually tiredness. C333986A-2370-4E12-B681-0E64D5519008.jpeg
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Hi Lloyd, thanks. I have been following your HiFi journey quite awhile now and really benefited from lots of your experience and great advice/opinions shared by you through the years. Great effort! Regarding the 35th edition I believe that only the speaker case has gone taller a little bit plus the 35th badge on the front panel everything else is the same. May I please ask how do you connect the gat2 to the Mephisto using adapters or custom built interconnection? Thanks
Evan
Hi Evan,

I originally used adaptors and then had my SE cables custom terminated by Transparent Audio. I will PM a few important notes.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Absolutely stunning speakers! Graphite is beautiful! I have the violin red because I bought demo, but have also admired the graphite! I have PM'd you.
 

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