Franco Serblin

[J007B]

I recently bought a pair of Accordo's. I was intending to use my MasterSound PF100 monoblocks (120 watts of 845 tube power) and the company, in response to my email concerning the suitability of this amp for these speakers, thought it might be too powerful.

High Fidelity's review of the Accordo from 2012 quoted what Franco Serblin had to say about the optimal amplification for these speakers after reading the review:

"Post Script
After having written this review I received an email on the final, recommended amplification for the Accordo, which essentially confirms what I wrote above:

'Let me clarify some issues related to amplification for the Accordo. These speakers have been designed to be as transparent and dynamic as possible. In order to successfully achieve this objective I have used a unique woofer with a long-stroke diaphragm and low resistance in bass-reflex application, designed to offer the best impulse response. Although the Accordo can be driven by any amplifier, we recommend driving them with amplifiers with low output impedance and middle power output (40/70 W into 8 ? and 80/150 W into 4 ?). Too much power may result in too long woofer cone travel and consequently deterioration of signal quality.

If we use the Accordo with a tube amplifier or a solid-state MOSFET with high output impedance we may end up with not fully optimal bass control, and this may lead to uncontrolled cone travel. Needless to say that tube amps are generally not too good in this respect. I use the Einstein integrated amplifier, nice sounding, but with not such good bass as tube amps.' "

What do you think of this opinion? Is my tube amp too powerful for these speakers? I am driving them tonight with some Pass Aleph 0 monoblocks which put out around 75 watts of Class A power, which appear to be more accord with Franco's recommendations. Both amps sound very good to me.

For those of you with Accordo's, which amps do you enjoy the most?

Did you ever settle on amps for your Accordo's? I just bought a pair and take delivery in about a week.

 

[Harris4crna]

Did you ever settle on amps for your Accordo's? I just bought a pair and take delivery in about a week.

I find FS likes Class A 40-70watts as stated in the thread.

 

[LL21]

I find FS likes Class A 40-70watts as stated in the thread.

I remembered in a review I read many years ago, Franco Serblin himself was using a Berning mid-powered amp with his SF Strads. So I looked it up and found it:

Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage loudspeaker

Yamaha once made a loudspeaker shaped like an ear. I felt sorry for the guy (especially if he was an audiophile) who had to write the ad copy explaining why a speaker shaped like an ear would sound better than one shaped like a shoebox or a wedge of cheese. An ear-shaped loudspeaker makes about...

www.stereophile.com

"...Sound with no strings attached
When I visited the Sonus Faber factory, in Arcugnano, Italy, last winter, I spent an hour listening to a pair of Stradivaris in Franco Serblin's listening room while he conducted some business with Sumiko's John Hunter. The room was significantly larger than mine and far more reflective, but the speakers stood in free space far from any wall. Hooked up to them were an Accuphase SACD player and a David Berning ZH270 output-transformerless tubed power amp with two inputs and a volume control. The Strads are rated at 92dB efficiency, so a 70Wpc amp should have had no trouble driving them. It did so with ease...."

 

[Harris4crna]

I remembered in a review I read many years ago, Franco Serblin himself was using a Berning mid-powered amp with his SF Strads. So I looked it up and found it:

Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage loudspeaker

Yamaha once made a loudspeaker shaped like an ear. I felt sorry for the guy (especially if he was an audiophile) who had to write the ad copy explaining why a speaker shaped like an ear would sound better than one shaped like a shoebox or a wedge of cheese. An ear-shaped loudspeaker makes about...

www.stereophile.com

"...Sound with no strings attached
When I visited the Sonus Faber factory, in Arcugnano, Italy, last winter, I spent an hour listening to a pair of Stradivaris in Franco Serblin's listening room while he conducted some business with Sumiko's John Hunter. The room was significantly larger than mine and far more reflective, but the speakers stood in free space far from any wall. Hooked up to them were an Accuphase SACD player and a David Berning ZH270 output-transformerless tubed power amp with two inputs and a volume control. The Strads are rated at 92dB efficiency, so a 70Wpc amp should have had no trouble driving them. It did so with ease...."

My experience, they do sound good with tubes for sure. I run both a Class A Accuphase A-70 and for variety a Synthesis A40 and both make them sing. Previously I trialed a A/B and class D and it did not sound good at all. The speakers are efficient, but need a little extra ummph in the bass. Thus my experience a mid power class A has worked very well.

 

[LL21]

My experience, they do sound good with tubes for sure. I run both a Class A Accuphase A-70 and for variety a Synthesis A40 and both make them sing. Previously I trialed a A/B and class D and it did not sound good at all. The speakers are efficient, but need a little extra ummph in the bass. Thus my experience a mid power class A has worked very well.

I totally agree...I originally had the CJ MV60 (great mid-powered tube amp particularly for the money)...and it was driving the Guarneris. Once the move was made to go for the Strads...the Gryphon Antileon 100 watt pure Class A and doubling all the way down to 0.5ohms and doubling down to 0.5ohms peak power...the Strads sat up and took notice. The darkness was perhaps not to all tastes given the Strad's own voicing, but I enjoyed it.

 

[Harris4crna]

I totally agree...I originally had the CJ MV60 (great mid-powered tube amp particularly for the money)...and it was driving the Guarneris. Once the move was made to go for the Strads...the Gryphon Antileon 100 watt pure Class A and doubling all the way down to 0.5ohms and doubling down to 0.5ohms peak power...the Strads sat up and took notice. The darkness was perhaps not to all tastes given the Strad's own voicing, but I enjoyed it.

Ironically, I auditioned the Strads while living in Italy. The owner of the shop asked if I would like to audition the Ktemas. I said, sure. Honestly, they both sounded great. Not surprised, I speculate they both are cut from the same cloth. I went with the Ktemas due to thier fit and form function benefit since I move so often.

Agree, both need that amp that can hunker down to a lower ohm load to open them up. People often mistaken the efficiency rating, but forsake the needed current at a low listening level. Old thread, but wanted to contribute based on my experience with FS speakers. Love them

 

[Superchunk]

The accordo were some.of the nicest speakers I've ever heard. I ended up passing on them really just because of bass and I didn't feel like going for subs. The essence were a bit too expensive for me, and I decided the ktema would be my end game but I would have to import from Europe to afford them, they are $50k in Canada and that's out of my league I'm afraid.

I've never been so emotionally engaged so easily and so quickly as I was with the accordo. Crap now you've got me thinking of them again...

 

[Harris4crna]

The accordo were some.of the nicest speakers I've ever heard. I ended up passing on them really just because of bass and I didn't feel like going for subs. The essence were a bit too expensive for me, and I decided the ktema would be my end game but I would have to import from Europe to afford them, they are $50k in Canada and that's out of my league I'm afraid.

I've never been so emotionally engaged so easily and so quickly as I was with the accordo. Crap now you've got me thinking of them again...

Haha, sorry about that. Yes, I bought mine in Italy. I believe I paid 20KUSD plus I traded in my Cremona Ms. This is the dealer who I went with in Italy: https://www.audioplushiend.it/

I concur with you. I went back and forth in whether to purchase the Accordos or another book shelf speaker for my second system. I too, felt the Accordos were lacking bass. So, I went with the Dali Epicon 2 speakers for my second system. Also, since I already owned the Ktemas, I felt I wanted some variety. I will say after 10 years of owning the Ktemas I never get tired of them. I listen to them everyday for music, TV and playing games. Although, in beginning this was not the case, and I wondered why I bought them. This was because I drove them with the wrong equipment. It was not until I purchased a mid power Class A amp when I realized how special these speakers were.

 

[J007B]

I received my Accordo Essence speakers about 6 weeks ago. They were the first step in a major system change. I heard them at my local dealer with a Soulution Amp and Pre. The sound was amazing. I fell in love. I've been spending the past couple of months selling off old gear and buying new gear. Boxes coming and going. Here are the changes so far:
Audio Physic Virgo 25 to Franco Serblin Accordo Essence
Bel Canto Ref 600M monoblocks to Aavik P300 Amp
No pre to Aavik C150 pre with Dac and Phono modules, (being shipped)
Nordost Valhalla 1 speaker cables to Ansuz Speakz C2

I'm keeping, for the moment, a Lumin U1 (not mini), and my Gold Note DS 1000MKii Deluxe Dac with built in pre.
Since arriving I've only listened to the Accordo's hooked up to a Yamaha RX A3050 receiver, but i can already tell that the Accordo's have better bass than the Virgo's. I'm hoping to give them a try tomorrow with the Aavik P300. It should be interesting, the P300 is 300W of pure class A.

 

[Superchunk]

Haha, sorry about that. Yes, I bought mine in Italy. I believe I paid 20KUSD plus I traded in my Cremona Ms. This is the dealer who I went with in Italy: https://www.audioplushiend.it/

I concur with you. I went back and forth in whether to purchase the Accordos or another book shelf speaker for my second system. I too, felt the Accordos were lacking bass. So, I went with the Dali Epicon 2 speakers for my second system. Also, since I already owned the Ktemas, I felt I wanted some variety. I will say after 10 years of owning the Ktemas I never get tired of them. I listen to them everyday for music, TV and playing games. Although, in beginning this was not the case, and I wondered why I bought them. This was because I drove them with the wrong equipment. It was not until I purchased a mid power Class A amp when I realized how special these speakers were.

I do think the ktema will remain my end game and I think i will fly to Italy, spend a few weeks, find a used pair a t a good price and send them back home. I almost got some for around $10kusd used so if I find a deal like that...

The other big part of not getting the accordo was thinking I would then need to change my amp as well. I heard them with t+a which isn't really my style but they sounded great.

 

[Harris4crna]

I do think the ktema will remain my end game and I think i will fly to Italy, spend a few weeks, find a used pair a t a good price and send them back home. I almost got some for around $10kusd used so if I find a deal like that...

The other big part of not getting the accordo was thinking I would then need to change my amp as well. I heard them with t+a which isn't really my style but they sounded great.

Curious, did you purchase the Ktemas in Italy?

 

[RDSChicago]

Curious, did you purchase the Ktemas in Italy?

I’m curious too. Can you advise the best way to ship them from Italy to USA as I’m heading to Italy and would love to score a pair! I imagine shipping would be quite expensive and somewhat risky for damage.

 

[Harris4crna]

I’m curious too. Can you advise the best way to ship them from Italy to USA as I’m heading to Italy and would love to score a pair! I imagine shipping would be quite expensive and somewhat risky for damage.

I purchased mine in Italy, but at the time I was living there. I simply shipped them with my household goods upon returning to the US. Recommend reaching out to Audio Plus https://www.audioplushiend.it/

This is where I purchased mine.

 

[Superchunk]

I’m curious too. Can you advise the best way to ship them from Italy to USA as I’m heading to Italy and would love to score a pair! I imagine shipping would be quite expensive and somewhat risky for damage.

I did not, as in the end I became most interested in building my own using field coils.

When I was looking into it it did seem it wouldn't be prohibitively expensive or difficult. I have found many Italian audiophiles to be very helpful and friendly, I suspect you could do some pre-work before going and shouldn't be too hard.

 

[RDSChicago]

I did not, as in the end I became most interested in building my own using field coils.

When I was looking into it it did seem it wouldn't be prohibitively expensive or difficult. I have found many Italian audiophiles to be very helpful and friendly, I suspect you could do some pre-work before going and shouldn't be too hard.

I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea of how to build speakers, but I admire you for your skills! My Accordo’s unfortunately have been sitting in their boxes in my garage since I moved to Colorado two years ago as my wife didn’t want me to have a “system” cluttering up the house. I miss them tremendously but am also enjoying my completely active “system” consisting of a pair of Dutch & Dutch 8C’s. Since they’re Roon ready, I sold off my amplifiers, preamps, DACs and streamers, with my only source being a Roon Core. I very much look forward to having the opportunity to using the Accordo’s one day. They’re so beautiful and wonderful that they’re the only audio components I kept. They’re definitely keepers!

 

[Superchunk]

I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea of how to build speakers, but I admire you for your skills! My Accordo’s unfortunately have been sitting in their boxes in my garage since I moved to Colorado two years ago as my wife didn’t want me to have a “system” cluttering up the house. I miss them tremendously but am also enjoying my completely active “system” consisting of a pair of Dutch & Dutch 8C’s. Since they’re Roon ready, I sold off my amplifiers, preamps, DACs and streamers, with my only source being a Roon Core. I very much look forward to having the opportunity to using the Accordo’s one day. They’re so beautiful and wonderful that they’re the only audio components I kept. They’re definitely keepers!

I agree, the accordo are absolutely fantastic, and so beautiful I know I would never be able to part with them either...the type of piece you get attached to.
I have had a lot of hobbies but nothing has ever been as fun as building my own audio equipment. I'm still new at it but I read theory for hours and play both with the woodwork and electronics.

Your simplification makes me a bit jealous as I now have 5 amps going, field coil power supply, dsp...there's so many cables hooked up I genuinely can't keep track of what the hell is going on half the time. I dream of really organizing it all then I remember I still want to do x y and z so best to wait ...

 

[Harris4crna]

Anybody ponder the idea of adding subs to augment the Ktemas?

 

[LL21]

Anybody ponder the idea of adding subs to augment the Ktemas?

Look forward to hearing if anyone has done this. I remember utilizing the big Velodyne DD18 with the Guarneris many years ago.

 

[Cascadian]

Have any of you heard the Ktemas or Essence with d'Agostino amplification?
Also slightly off topic, but for those of you with Ktemas, how do you keep the polished tops clean? I used to have Amati Futuras with polished metal tops and they would get discolored, were difficult to clean and scratched easily. Are the Ktemas like this or are they better in some way?
Thanks for any feedback.