Sonus Faber Suprema Flagship Loudspeaker $750,000

Lagonda

VIP/Donor
Feb 3, 2014
3,515
4,825
1,255
Denmark
It's very simple. They priced it exactly like the Magico M9. Had the M9 been $ 500K, that would have been the price of this speaker as well. Nothing to do with "value". It's what they think the market suggests.
And what they can get away with, we audiophiles grow dumber year by year ! :rolleyes:
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,650
13,684
2,710
London
And what they can get away with, we audiophiles grow dumber year by year ! :rolleyes:

Luckily the younger generation is not joining audiophilia, so average IQ will only go up.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Lagonda

Rumpole

Active Member
Aug 26, 2023
102
77
30
63
Colorado, USA
Is there any news on whether the technology in the Suprema will be used to update the reference line speakers (Aida, Lilium, and Il Cremonese)? These were first released nearly 10 years ago, so I'm guessing they are due for an update.
 

Elliot G.

Industry Expert
Jul 22, 2010
3,342
3,066
1,910
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.bendingwaveusa.com
Well maybe with the people you know, that's the way it is. But not with the 100+ families that I know and have exposure to. If you look at the families that I have known in the last 25 years, then we are probably talking in the 1000 range. At least 50 new families a year that I have been exposed to or sold to. They have really nice audio systems and the systems are installed in non-dedicated rooms and they and their families listen and enjoy music with their systems.

I would say that almost none of the 100+ families that I know right now and people that I am referring to are NOT audio hobbyists. They live non-audio hobbyist lives but have a nice audio system in their homes and their entire family listens to music through it. No they don't sit in the sweet spot and listen for the soundstage, tonality or naturalness, that's for hobbyist. They listen to music that they enjoy and don't even think about the equipment. It's about the music.
I agree with Bob, since he and I are actually in the business, we see varied types of listeners and consumers.The ones that hang around in here and go to audio shows are not the only people that buy expensive gear. Many here think that the Industry survives only with them but that is not the truth. Many if not most of our big sales go to someone purchasing an entire system and using it in their home ( different strokes ) and not ever thinking about anything other than enjoying it. The same is true for other high end things in life. I know that everyone that buys a Porsche isnt racing it or even driving at over 100 mph. They bought it for various reasons which may include they like the way it looks, they like the color, they like the name, they want the brand, they heard it weas good or the best etc. All of that is good and thankfully they spent their money without all the other drama.
When I go to my Porsche dealer most of the people I see there are not terminal autophiles. They just just drive the damn car.
 

fbhifi

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2013
178
237
350
Okatie, SC
Agree 100%. This is just Veblen pricing for those few for whom price doesn't matter. I remember ...outrage? Surprise? at the price of the Chronosonic when they came out and I can't believe these will be materially better for twice the money.

Stand back a bit, say it slowly. Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars. For a pair of speakers. Completely ridiculous.
I’d like to think that the conspicuous consumption of uber priced audio equipment is more common in the Far East markets, but maybe not…
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,669
10,942
3,515
USA
I agree with Bob, since he and I are actually in the business, we see varied types of listeners and consumers.The ones that hang around in here and go to audio shows are not the only people that buy expensive gear. Many here think that the Industry survives only with them but that is not the truth. Many if not most of our big sales go to someone purchasing an entire system and using it in their home ( different strokes ) and not ever thinking about anything other than enjoying it. The same is true for other high end things in life. I know that everyone that buys a Porsche isnt racing it or even driving at over 100 mph. They bought it for various reasons which may include they like the way it looks, they like the color, they like the name, they want the brand, they heard it weas good or the best etc. All of that is good and thankfully they spent their money without all the other drama.
When I go to my Porsche dealer most of the people I see there are not terminal autophiles. They just just drive the damn car.

I do not doubt that Elliot. Here is an audio as lifestyle photo. I imagine this household is full of music.

s-l1600.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: tima and Argonaut

Elliot G.

Industry Expert
Jul 22, 2010
3,342
3,066
1,910
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.bendingwaveusa.com
I was not saying that is the deal Peter just many buy contemporary gear, made in a finish they like , hide all the wires and sometimes the gear and listen to music with a nice pair of speakers, placed where they look best and move on. I recently visited a client who had Q7 in his bedroom like two feet away from his bed. He listens lying on his bed with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of amps, pres , dacs etc.
People spend there money the way they want. I have a client that has over 100 watches. ALl serious pieces, never worn, still have boxes and tags etc. It was about procuring them that gets him off not the wearing of them or even looking at them. I know many that have cars like that as well.
Business loves these consumers, very little drama, and they let you make some money. This is all good.
JBL Paragons arent what I was discussing and I am sure there weer a lot of "attractive looking speakers" sold in homes where no one even listened to them before buying.
 

Rhapsody

VIP/Donor
Jan 16, 2013
3,470
6,559
2,535
Brooklyn NY
Rhapsody.Audio
Elliott, you and I see what a LOT of audiophiles don't see. Everything you say regarding this subject, I say "ditto":)
 

Lagonda

VIP/Donor
Feb 3, 2014
3,515
4,825
1,255
Denmark
Elliott, you and I see what a LOT of audiophiles don't see. Everything you say regarding this subject, I say "ditto":)
Of coarse you do, and you both love high profit margins and wealthy people that don't know much about audio. They are less hassle ! :oops:
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,669
10,942
3,515
USA
I think we were talking at cross purposes. As dealers, you sell systems to customers who use them in a variety of ways, many of which are simply lifestyle systems in family rooms enjoyed by their families. I get that and it’s a wonderful thing.

As a non-dealer, I am simply making observations about friends and family and people I know. Very few of them have audio systems in living rooms or dedicated listening rooms to be enjoyed alone or with families. When I was growing up, most of my parents friends had audio systems and the kids would come home after school with a new record to quickly put on the living room stereo to listen to with friends


You are discussing your clients who seek you out and buy nice audio systems. I am talking about more or less the general public back then and today and how listening in one’s living room with family to the music of the day is no longer really a popular past time among the middle and upper classes.

These beautiful furniture grade Sonus Faber speakers might indeed go in large family rooms to be enjoyed by families. I hope that is the case as it was in the past with speakers like the JBL paragon. I like the idea of audio systems being integrated into a lifestyle in terms of aesthetics and placements within the room.
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,650
13,684
2,710
London
Of coarse you do, and you both love high profit margins and wealthy people that don't know much about audio. They are less hassle ! :oops:

I have nothing against the manufacturers or dealers who make money, nor against those who are non-audiophiles, have money, and just buy the pricey stuff without any pretense of knowing how good it sounds. Problem is the guys who flock the forums, correlate price to performance for the simple reason of justifying why what they bought is sonically the best.
 

Rhapsody

VIP/Donor
Jan 16, 2013
3,470
6,559
2,535
Brooklyn NY
Rhapsody.Audio
Of coarse you do, and you both love high profit margins and wealthy people that don't know much about audio. They are less hassle ! :oops:
Whatever you like to think, is fine with me. You seem to know all about me, so I bow to your condescending remarks.

It has nothing to do with the customers that I am referring to. A lot of these people are wonderful people, (not all) and a lot are friends that I've known now for 20+ years.

I don't measure a person's worth with what they know about audio or if they are on audio forums. A lot of these people are professors, researchers, medical professionals, musicians, all walks of life. A lot of them are very interesting people as well.

So you can diminish them or myself with your verbiage, most of these people that I refer to are not the type of people that would do that to you or others.
 

andromedaaudio

VIP/Donor
Jan 23, 2011
8,496
2,844
1,400
Amsterdam holland
The problem is people on audio forums who " know "what good sound is .

Just like i stated before 70 % of the discussions are basically arguing about " high fidelity ' and what is good and what is wrong .

There is no right or wrong HIFI is a consumer product , and its the customer who decides whether is worth the money and not some Guru/poster on an audio forum.
Who cares about those opinions , duh ... buy what you like the rest is arguing endless / useless about taste

Life is too short better watch a movie / listen to music instead
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Pokey77

Lagonda

VIP/Donor
Feb 3, 2014
3,515
4,825
1,255
Denmark
Whatever you like to think, is fine with me. You seem to know all about me, so I bow to your condescending remarks.

It has nothing to do with the customers that I am referring to. A lot of these people are wonderful people, (not all) and a lot are friends that I've known now for 20+ years.

I don't measure a person's worth with what they know about audio or if they are on audio forums. A lot of these people are professors, researchers, medical professionals, musicians, all walks of life. A lot of them are very interesting people as well.

So you can diminish them or myself with your verbiage, most of these people that I refer to are not the type of people that would do that to you or others.
Condescending ? Not knowing much about audio is normal, nothing wrong with that ! Most people don't know much about audio.
 

Rhapsody

VIP/Donor
Jan 16, 2013
3,470
6,559
2,535
Brooklyn NY
Rhapsody.Audio
Condescending ? Not knowing much about audio is normal, nothing wrong with that ! Most people don't know much about audio.
The condescending comment was in reference to me liking higher profit margins and wealthy people.

I don't judge if someone is wealthy by how many $$$ they have. I judge a person to be wealthy if they are a good person and regarding audio, I appreciate anyone that loves to listen to music.

If they happen to have $$$ and want to have a system that they can afford, to listen to and enjoy music, then I value their interest in what I sell and do what I can to accommodate their pursuits.

Again, you can think what you want about what I do and for what reason, enjoy your thoughts and have a nice weekend as well!
 

Rhapsody

VIP/Donor
Jan 16, 2013
3,470
6,559
2,535
Brooklyn NY
Rhapsody.Audio
As a non-dealer, I am simply making observations about friends and family and people I know. Very few of them have audio systems in living rooms or dedicated listening rooms to be enjoyed alone or with families. When I was growing up, most of my parents friends had audio systems and the kids would come home after school with a new record to quickly put on the living room stereo to listen to with friends
Hi Peter,

The only thing I would say is the world sure has changed. At the time you are referring to, 50+ years ago, the "victrola" was the only way that people could listen to music.

Now people have so many different ways to listen to music. Ear buds, Whole Home Audio (Sonos), YT and with video, Boom Boxes, Crazy car stereos etc. There are so many different ways for people to listen to music and I would say that in general because of I-phones/streaming music, listening to millions of people has become more personalized.

For the most part people don't sit around the living room together doing anything. Sure there are many exception but a LOT of families are on the move with all types of activities and they listen to music in a different way than they did in the past.

People don't sit in the living room together and listen to music for sure, but I bet a LOT more people on a daily basis listen to music in a variety of ways vs the amount of people that listened to music in their homes in years gone by.

My thoughts on it don't have anything to do with me being a dealer, it's just an observation. ymmv
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,669
10,942
3,515
USA
That is exactly my point Bob. 50 years ago, my parents did not have a Victrola. They had a Bose console system with two satellite speakers all furniture grade. My corner horn speakers our furniture grade and were made 60 years ago. Plenty of good turntables from 50 years ago and electronics and speakers. We have a dinner party at my house and people sit around the living room listening to the system during cocktails in front of the fireplace. This is what I mean by lifestyle. The system is integrated into a lifestyle at home in the living room. And this is how you describe a bunch of your clients and I think that is wonderful.

Argonaut the moon unit will find this post very funny as he does all of my posts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tima

Rhapsody

VIP/Donor
Jan 16, 2013
3,470
6,559
2,535
Brooklyn NY
Rhapsody.Audio
That is exactly my point Bob. 50 years ago, my parents did not have a Victrola. They had a Bose console system with two satellite speakers all furniture grade. My corner horn speakers our furniture grade and were made 60 years ago. Plenty of good turntables from 50 years ago and electronics and speakers. We have a dinner party at my house and people sit around the living room listening to the system during cocktails in front of the fireplace. This is what I mean by lifestyle. The system is integrated into a lifestyle at home in the living room. And this is how you describe a bunch of your clients and I think that is wonderful.

Argonite will find this post very funny as he does all of my posts.
I understand what you are saying about that environment and I think it’s wonderful. But it is not the way that I am talking about the people that I know that listen to music now. I feel that they listen to music in a totally different way, but they still listen and enjoy music. Nothing more than that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: adyc

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing