Hi Yakamozan - I am monitoring this thread but for some reason wasn't notified of updates via email,
@spiritofmusic dropped me a message pointing me to your post. Your observations of the Nenuphar match my demo. AV Show Reports (youtube) also reviewed the Nenuphar and after my demo if I read between the lines of that review they're really coming to similar conclusions - that you wouldn't buy these for rock. Their videos on youtube also play similar kinds of acoustic music. I also had trouble with the single driver at times - and this may have been a setup issue. With some tracks the music wouldn't disconnect from the speakers and I was focusing on the single driver, really disconcerting.
I demoed the SON with the Genus and Helene dac, there was a certain softness to some of the transients that I wasn't quite sure about and I'm not sure whether to associate that issue with the dac or the amplifier. However to show the flexibility of the speaker the dealer through on a Nagra Classic Integrated and a Mola Mola Tambaqui and I was still really impressed. That combination had more snap and appeared to dig deeper in the bass. The dealer had suggested they'd tried some other amps which hadn't worked with the SON - really lacking bass. I kind of left not really knowing the direction of which amps I would choose if went for the SONs. I have spoken to Wolf and he gave me quite a few combinations. He also invited me to Germany (obviously covid has prevented that), he was more confident that he could demo them properly. It sounds like you had a fun time while you were there?
I have to say it was one of the very few speakers that I sat down in front of and thought I could comfortably sit here for hours, as well as playing all varieties of music.
I figured with the Son, that it makes a huge difference, where you place them. I was lucky enough to bought it straight from Wolf and followed his advises, especially the one with the sorbotan disks he delivers with the Son´s, and recommends their use, even on carpet flooring. Once i take them out, bass articulation and definition in sound reduces.
Still , i can imaging the Nagra´s ( which to me personally is my favorite SS equipment on the market i have to admit, due to the professional approach, the fully thought through designs and the amazing level of service ) being a bit more punchy and precise, especially at the lower end of the frequency band. The Genus might have a better level of realism and scale. Lucky those, who can call either of these systems their own i guess...
It remains, as said, always a matter of personal preference and taste.
I believe both brands are very high up on the scale, Nagra with it´s very old and great history, level of reliability and service. Aries Cerat with a single Gen(i)us approach, who show´s almost the entire market, how to do it better for half the price, even though i have to admit that the price tags for even the smallest of the AC equipment, is quite high...
I always liked supporting people like this, guess that´s why i ended up with the AC rigg, a Bauer Audio turntable and a WvL speaker, as all these dudes have this "genius and passion" element in common...
Listen to a well set up DPS turntable, and you´ll wonder, why there are more expensive turntables on the market, go listen to a WvL Son, and you´ll wonder why anyone would spend more money for a speaker ...
