Sound wonderful, subject to constraints mentioned below. Real craftsman finish

Need appropriate (and expensive) amplification to drive them.

These speakers can sound sublime, but only in the right system. I've heard them coupled to Copland gear (excellent), Electrocompaniet (excellent), Denon (buy something else), Densen (bright with puzzling loss of detail) and Audio Analog. In the end most of my pre-purchase listening came down to the Audio Analog amp/CD player combination, recommended by two English Hi Fi specialists, and the Electrocompaniet/Copland combination.

Now, I've heard Audio Analog amps many times and have been duly impressed, though I'm lukewarm about their CD players - warm, lose a bit in the bottom, and hate hard rock. With the Concertos, the system sounded simply dull. There was pleasant, if unexciting midrange, tight but not deep bass and an occasionally sibilant treble. We changed speaker cables, and the treble improved, but there was nothing about the sound of the Concertos that said "buy me".

About a week later I went back to my then local Dutch dealer, who obligingly set up the Electrocompaniet and Densen system for me. It was then that I twigged: these speakers love expensive amps. You simply cannot give them average or average to good amplification, they like quality and they only start hitting their straps with quality. Not only that, but an amp that is a bit forward, such as the Densen, will unsettle then to the point where they sound a touch strident - and, well, ordinary.

Be prepared for another endearing, or expensive feature depending upon how you look at it: the better the cable, the better they sound. You simply cannot compromise with the lower end "best buy" cables that regularly win awards in British HiFi mags.

So are they worth it? If you're prepared to live with the above, then it's a resounding yes, yes, and yes again. These aren't the best loudspeakers I've heard, but just where exactly do the Tannoy horns fit in the average loung room?

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Tannoy 630, Kef Reference 101

Wwwwwiiiiiddddeeeee soundstage, cozy warmth

definitely need a subwoofer

I originally heard SFs at Bay Area Audio while on a trip to San Jose. I had been auditioning B&W 600 series, Paradigms, NHTs, Monitor Silver series, and Jamos, but when I heard the SFs, I modified my budget--I was thrilled. I was impressed by the smoothness,warmth, and natural sound--definitely a lot less bright than most of the others to which I had listened, and I was concerned that they may a little to "laid back." As I listened for a longer period of time though, I was pleased that they were the most exciting speakers I had heard. The imaging was simply incredible. I couldn't stop thinking about them, and it wasn't long before I owned a pair. In my small living room, they perform as well as they had at the stereo shop. The Magnepan MMGs I had previously sound muddy and flat in comparison. The Concertos perform incredibly on all types of music (from Holst to NOFX to Squirrel Nut Zippers to Nine Inch Nails to Natalie Merchant) as well as movies. I also have the SF Solo center--it took longer to break in than the Concertos and still doesn't sound quite as musical and "free," but still performs exceptionally. Now I just need a subwoofer that can match their performance...

The best compact speaker that I have ever heard ! To-die-for midrange !Sweet, sweet treble, yet detailed ! Big, tight bass ! Deep, wide soundstage !
Dynamic ! Best description is : very, very musical !! And just because it's
a Sonus Faber doesn't mean it can't rock. The Concerto can even be used as a
home theatre speaker, being magnetically shielded.

Of course, partner it with the best equipment you can afford ... Add in a REL
sub to make it full-range ...

In Singapore at only US$ 1,000 to 1,100, the best value high-quality speaker in
the market today.

guaranteed you won't regret this speaker, if you value musicality over hi-fi pizzazz.

It's pedigree is immediately apparent, as it sounds so good even just out of the box ... In the words of Sandy below, I agree that "it'll make you cry"
for joy at making the right decision ...

Not for amps with less than 70 watts, though. Best combination is to use a tube preamp, and a powerful solid-state power amp.

Midrange, vocal, classical instruments

Slightly bright highs, bass control could have been tighter

This is a wonderful pair of speakers which reproduces string and wood instruments like no other. It is the primary reason that made me acquired this pair of nicely finished baby. Although I also like the vocals, I find the highs tend to be a bit bright. Double bass tends to sound slightly boomy although sometimes I believe it is due to my room acoustics. When used with quality amps and CDP the output sound quality is hard to beat.

Neutral, well balanced, nice soundstage, price

non

I own my Concertos for mor than one year now.
Didn't take the time to write down a review but after reading the previous posting (by 'Upset') I had no choice then set things straight.

The concertos are very neutral and well balanced sounding speakers.
The high end is very detailed but not over emphased. You can listen for hours to these speakers without any fatigue. A problem a had with many other speakers with more spectacular highs.
(Now way they show too much sibilance, on the contrary)!!!
Bass output is better than you would expect from this size of speakers.
Maybe bass control could be a little bit tighter but I think they had to compromise to extend the low end.
Soundstage is incredible.
They can be driven at high levels without any problem.

Rest of my equipment:
- Restek Challenger amplifier (Class A)
- Mission DAD5 CD-player
- Mission DAC5 external DAC
- Interconnects: Monster Cable Interlink 400
- Speaker cable: QED Qudos

Every component has the best price/performance ratio in its class. And the Concertos fit in perfectally in this approach.

I primarily listen to acoustic Blues, Jazz and acoustic pop.
I'm a professional sound engineer. Listended to hundreds of speakers in my life, and I can tell you the Concertos are a reference in there price class!

Dynamic,clean sound, detail and the best if they are set up at the rear speaker if you like to watch movie.

none

First I used them as the front speaker and then after I bought a pair of SF Grand piano, I set them to the rear speaker.
I listened them at the front almost over a year and that I found the only thing I'm not satisfy with the bass sound, the treble is excellent. Again all the SF are good with whoever love classical, new age, instrumental music’s and movie.
These speakers tested with:
Monster cable, B&K pre-amp Ref30, B&K power amp Ref7250, DVD player Denon DVD-5000
Until today I still love them..They are the best with the price I was paid for.

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Concertino

Dynamic,clean sound, detail and the best if they are set up at the rear speaker if you like to watch movie.

none

First I used them as the front speaker and then after I bought a pair of SF Grand piano, I set them to the rear speaker.
I listened them at the front almost over a year and that I found the only thing I'm not satisfy with the bass sound, the treble is excellent. Again all the SF are good with whoever love classical, new age, instrumental music’s and movie.
These speakers tested with:
Monster cable, B&K pre-amp Ref30, B&K power amp Ref7250, DVD player Denon DVD-5000
Until today I still love them..They are the best with the price I was paid for.

Similar Products Used:

Concertino

musical, natural

they do not cook;)

It is now more than 2 Years, that I use the concertos with full satisfaction. I really love them. I clean the leather the same way as I clean my black shoes! As for the black piano finish, I have only to dust it. They look as new. Only the grill fabric got dirty from removing the grill all the time … and fabric was folded when I tried to clean it (it is very delicate).
As for the sound ….. marvelous!

But now I was looking for more power in order to “feel” the music – to feel the air coming out from all the horns, trumpets, saxes etc. (higher efficiency speakers will not do the work for me, as I am looking for natural, sweet and full sound).
Investing into an additional amp is a more future proof investment IMO. I did not want to buy new speakers either, as I’m very happy with my SF + the REL sub; and I do not have the money to put down 12 grand for a pair of Von-Schweikert VR6 ;)
In addition I have very long runs to my speakers, so I use XLR’s from the Bel-Canto Pre1 to the amps, which are now close to each speaker.

I added yesterday an additional Bel-Canto amp, and I do not regret it.
(Bel-Canto built this so it can be bridged, and is designed to be of high quality as Monoblocks even more than in Stereo).
The only thing I was concirned about was, if the Concertos can take up the 2 monoblocked Bel-Canto amps, resulting in 360 watts per chanel!

My findings:
Out of the box the sound was awful harsh. I was ready to give up my trial, as I had the Idea to use the Densen Demagnetizing CD.
What a difference there was, even after the first 3 min run of the CD! The sound was immediately softer, as if I had let it run for 40 hours break-in (at least as soft as the Rotel RCD971 allows ;)). Now I’ll leave them working for the break-in, knowing that it will be only better.
Further, I was used to listen to my CD’s at 75 db (when my wife is not around), now 67 db is more appropriate. The sound is full, natural and with a lot of air, as if I added 10 REL subwoofers! (OK maybe only 5 :)). + The soundstage is wider more detailed and very exact.
As for the performance for HT: No words, but breathtaking full and detailed … and I had to recalibrate the SPL of all the channels with the SPL meter, resulting a decrease of the mains SPL for about 5db.

I think I found, what I was looking for. No new speakers could achieve this result for 2300 US$ (paid for the additional amp).

Now I cannot wait to upgrade my CDP …..


My setup: http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/291.html

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AE100

Overall sound quality, build, non-fatiguing

SPL

I have had the Concerto since they pretty much debuted 5 years ago. I was turned onto them by the saleperson I was dealing with at Harvey and once I heard them, I had to have them! I was initially looking at the Concertino's and another speaker from a manufacturer I can't remember. The Concertino's were nice but just didn't have that special "it" I was looking for. I saw the Concerto's and even though I saw the price tag I had to give it a try. I sat down and they played Natalie Merchant singing "Verdi Cries" on a Meridian player and I fell in love within the first few notes. I had never heard anything so detailed, transaparent, clear and with such good bass (good, not deep) before! I agreed to buy the speakers then and there. I think they were pair 500 or something like that, so still very new to the market. I have used them in several different room, all having different sonic characteristics and with the attached stands, they sound great in every room I try them in. My current listening environment is deep and somewhat wide with carpets and wall hangings. They don't play nearly as loud as they once did with more reflective surfaces and the same amp, but the sound is as sweet as ever. I can't imagine buying different speakers! Over the years I have added a Solo Center (the older variety) and a Rel Strata III sub. I am currently looking into buying the Wall for the surrounds. I admit I like listening to music more than watching movies on the system but they work great for both. They look as beautiful today as the day I bought them almost 5 years ago to the day and sound even better!

Similar Products Used:

None, but many tested including SF Concertino's, Mission, B&W monitors and Vienna Acoustics

Magical. amazing imaging, human, musical, sublime

none

As the reviews below were helpful, I will try to return the favor. Note right off the bat that I agree with several of my fellow 'reviewers' in terms of these speakers being absolutely ruthless if confronted with inferior source material (either the gear or the recordings). It's as if they are insulted! It is a priviledge to hear music reproduction at this level of quality! Yes, they are price ( At least for me, I bought mine used), but if you aspire to a truly unique and musical experience then you simply must hear these - and you must hear them matched to gear that is in the same league. In my case I heard them when I walked in coupled to Cary 300SE monoblocks (a 300B tube single-ended approach) for about 5 minutesw when I first walked into the dealers. Then we switched to what I had come to listen to. Well guess what, I got home and discarded that concept! It HAD to be those Sonus Faber Concertos. Playing vinyl, (such as Mighty Sam McClain "Give It Up to Love" on Audioquest, produced by my friend and audio guru Joe Harley, as Sam Tellig put it "Killer"!!!) So, get with the right gear going in and let these beautiful speakers work their magic. Bass extension you say? Plenty of it for me - a solid foundation, totally integrated into the sonic image. There are NO frequency bumps from these speakers, their frequency response from top to bottom is absolutely seamless, at the level of musicality of a fine Hamburg Steinway! 'Coherence' and 'Imaging' concern you? I had several Indian musicians in my living room playing ragas for me the other night thank you very much, entirely due to these speakers. Soundstage is holographic. 'Non-fatiguing' is way to faint a term - if my wife did for the rest of me what the Sonus Fabers do to my eardrums, we'd have something! Built like a fine violin (I happen to have the shiny black 'piano' finish with black leather sides, and they look great sitting in the living room with my similarly finished Petrof grand piano. Thanks you my new friends at Sonus Gaber - long may you continue!! Try these - you will thank me (and check out those Cary's too while you're at it! ) You will thank me!

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Vandersteen