Complete transparency.

None worthy of note.

These are the best stand mounting speakers I have ever heard. Their ability to communicate the music is outstanding as they do not add or subtract anything to or from the signal that they receive. I agree that they require high quality, high power amplification, but at £3,000 a pair you would expect nothing less. All in all I would say that they are Sonus Faber's best design and yes, one day I would love to own the Amati Homage or their equivalent should that day arrive. Give them serious consideration and definitely buy them with their purpose built stands.

Look, image, speed

Midrange, top end, bottom extension

Yes, I am a true audiophile because I have the urge to try out new gear all the time. EA2 is the biggest disappointment coming from Sonus Faber as far as I am concern. When they phased out the EA1, they tried to pack as much technology of Extrema into the new EA2 as they can and they did. The passive radiator, the slope face, and box construction. But gone are the ultra expensive Dynaudio Esotar tweeter and mid/bass, in are the new Peerless $30 tweeter tweaked out to sound expensive. Many will argue building speaker is an art, but I say you can't make good sound with bad drivers and EA2 proves my point. Too many manufactures are building "faster" sound by leaning the midrange, a great trick and a very inexpensive one indeed. But let me ask you have you ever heard live music sounds "hollow" or "thin"? EA1 really excel in this area, much more full range, resolving, and involving. It's understandble Sonus Faber has to drop the Dynaudio drivers because they cost over $1000 just for those four drivers, they can't really turn that much profit selling them at $3000 in Europe and dealer still has to make some money. EA2 simply does not have enough physical volume to justify a passive radiator, so don't expect too much punch under 45Hz. Side by side, listening to EA1 is like listening to live music while EA2 reminds me of hi-fi with all that sizzle on top and lean midrange. Why are some Amati owners think Guarneri sounds even better than Amati sometimes? If you absolutely have to buy a Sonus Faber, do yourself a favor and listen to Guarneri and hear what you have been missing.

Similar Products Used:

EA1, Extrema, Dynaudio, Wilson, Genesis, Merlin, KEF, and many others

I think it is totally unfair to say EA II was not muscial. I compare EA II with the FA MT1 and ProAc 1SC, and find EA II can easily win. It is very natural, with a very execllent sweeter and mid-range, and a good low base, the sound is accure, and every music lover will like it. It nearly suit all types of music.

I joined Sonus Faber in 1990 in the hope that I can contribute in revealing musical truths, and at the same time, creating products which are pleasing to the eyes. We however, did not anticipate the immense enthusiasm that our speakers have generated. Now as the president, I strive to continue in this tradition. We are grateful to all Sonus Faber clients we have through the years.

While it is true that we seriously take into consideration
the esthetics of our products we, however, will never compromise on performance.

The Electra Amator and the Electra Amator serie 2 are indeed quite different in appearance and their components. Their objectives for being remain practically unchanged. However, we have enhanced the matching flexibility of the serie 2 to reach a larger audience base.

Please continue patronizing Sonus Faber.

Regards,

Cesare

Look, imaging, detail

Not as good as EA1

Strange how people get really defensive when some people criticize EA2. First of all, how many of them have heard them side by side? Probably not too many. Second, is sequel always better than original? Not necessary.

EA1 use all Dynaudio drivers, unlike someone below claimed. Guarneri uses Dynaudio tweeter and Scan Tech woofers, currently known as Skanning which also manufactured the woofer for Extrema. They all originated from Dynaudio, the owner left Dyn and founded Scan Speak and later founded Skanning (initially called Scan Tech). So is Scan Speak better or Skanning better than Dynaudio? Who knows? Is Red Rose better than Cello or Mark Levinson? I do know Dynaudio is one of the highest regarded driver manufacture on earth in both home and professional circles. Have I ever seen Scan Speak on professional monitors? Nope! This is not to include Wilson Audio or manufactures that use Scan Speak drivers in their speakers.

Esotar has extension problem? That's a joke. If that is the case, will anyone say Egglestone Work or Merlin have extension problem? Nope! Esotar lost its face plate and go into Evidence and Temptation, do they have extension problem? Nope! Neither do Guarneri, EA1, or Extrema. EA2 sounds brighter, not "higher".

Many will in fact prefer Dyn Contour 1.3SE over EA2, I do. EA2 is sexier, but I listen with lights off and eyes close anyway. I can't impress my friends like the EA2, but I don't buy speakers to impress others.

Happy listening.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list

Very smooth midrage

Accessible, albeit layed back highs

These speakers are positioned in a very large room. Not only do they sound precise, warm, yet punchy, they are somehow satisfying . . . even in a large room.

Similar Products Used:

Apogee, Ohm, BMW

Warm, lush, detailed sound

None for me

First I must say, I dont understand the conflict going on here. I use this site to read opinions of others regarding equipment that I am considering and I don't like debates skewing the results.

Who cares about all of the other BS and if the EAII is better than the original. Also, I don't care about the individual components used in my speakers. I have heard the most expensive drivers available sound like crap. It is the sum of the parts and the design. I am not a DIY speaker builder so it doesn't mater.

There is no way this speaker deserves a 1 - 3 star rating. I have heard many of the finest stand mount speakers on the market and to me this is one of the best. True it's sound is differen't than most, but I find it much more enjoyable than the in your face treble found in most of the others. It's sound is truely enjoyable with a fine red wine and the lights down low.

Regarding the value rating, these speakers are to be compared with the finer toys available in life, Rolex Watches, Porsches, Viking BBQ's, etc. You cannot rate it's value on performance alone. Included with this fine sounding speaker you get one of the most beautiful enclosures these speakers are no less than a work of art to be displayed proudly. Compare the craftmenship and design to the overpriced, rectangular boxes that are so highly rated.

Regarding my experience with the sound, I was concerned that my VAC 30/30 would power the babies, but no worries. It does a fine job and produces plenty of dynamics and bass weight. I have heard that these are bright....now way! Detailed, smooth, and soundstage to die for. I listen to mostly Jazz and Blues and trust me these will get your feet stompin! If they have any weakness at all, it would be the tightness of the bass, but I prefer the more bloomy sound that they deliver (this is also due to my room conditions).

Many years ago I was in search of huge power and bass to shake the walls (I had 4 18" subs), then I started to anylize my equipment searching for the perfect sound. I would listen to the CD player, or the amp or the tweeters...etc. For the last few years, I have begun listining to music, lyrics, instruments, voices, ambience, etc. I have found more success in matching CD's to my system than matching my system to my CD's. Lets face it, alot of CD's sound like crap! So invest your money in music not equipment upgrades.

If you want to relax and enjoy music, these just might be for you too.

Equipment:

VAC 30/30 MKIII
VAC Limited Edition
Sony SCD777ES
PS Audio PP300
PS Audio Lab cables
Cardas Golden Cross IC's
Cardas Neutral Ref. Bi-wire

Enjoy the music!

Similar Products Used:

Concerto Home, Silverline SR-17, Merlin TSM, PSB Stratus Mini, Joseph Audio RM7si, Platinum Audio Solo, the list goes on.....

Easier to match compared to EAI

Loses out to EAI in absolute accuracy assuming both are properly set up

Reading the feedbacks from various SF EA owners, it is apparent that a lot of them does not understand the SF philosophy. SF obviously took into account not only sound quality but aesthetics as well. Comparing the two, I could say that both are excellent performers except for low bass extension which is attributed to its design as compacts. SF basically shifted design thinking in their later series (concerto, EA2, concert grand etc.) making them a lot easier to drive and match, while the older design behaved very much like their dynaudio cousins. The older EA's need very high quality gear to make them work right, achieving that will definitely make you realize how good they really are. Consequently this character made these a little bit harder to work with. The newer EA's on the other hand are quite friendly, I have heard these hooked up to lower end Musical Fidelity's and they sound gorgeous. In my experience with both models, hooked up to a refernce class amplification system such as the Mark Levinson 380S and 336 power amp and the likes, in absolute terms the EA2 loses out a bit in terms of accuracy. Its bit leaner at the mid to midhi region and lacks a bit detail. Now which one is better? its arguable, both are definitely excellent. Beauty? Sonus products are known to be works of art, yes, but there's a price for that. Question is, are you willing to pay for it?

Similar Products Used:

Dynaudio Contours, Unity Audio Signatues

The review by David Linn is a nonsense.

Building a speaker is an art, as he said. And Franco Serblin is an artist. Of course the Esotar tweeter is gone now. That tweeter, is well known has an extension problem, that caused the speaker to sound shoot in and veiled. The new tweeter has great extension and control, with great timbral accuracy. As for the woofer, it is the same unit used on many great designs, Wilson Audio Puppy is just an example. The Sonus Faber Electa Amator II is a peace of art, nor just because it uses good drive units and an axcellent box, but mainly because of the way all the things were put together to produce an outstanding speaker system. That is what I call The Art of made a loudspeaker.

Don´t try to evaluate the individual components - go and listen for yourself, but beware, high end components are essential to listen to the Electa Amator II in full glory.

I recently changed my speakers from the ProAc Response 1SC to Sonus Faber Electa Amators II. The ProAc's were superb within their price range but for sheer communication the Electa's leave them standing. I am playing my Cd's and just keep saying "Wow". Everything is so natural. The top end never shouts but is all there - the midrange is so beautifully natural placing instruments and vocalists in the room - and the bass is again beautifully rendered being very deep without any boom and just so natural. These speakers are not Hi-Fi but are musical instruments allowing the music to "breathe". I cannot possibly imagine changing these (we've all said this before, I know), unless of course I move to a much larger house and would love the Amati Homage.
My ancillary equipment:
Krell KAV300i
Eikos CD Player
Chord Oddessy Speaker Cable
Chord Solid Interconnect