What is clearly evident is that Yee Fung must have more experience before posting ridiculous commentary like the one before this.
The Totem Mani 2 is a nice speaker but it is nowhere near the resolution or explosive dynamics of the mighty Extrema. All it has is a bit more controlled bass thats all, but it is a boring speaker because it is so slow! It does not project a similarly sized and focused soundstage etc etc. I could go on and on but that bottom line is the Extrema is a much more musical speaker than the Mani 2.

1 star for Yee Fung, 5 Stars for the Extrema!

Having listened to many different speakers, I chose the Extremas for the good qualities highlighted in the previous reviews. Straight out of the box I was very dissapointed with the sound and wondered if I had made a mistake. However, after a few months of running in I couldn't be happier. The Extremas can be driven to very high sound levels and yet retain full control over treble and bass with excellent punch and drive. If I have a complaint, it is that I feel the bass could extend a little lower, but what bass there is certainly makes its presence felt. There is no doubt that, in certain areas, other speakers I listened to were able to deliver a better performance than the Extremas. None, however, had the same all round capability to deliver a true audiophile sound that I could listen to all night.

After owning Sonus Faber Electa Amator, KEF Reference 3, Genesis VI, B&W 801, Wilson Witt, and hear many other "high-end" speakers, I finally settled with the Extrema. Some might be right about the losse bass, and some might compain about the recess top-mid freq, but no one will ever argue how musical the Extrema is if driven and setup correctly.
All those "high-power" hype about the Extrema are not real - I owned ARC VT-100 which sounds better than FPB 300, ML 333, and Classe 400. If you are looking for absolute bass from Extrema, you are looking at the wrong speakers. Extrema gives you music, not sound. You can easily buy a solid state to drive those big cheap speakers and get better low end.

One of the most musical speakers on earth!

Extrema's are way too pricey. Bass below 35 hz is non existent. Mids are natural, highs are slightly reticent. Good dynamics for cabinet size, but very poor if compared to others in the same price category. Totem Mani 2's offer equal or slightly better performance for a great deal less. And even they are overpriced.

very musical

need a lot of power to work good

I recently bought the Extrema's and these are the best speakers which has been at my adress yet! However they need a lot of power to play weel. I started out with my Bow Technologies ZZ-one amp, which is a 75w amp. Of couse this wasen't enough, and the Extrema's lacked in dynamics. I then had several amps playing at home (Gryphon, Mark Levinson and Holfi) but far the best result was with the digital amp from Tact(Tact Millinium. This combination plays really wonderfull, and I can only recommend other Extrema owners to give Tact a try. The sound is very neutral, extremely detailed and the most important very very musical.

Very coherent sound and beautiful mid-range.

Bass definition not as distinct.

I auditioned the Extremas with the Classe Omega power amp. While the overall sound was musical, I think a power amp with more bass definition might be a better match. I am considering the new Mark Levinson 335 (rated at 250wpc). I heard the Extremas need a lot of power to sound dynamic. Does anybody know if this is enough? How much power is recommended? I play loud rock music in a moderately large room (ie 16 feet X 8.5 feet X 21 feet).
Thanks

Similar Products Used:

Wilson Cub, Wilson Watt/Puppies V

By the way, Electa Amator II has tighter base than Extrema? What a joke! It seems that "Hans from Florida" even did not know that EA II's passive radiator is a much scaled-down imitation of Extrema. As to the high, Dynaudio Esotar 330d is one of the best tweeter in the world, used in Extrema and Electa Amator I, but not EA II.

"Hans from Florida" describe Extrema's sound as "average" which demonstrate that he has absolute no first-hand expericnce with these speakers. I shall agree if "average" means in the same category with Avalon Opus, Amati Hommage, and Oracle Helicon, three of the best speakers I have listened to beside Extrema. All of them share one characteristic: MUSICALITY. There are certainly other fine speakers, and EA II is not bad (but really "average", i.e., significantly compromised compared with the above four models). And musicality is the end for Hi-end. Otherwise this hobby becomes what Marx called fetishism.

This is a hobby. But it still needs both reason, sense, and prudence. And honesty of course.

I had bad experience with some Electa Amator II owners. They are very parochial and thought "EA II is the best speaker in the world," etc, and will dump negative comments on the products being compared. The fact that I preferred EA I to II and initiated some debate on that forum. Since then the EA I was constantly being put negative comments. I expect that they will do the same in for Extrema. But who cares? I have owned EA I, my collegue by my office has a EA II driving by Mark Levinson Integrated amp. He was envious that I can find a second-hand Extrema, for the same price as his EA II with stone/wood stand. I am intimately with the sound of all three models.

"Hans from Florida," EA II is a "full range speaker" for you?!!! Come on, you may not even see an Extrema, based on your ignorant comments. Better not listen to Extrema, or your ignorance will end up in broken heart. These two speakers belong to two different categories. Extrema should be compared with Amati Hommage, not your EA II.

As for me, "Hans from Taipei," I will listen to music and not wasting time debating these nonsense. Any one can regards his own speakers to be the best sounding and looking in the world, but the truth will only be for those with open heart and impartial judgment. These virtues are lacking in some EAS II owners. Sad fact.

The sound

These speakers are too expensive for the average sound they produce. I think most people look at them and say "These must sound good" but they really are just average sounding speakers. Bass can be muddy and unconvincing let alone the fact that for 12000.00 they LACK bass!?! What is this? Don't you think for that kind of bread you could get a full-range speaker? Even the average used price of 6000.00 is crazy!! Please people, look elsewhere before spending that kind of cash. The Faber EA 2's are the way to go, better bass, tweeter is more synergistic with the rest of the range, much more refined and tight & at the current going rate of 3000.00 they are a steal.

Similar Products Used:

Sonus Faber EA 2's

Hi, has anyone tried to use a Sub with the Sonus Faber Extremas. The Extremas are very deep and use that passive woofer. I'v heard some people say, the Extremas wouldn't sound good with a sub and some people who say, the Extremas would sound good with a Sub. The 3 Subs I'v heard that i like, are the Genesis 900 sub, Muse 18 Sub and the top of the line Rel Subs.