Now I understand the priniciple of you get what you pay for.
These speakers in my opinion are among the most open,airy and deliver one of the most accurate musical interpetations even at low, low listening levels !!! "trully amazing". I have heard numerous other fine speakers under $10,000.00 but none have promped me enough to want to sell my concertos like the Guareri's have. I know speakers are a very subjective and personal matter, however I urge anyone with $10,000 to take a listen to these (if they can find a dealer that has them, there are hard to find) for they are trully incredible!!

Musical, natural, realistic, involving, beautiful

None

I looked at many other speakers, most of them bigger and more expensive, but I have found nothing that sounds better than these beauties. They produce music that to my ears seems completely uncoloured and natural, thus capturing the true essence of a recording. When listening to classical music or jazz, they evoke in me the same sensations and emotions that I experience when attending a first rate live performance. Others have noted that in their opinions the bass is insufficient. I would disagree. I found the bass a bit dull until I bought some Siltech LS100-G3 speaker cable (btw, I tried the LS120-G3 also, and it wasn't as suitable, and now I am happy to say that even listening to rock or funk there is more than enough rich bass. Of course, if you are looking to have your zipper vibrate every time you listen to music, then these speakers are not for you (try Bose). However, if you are looking for speakers that sound natural, unexaggerated, emotionally evokative and are also visually stunning, then give these a listen before you make any decisions you will regret later.

Similar Products Used:

SF Amati, B&W Nautilus 801, Dynaudio Confidence 5, Naim Audio NBL, Thiel CS6

Violin sound the best ever; physically beautiful, finish superb.

Limited bass.

If you listen to violin, this is the speaker! My 7.2 Thiels are wonderful, coherent and full range, but on violin sound a little coarse next to the Guaneri. Indeed,the Guaneri on violin gives the most accurate reproduction of sound I have ever heard; almost uncanny, completely satisfying. A cello is a bit less satisfying, but still very good.
The sound stage is very large and deep. Although the instruments are somewhat small next to the more life-sized reproduction of the big Thiel, the sound stage is as large if not larger with the Guaneri. The size of the symphony orchestra is astonishing.
Tonally, these speakers are neutral, on the warm and rich side. They match very well with a big solid state amp. I preferred the FPB600 over the Jadis 80. Both are very good. In sum, the Guaneri is a masterpiece.

Similar Products Used:

Totem Model 1, Mani 2, various Thiels, Martin Logans, Quads

I have owned the Guarneris for almost a year now. The associated equipment currently is:
 Theta Data Basic II;
 Transparent AES/EBU dig. Interconnect (0.5m)
 Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa;
 Transparent Balanced Music Link Ultra (0.5m);
 Krell KRC-3 Pre-amp;
 Transparent Balanced Music Link Plus (1m);
 Krell KSA 50 S power amp;
 Transparent Music Wave Super Bi-Wire (8ft).

Listening room is more or less 16x12ft (ceiling at 9ft5, carpet on the floor, no particular acoustic treatments, tweeters are 3ft from side wall and 4ft from back wall).

Up until a few weeks ago, my converter drove the power amp through a passive line controller from Audio Synthesis (Passion 8S). I have recently purchased the KRC-3 with the aim to get a more 3-D sound, more dynamics and maybe some additional control in the lower end of the sonic spectrum and, of course, the possibility to add more sources in the future: tuner, vynil, etc. The KRC-3 is still burning in, but sounds already promising. This review is mostly based on my experience with the passive line controller in place.

Last spring, the Guarneris replaced the Sonus Faber Concertos. The Concertos were pleasantly detailed, with a sound that, at times and depending on the material played, could be slightly forward/sharp (especially with aggressive sounding pop/rock CDs), but did great on Classical (especially Baroque - Haendel, Telemannn, Bach), jazz (Keith Jarrett, Mike Garson, Abercombie, Cassandra Wilson, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, etc.) and well-recorded pop (Sting, Seal, David Sylvian, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel). As an old-time panel speaker fan (Magnepan) but now limited by the number of square listening room meters, I was looking for a speaker that would not take up the same space (i.e. floor space as well as the space needed for proper set-up/ positioning) as a panel speaker, that did not require the same amount of current/wattage from the power amp, BUT that would approach the irresistable and addictive sound of the Maggies as closely as possible. Since Martin Colloms wrote that the Guarneris were the dynamic speakers that, as far as sound character was concerned, came closest to his Quad ESL63's, I thought that the Guarneris could also do the job for me.

The Guarneris did not take too long to burn in. In fact, from the outset they sounded pretty convincing. What struck me most in the beginning was that a lot of the records that were not altogether pleasant to listen to through the Concertos, suddenly were at least acceptable, even at times enjoyable through the Guarneris. One of the characteristics of the Guarneris, in my experience, is that you do not have to throw top-quality audiophile recordings at them to get good sound. Does this mean they are forgiving? I do not think so. I think it means they do not favour any part of the audio spectrum (is that what they call 'flat response'?). The (to me completely acceptable) reverse of this is that sometimes, with "veiled" recordings, the Guarneris will tell you the truth and nothing more, as opposed to some other speakers (like the Wilson Cubs I recently heard with the Krell KAV 500i and the Marantz CD17) that will emphasise the treble area in such a manner that the last drop of detail (even of the 'veiled' recordings) seems to get squeezed out of the CD and thrown at the listener. A casual listener may experience that as spectacular, but I am quite convinced that, with such speakers, I would have to forget about some of my more aggressive sounding CDs again. Please note that I am not in a position to seriously comment on the sound quality of the CUBs (I only briefly listened to them at the dealer's). In fact, I must say that I actually was quite impressed with them when we played some well recorded music that I was familiar with. I just think that their forward character might be limiting factor as to the software that can be played through them without quickly leading to the famous listener fatigue.

Back to the Guarneris. Something which really impressed me was their ability to reproduce very convincing bass despite their relatively small size (I did not try any organ concertos, but I did play some of the RR HDCD stuff containing deep bass and - the acid test for bass as far as I am concerned - "Don't Give Up" on Peter Gabriel's double live CD). They even kept my guests dancing on some pretty rough synthesizer/ beat box stuff till 3 a.m. on Halloween, without sounding thin, overly bright or bass shy.

When I sit down with my 'audiophile' friends and listen to them (mostly jazz, vocal - try some of the amazing Bobby McFerrin stuff, like his recent album Circlesongs - and classical music), the usual comment I get is that these speakers sound "noble", "relaxing". Guests, even high-end cynics, are also very impressed by their sound (and looks, of course). Listening fatigue is definitely not part of the game here. They are as transparent as can be, neutral, they are capable of throwing a very convincing sound stage (their height may help in this respect), they are a delight to look at and I feel that they have so much potential that I can continue upgrading the rest of my system for many, many years to come, without having to buy other speakers. Although they are not cheap, I think that all of this taken together earns them five stars.

Easy to drive; ease of placement; scary on Blue Notes, vocals, classical--especially small groups of musicians of any genre, and when playing acoustic instruments--WOW. Huge sound field compared to other class A speakers (Martin Logans, Merlin VSMSEs, etc.) Throws an amazingly deep and wide soundstage with an almost unsurpassed separation amoung the players/instruments. Perhaps the most interesting surprise was the fact that the MUSICA--the integrated manufactured by Sonus Faber--sounded extraordinarily synergistic with the Guarneris...perhaps one shouldn't be surprised, since SF notes in their own literature that the MUSICA was developed in concert with the development--a test instrument if you will--of their latest speakers. The MUSICA/Guarneri combination sounded very tube like but with the pace, timing, and speed of a solid state amp....the best of both worlds. (And this is only the second solid state I've owned in over 2 decades...I've lived with CJ; Quicksilver; Audio Research M100s, etc for the majority of my :audiophile" listening.)

Not much information under 40 hz, but on the other hand the "bump" in my room (acoustic) at 50 hz is somehow been ameliorated with these speakers--for the first time (A bane of my expensive Genesis, MLs CLSzs with subs; Merlins, Totems with subs, etc.)

Well, finally something that proves to be worth the money. Yes, these are expensive speakers...no question, but easy to justify once one looks at the quality of the build and more importantly listens to the sound. But still, they are very costly for a small monitor. A good analogy might be with the autos one may have owned...despite the silly prices of top-of-the-line BMWs and Mercedes, if one isn't fickle (like audiophiles!) and keeps them long enough, they always prove to be a wise purchase. Pricey, but value for the money compared to more fiscally conservative purchases of Subarus, Hondas and Toyotas (with their constant model "upgrades" and specious "improvements" and the subsequent unjustified price increases.) Great cars like great audio equipment eschew trends and tend to maintain their value. In audio, like autos, you truly get what you pay for...such is the case with the Guarneris. The longer I own them the more they seem like a bargain. The best smaller monitor I ever graced my living room was the B&W Silver Sonics...and these best those great speakers quite easily. While they sound wonderful right out of the box, they continue to reveal new virtues daily as I work my way through my favorite Blue Notes, Verves, OJCs and Verves. This is not a speaker that you will grow tired of easily, if ever. In an almost masochistic manner, I would usually become fixated on a specific flaw in even the best of speakers. Happily, the Guarneris have cured this audio psycho of a propensity to listen so critically that no speaker could ever fully satisfy. By the end of the first month of previous speaker purchases, I seemed to be already scouring the audio rags for tweaks and antidotes for the specific flaws of my newest transducers. Which led me to an almost pathological replacement of ancillary equipment...hoping that the flaws of my latest speakers might lie elsewhere...in the amp, CD, DAC, cables, etc. I suppose the best compliment I can give the Guarneri/MUSICA combo is that I haven't changed cables, footers, cones---nothing. They do, however, prefer the biwiring option....other than that, they seem to be tweakproof.

They are not ruthlessly revealing of the flaws of poorly recorded or mastered CDs, but at the same time they never seem to gloss over those problems either. It's just that the "etched" highs and the brittle midrange of many so-called "perfectionist" speakers are happily absent from the Guarneris. They can't make a bad CD sound good...but one is so involved in the music that the recording flaws are decidedly secondary to the performance.

The most appealing quality right out-of-the-box was the Guarneri's ability to separate the players and instruments within a wide and deep soundstage. They don't seem to be very fussy about positioning. No tweaks, no tricks and I am most assuredly not into moving them around in quarter-inch increments in order to achieve the maximum performance. I simply placed them where they would look best in the living room (did I mention that look like the kind of furniture/ speakers a designer might place into a room for Architectural Digest or Met Home? The notorious WAF is fully operational here: I teach film design, my wife art and both of us also work as professionals in our respective fields...and these are the first speakers that our friends and colleagues qualify as both aesthetically and acoustically pleasing. Previously, the most common response--no matter how good the speakers sounded-- has been an astonished: "You paid HOW MUCH for those speakers!!"

The best thing compliment I can give any new speaker I've purchased is how long it is before I long to try the newest, latest, greatest. Thus far, nearly six months into the Guarneris and no signs yet of audio nervosa!
I'm just happily working my way through my CD collection and marveling at what I had previously missed. And I've noticed that my audio mates are staying longer and longer during listening sessions.
AND bringing over their new CD purchases just to check out how they sound...now that's unusual. I don't have the fanciest or priciest rig in my audio circle, but my system is quickly becoming their reference. And today (which motivated my review) one of my best friends was taking notes from the Sonus Faber literature...now he's contemplating trading in his Nautilis' for Guarneris! This could really send one into a diversion program...these are so good, you may have to find something else to do with all the time spent visiting the high-end shops looking for your next fix. I'm keeping these...

Similar Products Used:

see above

Rich Musical Music!

Weak bass.

I own a pair of Amati which I am of course very happy with. It was a love at first hearing.
Today, I experienced arguably the most musical experience of my hi-fi journey. When I bought the Amati, I never 'bothered' to listen to the Guarenri, mostly because I was looking for floorstanders. So when I heard the Amati, my mind was set.
What a mistake that was.
If i were to go back in time, and I heard the Guarenri, I think I will get the Guarenri, not the Amati, despite the fact that the Amati more than double the price.
In short, the Gurrenri were the most musical speakers. I didn't even have them on with good electronics. I was just listening for a pair of bookself speakers for my office, and the guy said "try these"... and my god. I was stucked in the store for hours. I could not believe these speakers. So musical, so MOVING, so involving. I have never gotten so many goosebumps from listening to Hi-Fi. I do in live concerts, but so rarely in Hi-Fi! I was really moved.
I dont know what sounded so right. All I know is they move me. Sound stage was so wide and deep, but the one thing that just knocked me off my chair is the feeling I got when I attended a Berliner Philharmoniker concert back in Boston. I still recall how the 'richness' of the strings made me quiver. THAT feeling... the richness of the sound was simply amazing.
It's true the bass is much weaker. Large orchestral pieces won't work on these. But... put it this way, I have to consider whether I should keep my Amati and just buy a second pair of speakers, or I should trade in my Amati for the Guarneri! No kidding. They are so amazng, so musicl, so rich... and in some ways, because of the richness in 'sound' and the harmonics, so 'colorful'...
These are way better tha my previous bkshlf speakers, B&W Silver Signature, which I already thought were first class monitors.

Similar Products Used:

Sonus Faber Amati Homage

This beautiful instrument has been with me for about a year now and I am sure it will stay with me for a long, long long time, and probably go into my list of classic collectible items like a vintage Patek Phillipe.

I just wonder how long it would really take to get it completely run-in as I hear it getting better all the time, this also has been observed by the previous reviewer. The explaination may well be the fact that this speaker is builts based on the craftmanship process of a violin, and any musician will tell you that a good music instrument like fine wine will age better with time.

The general comment from my audiophile friends abt this speaker as mentioned by many reviewers here is the weakness in low-frequency performance. While my initial impression towards this speaker was its natural and neutral sounding that I did not notice or realise any deficiency in the weak bass at all. As a whole, I would say that the Guarneri produces sufficient quality bass characterised by its tonally balance and musically correct behaviour thus enhancing the listening experience which I find it extremely exhilarating.

The strengths of the speaker are all you can find from any other state of art/excellent speakers plus the beautiful artistic expression which many other speakers manufacturer try to emulate.

And finally......, it may be expensive, for a piece of art, it is worth owing one.