Sonus Faber Aida vs Magico Q5

[DaveyF]

Thanks, Davey - good to know...very interesting. sometimes, stuff is just legend that gets spread round and round. In any event, i also prefer the 'original GH's to the newer models, even though i very much respect their design targets for those and where i think they have succeeded in what it appears they were focused on delivery.

As for amps, i also believe from the original 1994 review by Martin Colloms which i still have...or from someone else's review...he also used Berning which should sound pretty great from what i have been told with the GHs.

Thanks Lloyd, that's very interesting, I did not know that Franco had also used a Berning amp. That would be a HUGE improvement over the Musica, IMO. I have not heard the GH's with a Berning, but I would love to try that combo.

 

[LL21]

Thanks Lloyd, that's very interesting, I did not know that Franco had also used a Berning amp. That would be a HUGE improvement over the Musica, IMO. I have not heard the GH's with a Berning, but I would love to try that combo.

In the Jan 2005 Stereophile review of the SF Strad, the author notes that Franco Serblin was using the Berning ZHZ20 70watt amp on the Strads...he also had the Krell 700 Stereo on the Strads in Ken Kessler's review.

 

[microstrip]

In the Jan 2005 Stereophile review of the SF Strad, the author notes that Franco Serblin was using the Berning ZHZ20 70watt amp on the Strads...he also had the Krell 700 Stereo on the Strads in Ken Kessler's review.

Lloyd,

The first public audition of Stradivari, in the presence of Franco Serblin at the end of 2003, was carried in a system including an Accuphase DP75 CD-player, Cello Étude passive preamplifier and Krell FPB350cx amplifiers. The berning ZHZ20 amplifier is a very special tube amplifier using a very unusual topology - it can not be considered a tube amplifier in the usual accession of the general properties of tube amplifiers.

I have tried several conventional tube amplifiers (but not the ZHZ20) on the Stradivari and none could drive them adequately. It was main reason I sold them.

 

[LL21]

Lloyd,

The first public audition of Stradivari, in the presence of Franco Serblin at the end of 2003, was carried in a system including an Accuphase DP75 CD-player, Cello Étude passive preamplifier and Krell FPB350cx amplifiers. The berning ZHZ20 amplifier is a very special tube amplifier using a very unusual topology - it can not be considered a tube amplifier in the usual accession of the general properties of tube amplifiers.

I have tried several conventional tube amplifiers (but not the ZHZ20) on the Stradivari and none could drive them adequately. It was main reason I sold them.

That is quite funny...i ran a long thread in Audiogon yrs ago...Powerful Tube Amp for my SF Strads...and got all manner of suggestions. I considered the big Berning Quad Z monos. In the end, i elected to drop tubes and go with Gryphon Antileon and have stayed with Gryphon since. The Antileon and SF Strad went well together. It dramatically changed the bass for the better (compared with mid-powered CJ tube amp...MV60).

 

[mep]

That is quite funny...i ran a long thread in Audiogon yrs ago...Powerful Tube Amp for my SF Strads...and got all manner of suggestions. I considered the big Berning Quad Z monos. In the end, i elected to drop tubes and go with Gryphon Antileon and have stayed with Gryphon since. The Antileon and SF Strad went well together. It dramatically changed the bass for the better (compared with mid-powered CJ tube amp...MV60).

Having a SS amp dramatically change the bass for the better compared to a tube amp surprises who?

 

[LL21]

[/B]


Having a SS amp dramatically change the bass for the better compared to a tube amp surprises who?

ok, ok...not me. That said, i was still surprised at how much deep bass snap the SF Strads could deliver with the right amplification.

 

[mep]

Most people who have listened exclusively to their speakers with tube amps for a prolonged period of time would be surprised at how much more bass is there with a SS amp assuming their speakers have any real capabilities in the bottom two octaves. I know I was.

 

[microstrip]

ok, ok...not me. That said, i was still surprised at how much deep bass snap the SF Strads could deliver with the right amplification.

You are right, the MV60 was clearly underpowered to drive the Stradivari. I tried the twice as powerful MV125 - eight 6550C - and it was not enough. Only the Premier8A could drive them. They were a very difficult load. And the most critical zone was not the deep bass, but the medium zone.

BTW bass can have quantity and quality. I prefer the second option when I can not have both.

 

[mep]

You are right, the MV60 was clearly underpowered to drive the Stradivari. I tried the twice as powerful MV125 - eight 6550C - and it was not enough. Only the Premier8A could drive them. They were a very difficult load. And the most critical zone was not the deep bass, but the medium zone.

BTW bass can have quantity and quality. I prefer the second option when I can not have both.

What true music lover/audiophile wouldn't make the same choice?

 

[Peter Breuninger]

Most people who have listened exclusively to their speakers with tube amps for a prolonged period of time would be surprised at how much more bass is there with a SS amp assuming their speakers have any real capabilities in the bottom two octaves. I know I was.

+1+1+1 that's all three of me agreeing with Mep.

 

[andromedaaudio]

It s not absolute , there are speakers that can do /handle both and which are a full range passive design .

 

[seriouslyhifi]

I would certainly take the Aida over the Magico Q5 with the Wilson Alexia a non starter. I have lived with the Wilson Watts/Puppy in all there incarnations, MAXX, MAXX 3, Alexendra and I believe that the Wilson`s are living in past glory. Their sound has not kept up with the times and sounds dated. The new breed of manufacturers like Magico, YG Acoustics, Raidhio, big MBL`s, Sonus Aida, Rockport are way, way ahead of the Wilson`s. Wilsons were great if you were living in the year 1990. Sorry about this but it is the truth. Go for the Aida. Great speaker or the new YG Acoustic Sonja or the Magico Q 7 or the Raidho 4.1.

 

[Bruce B]

I would certainly take the Aida over the Magico Q5 with the Wilson Alexia a non starter. I have lived with the Wilson Watts/Puppy in all there incarnations, MAXX, MAXX 3, Alexendra and I believe that the Wilson`s are living in past glory. .

Then you are really living in the past my friend. The Alexia and XLF sound nothing like Wilson's of old. I've had previous Wilsons as well as others. I'd put the new Alexia and XLF along side the other's you mentioned and yes I've heard them. I do like the big Rockports, MBL's and SF The Alexia's replaced the big MM3's in my room and I'm glad I did.

 

[seriouslyhifi]

Hi Bruce, Do not want to get into a argument but have heard the Wilson XLF at length closely with AR Reference amps, Dan`s amps and other combinations. I yet say that the NEW Wilson sound is dated and does not hold up to the NEW breed of speaker manufacturers. I could easily have the Wilson XLF at home but would never choose to. Have nothing against Wilson as grew up with them but the world has changed and so has speaker technology. But the Wilson`s have not kept pace, if I were to put it in perspective. Have sat in plenty of listening sessions with the Wilson XLF and quiet a few with very, very, respected Manufacturers of Amplifier/Speaker/Cable and all of came to the same conclusions. Nice for an 80K speaker and not a 200K speaker. Hope you enjoy the Alexia and good luck to you. Take care.

 

[jap]

I would certainly take the Aida over the Magico Q5 with the Wilson Alexia a non starter. I have lived with the Wilson Watts/Puppy in all there incarnations, MAXX, MAXX 3, Alexendra and I believe that the Wilson`s are living in past glory. Their sound has not kept up with the times and sounds dated. The new breed of manufacturers like Magico, YG Acoustics, Raidhio, big MBL`s, Sonus Aida, Rockport are way, way ahead of the Wilson`s. Wilsons were great if you were living in the year 1990. Sorry about this but it is the truth. Go for the Aida. Great speaker or the new YG Acoustic Sonja or the Magico Q 7 or the Raidho 4.1.

So, what speakers do you own now?

 

[rockitman]

Hi Bruce, Do not want to get into a argument but have heard the Wilson XLF at length closely with AR Reference amps, Dan`s amps and other combinations. I yet say that the NEW Wilson sound is dated and does not hold up to the NEW breed of speaker manufacturers. I could easily have the Wilson XLF at home but would never choose to. Have nothing against Wilson as grew up with them but the world has changed and so has speaker technology. But the Wilson`s have not kept pace, if I were to put it in perspective. Have sat in plenty of listening sessions with the Wilson XLF and quiet a few with very, very, respected Manufacturers of Amplifier/Speaker/Cable and all of came to the same conclusions. Nice for an 80K speaker and not a 200K speaker. Hope you enjoy the Alexia and good luck to you. Take care.

ru for real ? LOL... Take care yourself....

 

[Peter Breuninger]

I would suspect our new poster has not heard the Alexia in his home or studio with careful set up. All speakers have their pluses and minuses for each of us as individuals. Indeed, material technologies have advanced and we now have more flavors to choose from. I believe the new Wilsons have advanced with the pace of the new companies, it's a world of flavors and preferences. The new Alexia is state of the art in my opinion as is the XLF and the last session I had with Alexandria II was simply fantastic.

 

[seriouslyhifi]

Hi Peter the forum is the place for people like us to voice our opinions and enjoy different views. I respect yours and accept the same, but I am not the "new poster" as you suggest. Yes I have heard the Alexia and yes I spend many hours with friends in the Industry (manufacturers and owners) who we all look up to as the icons of our industry. I have had the opportunity of being part of many audio products which we all talk about even today and at this moment I fortunately have 3 different products at home from different manufacturers which are yet to be released in the high end audio world and I can assure that 2 of them are path breaking. You will read about them in the near future or even have the opportunity to review them. We will surely meet sometime in the future over a bottle of nice bordeaux and share our experiences and enjoy different perspectives because finally nothing is perfect and we live in a variable world. I have high respect for you but on just one point we have different views which is fair. Life is simple.

 

[Steve Williams]

Hi Peter the forum is the place for people like us to voice our opinions and enjoy different views. I respect yours and accept the same, but I am not the "new poster" as you suggest. Yes I have heard the Alexia and yes I spend many hours with friends in the Industry (manufacturers and owners) who we all look up to as the icons of our industry. I have had the opportunity of being part of many audio products which we all talk about even today and at this moment I fortunately have 3 different products at home from different manufacturers which are yet to be released in the high end audio world and I can assure that 2 of them are path breaking. You will read about them in the near future or even have the opportunity to review them. We will surely meet sometime in the future over a bottle of nice bordeaux and share our experiences and enjoy different perspectives because finally nothing is perfect and we live in a variable world. I have high respect for you but on just one point we have different views which is fair. Life is simple.

are you in the industry

 

[seriouslyhifi]

Hi Steve, I have some connections but my life revolves around a completely different industry. Very different. I have been lucky enough to have friends in the Industry since 30 years and I know the politics, so keep away and just enjoy what I like. I thought a lot before joining the forum as I knew that I would say things people may not like or want to hear. I respect everyones views and let us just have a good time by being honest and respecting everyone`s judgement and MOVE ON. Thank you for creating a forum which is well respected and I hope I can add value to it. It is only HiFi and must be enjoyed in any form.
Life is Simple.