Sonus Faber Venere 2.5...what I think about those
Well well, I popped yesterday for a visit to Francis' shop in Antwerpen and I am glad to find out he just put in place and connected the new floorstanders from Sonus Faber, the Venere 2.5 in glossy black. I had a lot of time to have a look and have a listen also.
Units are brand new so not run-in yet. We used a Macintosh cd player (5k euro) and a Clearaudio Cocnept turntable. Amoplifier was a stunning-for-the-price Mastersound Dueventi, 2x20W pure class A tube amp with EL34 tubes. Another Italian product 
Speakers are greatly built...unbelievable what 2500 euro can buy. Usual Sonus Faber style, nice line, imposing speakers and very elegant. Pity the only grey ring around the tweeter in a full black front. It's a "cheapo" touch which looks a little bit made in China...but close your eyes on that and sit down for a listen
Didn't listen attentively for the first 30 minutes as amp was warming up and speakers are out of the box. Once I sit down something I notice straight away: those speakers are very different from any other Sonus Faber speaker I have heard. They are quite aggressive, quite bright. The delaer also feelt the same and I was so glad as I realized I am starting to learn something
It's like sitting in the front row...but that might not be pleasant for a long listening session. Had to take a pause and stand up every now and then, go for a tour in the shop and coming back. It might also be that they were brand new so need a proper run-in, this will be fixed next Saturday as I am going there and have a new listen after they have been playing 24/7 for an entire week.
I was very impressed by this "small" 20W tube amplifier driving those big speakers as loud as you want to go (we went very loud on the Flamenco Fever record). Sound was 3D, the speakers were filling the room with great authority. Very detailed and open, a lot of air...but pity as in the bass department they are a bit shy. I was used to a much better bass from the Guarneri Memento.
But ehy...those floorstanders are very good for the price (2500 euro price tag) and are a great match with a tube amplifier actually. I will report a bit more next week when I have a second good listen!
Was very impressed by Mastersound indeed. A "low-powered" amp with a lot of authority, impact and detail.
I also think that it is due to the newess of speakers as I can't believe SF is changing so drastically the policy...
Anyway I will be able to tell something better next weekend.
Interesting that the speakers are bright and unbearable. Have read other reviews which have praised them as real Sonus quality speakers.
I'm not sure you'll be happy with anything else other than the SFG's Alex.
The Mastersound compact 845 is a valve amp on my radar for the new year... the only thing that puts me off, it has to be manually biased.
Mac
Interesting that the speakers are bright and unbearable. Have read other reviews which have praised them as real Sonus quality speakers.
Don't get me wrong...I havent said thy are rubbish speakers 
!
But again, those were out of the box units so on Saturday night of next week I will have a much better view!
I'm not sure you'll be happy with anything else other than the SFG's Alex.
The Mastersound compact 845 is a valve amp on my radar for the new year... the only thing that puts me off, it has to be manually biased.
Mac
If you are interested Mac, I can connect it next weekend to the Venere as Francis has it in stock (the Mastersound 845) 
I know, yesterday I had another look at the SFG and said to Francis I will take them (after 2 bottles of Amarone though )! Still haven't figured out when and how, but this is happening!
Ooh, they are very very sexy! Thank you for sharing your first impressions with us, always appreciated.
Are they supposed t replace the Toy Towers, or do they sit in between the Toy and Liuto towers?
edit: are they front ported, or what is that at the bottom?
Interesting that the speakers are bright and unbearable. Have read other reviews which have praised them as real Sonus quality speakers.
I think you are right...reading reviews like this:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonusfaber3/1.html
I suspect they may sound a little "fresher" than the usual SF, so either they need a lot of running in, or they need more muscle than the Mastersound is able to provide.
In theory, they should be able to "bat" well above their price level, and so are definitely a speaker to keep an eye on.
I'm not sure you'll be happy with anything else other than the SFG's Alex.
The Mastersound compact 845 is a valve amp on my radar for the new year... the only thing that puts me off, it has to be manually biased.
Mac
If you are interested Mac, I can connect it next weekend to the Venere as Francis has it in stock (the Mastersound 845)
I know, yesterday I had another look at the SFG and said to Francis I will take them (after 2 bottles of Amarone though )! Still haven't figured out when and how, but this is happening!
LOL!
Yes Alex, would be interested in your impressions of the Compact 845 if that were possible.
Cheers
Mac
Interesting that the speakers are bright and unbearable. Have read other reviews which have praised them as real Sonus quality speakers.
I think you are right...reading reviews like this: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonusfaber3/1.html I suspect they may sound a little "fresher" than the usual SF, so either they need a lot of running in, or they need more muscle than the Mastersound is able to provide. In theory, they should be able to "bat" well above their price level, and so are definitely a speaker to keep an eye on.
Maybe, or maybe not
I definitely think it might be because of the run-in period, but I am almost certain is not the typical SF print (I have listened to quite a lot of them now...)
Speakers are greatly built...unbelievable what 2500 euro can buy. Usual Sonus Faber style, nice line, imposing speakers and very elegant. Pity the only grey ring around the tweeter in a full black front. It's a "cheapo" touch which looks a little bit made in China...but close your eyes on that and sit down for a listen
I think the Veneres are made in China ... I do like the 1.5 in white on the optional stands ... reminds me a little of the Linn Kiko speakers. Initial listening reviews of the 1.5/2.5 seem very good.
Speakers are greatly built...unbelievable what 2500 euro can buy. Usual Sonus Faber style, nice line, imposing speakers and very elegant. Pity the only grey ring around the tweeter in a full black front. It's a "cheapo" touch which looks a little bit made in China...but close your eyes on that and sit down for a listen
I think the Veneres are made in China ... I do like the 1.5 in white on the optional stands ... reminds me a little of the Linn Kiko speakers. Initial listening reviews of the 1.5/2.5 seem very good.
Yes, Venere are made in China, I know.
Stands of 1.5 are quite rubbish to be honest as I helped Francis to build them and assembling them was like assembling an IKEA piece of furniture...
Btw glad to read you again Tino 
Speakers are greatly built...unbelievable what 2500 euro can buy. Usual Sonus Faber style, nice line, imposing speakers and very elegant. Pity the only grey ring around the tweeter in a full black front. It's a "cheapo" touch which looks a little bit made in China...but close your eyes on that and sit down for a listen
I think the Veneres are made in China ... I do like the 1.5 in white on the optional stands ... reminds me a little of the Linn Kiko speakers. Initial listening reviews of the 1.5/2.5 seem very good.
Yes, Venere are made in China, I know.
Stands of 1.5 are quite rubbish to be honest as I helped Francis to build them and assembling them was like assembling an IKEA piece of furniture...
Btw glad to read you again Tino
You too ... we know that when you disappear for a few weeks of intensive listening and auditioning there is always something interesting to hear about
PS You need to convince Cno to unplug his Linn DS and take it over to Belgium so that you can listen to it
Speakers are greatly built...unbelievable what 2500 euro can buy. Usual Sonus Faber style, nice line, imposing speakers and very elegant. Pity the only grey ring around the tweeter in a full black front. It's a "cheapo" touch which looks a little bit made in China...but close your eyes on that and sit down for a listen
I think the Veneres are made in China ... I do like the 1.5 in white on the optional stands ... reminds me a little of the Linn Kiko speakers. Initial listening reviews of the 1.5/2.5 seem very good.
Yes, Venere are made in China, I know.
Stands of 1.5 are quite rubbish to be honest as I helped Francis to build them and assembling them was like assembling an IKEA piece of furniture...
Btw glad to read you again Tino
You too ... we know that when you disappear for a few weeks of intensive listening and auditioning there is always something interesting to hear about
PS You need to convince Cno to unplug his Linn DS and take it over to Belgium so that you can listen to it
Tino, on Tuestday I have an extensive demo session of the all Linn chain
I will report back for sure...
[quote]...but pity as in the bass department they are a bit shy[quote]
What do you expect? They are driven by a 20W tube amp. These speakers require a more powerful solid state amp to drive them. I'm actually glad they are agressive and bright, because I'd be worried if they were too "polite" sounding. Thanks for the review, can't wait to hear them and maybe even get a pair myself.
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Mastersound make great amps and the McIntosh should have been big, bold and smooth...so your observations are interesting and probably due to the newness of the speakers.
Be careful in case SF are removing what makes them unique, which could be a bit of a lottery as to whether it works or not.....other brands specialize in clean, detailed and musical, but have been doing it for longer.
I don't think you need telling....but was thinking out loud, and basing it on nothing but pure conjecture.
"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." André Gide