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Hans, you just can stay off this site!! This is your 3rd rating addition. Have you noticed that you are almost the only one that is rating this speaker under 3 stars?? That may be because it is superior to the EA 1 and that speakers horrible integration of its Esotar driver. I HAVE compared these two speakers side by side, as I have lived with both for over 3 months and the difference is that the new 2's are simply a better balance and synergy of their drivers. In due time you will have problems with the speaker staying together and you will see that Sonus Faber has actually made changes for the better, not only in terms of sound but alas the build quality as well. But, I realize this post will not change you and you will add yet another silly rating to this site and stay infinitely ignorant.

Similar Products Used:

EA 1

This last review by Zohrab is completely silly and pompous. I sure am glad that he is around to set the record straight for everyone.

- Please, tell us what to hear and how to hear it, because obviously you know what we hear.

These speakers are everything that these other reviewers have said. They are every bit deserving of the praise. I don't even own these but intend to. I have heard them on numerous occasion, for my brother is a proud owner.

I definitely feel that it is the balance and neutrality that is my attraction. They have plenty of slam and bass for my purposes and musical tastes.

These speakers may not be for everyone but they are for me and rate them a 5 star for the above reasons, in spite of what Zohrab preaches.....and mean "preaches".

Primarily I prefer planar speakers but this is one dynamic that I loved, actually I like all of the SF line dating back to the early 90's. I notice a slight debate cooking up over the EA I's and the EA 2's. Personally I don't see why there is one....you hear what you hear. Using any common sense within knowing SF products I doubt that this speaker is less of a speaker, in terms of build, than the originals. It makes more sense to me that this would be more of a speaker. I admit that the drivers don't LOOK as good but I personally hear them as being better. I think the key to the success of this speaker is the driver integration, which I belive has been stated in earlier reviews. The EA I's never "hurt" my ears but I did feel the tweeter stood out and took too much away from life like neutrality on this model, unlike the Extrema & Guarneri which uses the same tweeter.

The 2's are my favorite in their price range. I prefer only the Extrema by a hair, and of course the Amati-at $20,000.00

Similar Products Used:

Other SF products, Martin Logan, Maggies, Audiostatic

Musicality

lack of deep bass

The original EA is irritate to my ears but not the faster, more open, more relax and natural sounding EA II. The EA has too crispy treble, chocolatey midrange that made everybody sound like baritones (yes even female singers) and bumpy midbass that sounds one notey and slow. It sounds always busy slicing up the music and serves it raw ... never at ease like the EA II w/c give music whole and ready to eat.

The EA II sound more like live music to me. Enough said.

Similar Products Used:

ProAc Response 2.5, Electa Amator I, Dyn Contour 1.3 SE

Absolute Transparency, Musicality.

Extreme Low bass

After earing a lot of speakers in that price range, I finnaly choose SF Electa Amator II, for its absolute transparency, musicality and complete sound. It is true that there are a lot of speakers with a better low bass, but it is also true that no speaker is as good in terms of overall completness of sound. These speakers sound like music, and one can hear a 4 hour wagnerian opera, without signs of stress. Absolute top class in musical terms. They need very good amplification to realy sing.
The sound is just pure magic.

Smooth...very smooth. Seductive well integrated midrange. Amazing bass for size.

Extreme bass.

These speakers are amazing! The integration of all the spectrums of frequency is smooth, musically engaging, and more refined than the originals, that In my opinion are irritating for the most part. The Concertos & Signums also have that same smooth grad scale from highs to lows, something that the original EA's didn't have, they always seemed so seperate throughout with the highs being sometimes unbearable.

The Amator 2's seem to have alot more going for them in terms of room integration and power hunger. They seem easy to drive but I must say that I am using a 200 wt Levinson amp.

Similar Products Used:

SF Concerto, SF Signum, Sf EA I

EA 1 Vs EA 2,
EA 1 is more transparent and has more air, EA 2 slightly drier but easier to drive,

EA 1 is better built with better fit and finish.

My friend bought a EA 2 abt 6 mths ago and last sunday, I brought my 3 year old EA 1 to his house. I am contending to change to EA 2

He was using a borrowed classic 60 Audio reasearch power and his own Goldmund power amp.

The AR ran out of steam running Both spkrs
The 200w Goldmund was extremely well controlled with both.

My own subjective impressions were that the EA 1 was the better spkr by a long shot. Its highs were very detailed, extended and NEVER harsh. Remember that it is meant to be listened at woofer NOT tweeter level. We used abt 28inch height.

The EA 2 had a lighter mid range and some might prefer it, the EA 1 had a fuller and more pronounced and liquid mids.

In the bass, the EA 1 was extremely tight and fast, The EA 2
seem to have slightly more bloat?depth ? which can be prefereable in some system

BUT with the AR, the both EA's sounded slow and congested, lacking in bite and extremely polite almost apologetc.

. A 100w solid state is what is needed and not 60w of tubes.
.
i have auditioned Audio Physic Virgo,Totem Mani 2,
joseph Audio Rm 22 si,
Pro Ac response 2.5 and a few and none comes close in overall musicality and refinement as EA 1. I have not tried Extrema due to lack of space.

I am still waiting for a replacement.

I was not going to write a review but I must clarify a few things to those that are looking to buy these speakers.

I to was skeptical about the drivers of the 2's. I called Sumiko and asked them plainly. To quote them (and they said they would go on record.) "the drivers in the originals are terrific and expensive but so are the drivers in the 2's...in fact, the 2's drivers are at least as expensive to Faber as the Esotars in the originals....the one difference is that the crossovers are a hell of a lot more sophisticated and expensive in the 2's than the originals."

To me this explains and dispells all of these myths about the originals being a better build. It is not true. It is also true what some of the earlier reviews here said about the finger joints seperating on the originals.

I am one to check the used market constant for any bargains or interesting deals and have noticed quite the opposite than that of the last reviewer. As a matter of fact if you check the various sites classifieds (Audiogon, Audio Shopper.) right now you will see originals for sale and no 2's. The originals were good speakers but the new ones to me are just that much better.

As far as the sound....I prefer the 2's but that is all up to you.

I hope this helps anyone with questions about the build. Enjoy.

Similar Products Used:

Sonus Faber products

Extreme low bass. It requires good and powerfull amplification.

I've been use SF Electa Amator II with the excellent Sonus Faber Gravis Subwoofer. Beeing an extraordinary loudspeaker, it becomes superb with the Gravis Sub. The extreme low bass becomes more present without boom, in fact not only the bass is a better bass, but all sound becomes cleaner, with a easy portrait of mids and highs. A truly great speaker and subwoofer for the serious music lover.

However a quality amplifier is needed. Try the likes of Classé, Krell, Plinius, Audio Research etc for truly outstanding results.

The first thing that I have to say outright is that this is a better overall design than the original EA. Many things that have already been said on this site are exactly true so I won't beat it into the ground.

I advise anyone thinking of getting either the original EA's (I lived with these for 4 years.) or can't afford the Guarneri, Extrema (used.), Amati, to buy the 2's if the following are important to you.

Build quality, neutrality, detail, musicality, tight bass, imaging, and a larger than life way of impressing your women friends.

They are definitely the best from SF up to the Guarneri's.

Of course....listen to any speaker before buying!

Similar Products Used:

SF Guarneri, SF Extrema, Pro ac res. 3, SF Electa Amator I, Martin Logan Sequel.