Sonus Faber Stradivari Unboxing - Iconic Revisited?

Adrian unboxes Sonus Faber's second-gen Stradivari speaker. Released 20 years after the original, the evolution of Stradivari arrives just as Sonus Faber celebrates their 40th anniversary.
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Audio Excellence Inc. is a high-end audio/video store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto. We've been in business since 1991.
Check out our interviews with designers and audio luminaries like Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio, Paul McGowan of PS Audio, Paolo Tezzon of Sonus Faber, Wendell Diller of Magnepan, John Atkinson of Stereophile, Dan D'Agostino of D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and others.
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[@cigarobsession]

Usually I love the sf grills, but those would stay in the box. What a gorgeous cabinet without them!

[@007EnglishAcademy]

So looking forward to the review.

[@clintfarrell1070]

Love the unboxing videos. Thank you.

[@adrianlow2114]

My pleasure

[@bootymchooters2820]

Happy for your Adriana. Merry Christmas. Hope they bring you many years of joy.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too

[@brentcollins9727]

Those are STRIKINGLY beautiful!!!!

[@elderinmoi1571]

So nice to see your excitement. You have so much experience, heard so many gear and it shows when you talk about it and yet you are like over the moon with these speakers. But I totally get it. Owned SF speakers myself and they look good and sound good (and good is a word too small to describe it). This would be my dream speaker but they need quite some space. Tx for all the videos for us Hi-Fi nerds Adrian. Wish you and all at audio excellence merry christmas.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks. Same to you

[@philippang07]

Excellent video by Adrian - and he makes me want to buy hi fi from him - it's how he explains things which illuminates the product from his knowledge and experience. :) Merry Christmas Adrian and team, and all here who enjoy his vids! Btw, nothing wrong with unboxing videos when done by Adrian... A pleasure.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks! Very kind of you

[@rickcarlson5916]

Merry Christmas Adrian to you, your family and your team!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks. Same to you

[@johns.]

Congratulations, Adrian. I heard these speakers at my dealer in Chicago. They are gorgeous and sound great! I’m sure you will enjoy them.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks..can't wait to listen to them

[@amschua]

Kool design & great sound!

[@t8500shx]

I can’t wait for the review.

[@mannycazz8018]

Beauty and the beast!!!! Amazing my friend. Enjoy and happy holidays 🎉

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks, you too

[@artysanmobile]

Many ingenious design ideas. I’m very happy to see adjustability. Rooms can be quite different and it’s respect to trust an owner with these features.

[@rca6576]

I have been dying to try this in person. I know I won't ever afford them but, what a pleasure it would be to hear these. Just stunning!!

[@nirodha35]

Enjoy 😊!!! What a way to spend the festive season 💫

[@nirodha35]

The grills look like an afterthought. They do not integrate with the wide body. Other SF models don’t have this problem

[@yadah678]

Wow Adrian nice Christmas gift.

[@johnkim3674]

It’s like Christmas everyday for Adrian and the crew lol

[@dan-sc7fm]

Gorgeous, lucky you! Merry Xmas.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks. Same to you

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Absolutely HAVE to come visit now. =)

[@adrianlow2114]

And to you

[@MrVoayer]

Joyful and emotional presentation! Just as these Sonus faber Stradivaris deserve ! If they sound half as good as they look - that shall be stunning ! And their 92 dB sensitivity should complement their 4 Ohms load nicely ! I am looking forward to watching the full review !!!

[@johncrowe1917]

They are truly one of the best looking speakers out there. Congrats bud, 50 k is a touch above my pay grade. Although in reality they are more affordable then some of the other names out there. I was always impressed with the sound quality of Sonus Faber speakers at any price range. Enjoy .

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@AF-rd2vf]

Gorgeous looking speaker. I had the Liutos and after a few years then moved to some Maggies.

[@vproven]

Cannot wait to hear them. Please post next video with some music.

[@Pe1369]

Hi Adrian,I just bought this pair of speakers 4hours ago in Seattle :😀😀👏👏👍👍👍Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you.

[@adrianlow2114]

Congratulations,! And same to you

[@shanestephenson8423]

What are you talking about, Adrian? we love the unboxing videos😂

[@adrianlow2114]

Lol

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good Christmas🎄☕️☕️ morning to you and yours…looks like Santa went out 😎

[@adrianlow2114]

Merry Christmas!

[@klaymoon1]

Great looking speakers! I hope to hear your review and comparisons against ML1 MK2.

[@PBlaik]

The drivers look the same as the Amati G5's but the craftsmanship is beautiful, and the window to the crossover/speaker terminals are sweet!!

[@adrianlow2114]

Time to upgrade Paul! lol. Merry Christmas my friend

[@danil34]

Im drooling

[@daledecker8542]

This video was very refreshing for me. It’s much better than videoing my man servant unboxing the object.

[@pswitzeny]

I thought I was promised no more unboxings!! 🤣🤣 Merry Christmas, everyone!

[@paulhartman3118]

I really wanted this speaker back 20 years ago. Played jazz really well. Beautiful sound and speaker. Haven’t heard this iteration but the price just doesn’t work. If they’re really that good, I’ll wait and buy used for less than half.

[@snomofilms]

Can’t see how that would image well, or disappear, given the huge baffle surface area. It is beautiful though.

[@jimbrunsman1011]

They would be on my short list if I had the funds...

[@burton7023]

Beautiful speakers

[@TheDanEdwards]

It certainly looks expensive. But that massive front runs counter to so many other speaker designers. With so much baffle (around the tweeter and midrange), does not destructive interference become an issue?

[@robertbubeck9194]

Aside from the aesthetics, Adrian, would you venture to contrast and compare the new Stradivari with the Wilson Sasha V's in that they very close in price and you sell both? Which is "better" does come down to personal taste and listening preferences, of course. Thanks.

[@thomasmcmillan5095]

Sonos Faber Stradivari speakers, a stack of Accuphase electronics and a great dealer.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@clarencehoover6748]

Be careful when gesticulating near the speakers! One unfortunate move and you’ll ding a tweeter dome or damage a cone.

[@StealthParrot]

Would you be open to playing sound samples similar to what Sound Sommelier (Italian dealer) does? Realizing they will sound different in person of course!

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

I learned that a narrow baffle improves sound quality because of reduced reflections. So, how about this wide baffle?

[@AnthorOne]

Yes, they are a beauty. But on the expo flor with Clase electronics, they loose to new Indiana Line Dive 3 with Yamaha MusicCast R-N800A. How do they sound in your space?

[@bach1042]

Always enjoy Adrian's informative and enthusiastic reviews. After using Serafino sometime, I was also strongly atempted to replace my current Andra 3se with SF Stradivari G2 partly due to its beautiful finish. I finally had a chance to listen to them with monoblock Mckintoshs at the local dealer. Alas!!!! Surprisingly big disappintments. : much less dynamic than Serofino in all high, mid and bass. Very reserved and dead sound.... Andra was way better! Stradivari G2 is possibly the best artifact in the living room bit definately not the musical instrument like Serafino.

[@mattgiunt]

Grill kills the mood but without it you get holes in speaker!!

[@user-lk1zf7pi9x]

Your Santa has a deeper pocket compared to the one around here... Merry Christmas 😅

[@adrianlow2114]

Same to you

[@barney6888]

and just think how wonderful Adrian would feel if he shipped those speakers up to me in my humble abode here in freezing cold Gravenhurst (for free), bein' that it's Christmas and all and he's not a Scrooge or anything and boy could i use free speakers with free shipping YAAAAY !!!

[@MrBazsi888]

Efficiency?

[@jeffreythurston1822]

So beautiful but that baffle is huge. I find it hard to believe that there are no diffraction issues.

[@neovibe83]

Hi @adrianlow2114, I am a recent owner of an early pair of the original Stradivari G1. Curious about your experience with (2!) pairs of these beautiful creatures! Sounded like you went through an entire process to get the best out of them so would be amazing if you could share some insights into what worked and didn’t work for you (especially amping and placement). Not much info online to be found about these nor many people I can find with experience in setting them up, so it would be fabulous if you could share a bit of your experience! Many many many thanks in advance.

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

hi music fans i hope your winter season is a prosperous one

[@aceofspades6667]

SF makes sexy speakers no way around it. Wilson is more more taste in sound but the two are not built to the same level

[@De132an]

Beaver teeth and I agree!

[@enniol8043]

I would be offended by the Italian comment except for a few things. First I don't get offended easily, I am from the generation where we would make fun of each other. Second he's right :)

[@adrianlow2114]

Lol

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

Great way to piss your money away :)

[@adrianlow2114]

Can’t take it with you 😊

[@yippie6862]

Only $50,000 usd. They are a bargain.

[@stateniland]

Arrived in cardboard?? From Italy? O NO. I prefer my W/A Sasha V's arriving in WOODEN CRATES with wheels already attached for placement.

[@JG-gg9wk]

Must be nice to have that kind of money to throw around. Way beyond my price point

[@mrk8212]

indeed, I paid less for a brand new loaded Toyota Tacoma.

[@bikemike1118]

Hopefully it sounds better than Gen 1. G1 wasn’t the greatest speaker back then …so to say.

[@AF-rd2vf]

Really…what was missing from G1?

[@bikemike1118]

⁠@@AF-rd2vf It sounded kind of blurred, lame and not nearly like a € 20K speaker (about 2003). I personally was very disappointed when hearing it at a good local dealer. It formed my opinion about SF speakers in general as it was their top of the line model back then. Meanwhile SF is supposed to have changed their „sound signature“ to the better …what I heard some people say. But I cannot tell from own experience. I‘ve chosen Wilson and never looked elsewhere…

[@bobsacamano4648]

Duck teeth? You mean beaver tooth 😂

[@adrianlow2114]

lol. Yup. Senior moment

[@MasterofPlay7]

how dose 50,000 USD translated into 300 million cad?

[@markschotgerrits283]

Nice speakers. I wonder how the compete with the B&W 801 D4. The compersion with BMW cars is not really my perseption. The new BMW still look ugly😂

[@adrianlow2114]

Lol

[@CLKAMG]

After the Guarneri evolution , Amati Futura, Aida, Sonus lost its finesse and identity after being part of a big corporation. The artisan’s finesse and attention to detail was gone and had a feel of being mass produced kind off.

[@summerforever6736]

looks lika a pancake also box looks too small for those bass drivers ...

[@Breakinlife007]

How is it the prior ones had more labor in them and sold in the $30k range and these are smoothed down Chinese crap with $50k price tags... I would never buy another Sonus Faber again.

[@robinkleinsteuber5217]

$ 300,000,000.00 Canadian!! 😳😳 What? Joking, right? 😂🤣 They'd cost far more than the homes they'd be put into! No matter, Merry Christmas to all!

[@MasterofPlay7]

yea how dose 50,000 USD translated into 300 million cad?

[@robinkleinsteuber5217]

@@MasterofPlay7 It doesn't. $50,000.00 USD == $66,425.00 as of Dec. 23rd at 10:24 a.m. EST. I think Adrian and/or the Italians are having some fun with us. Merry Christmas, all!

[@adrianlow2114]

lol. It’s my ongoing dig against the poor value of the Canadian dollar. Merry Christmas!

[@robinkleinsteuber5217]

@adrianlow2114 Yep, true enough with that one!! The exchange rate is becoming more and more nuts. Well, heck, tis the season to be jolly! Happy listening to the Stradivarius model, Adrian!

[@Acura1NSX]

If only Sonus Faber loudspeakers sounded half as good as they look. Unfortunately, they just don't justify their sound quality price wise.

[@danashay]

Brutal. And I needed to hear it. I always have wondered about that. Thank you, nicely done!

[@kutaycelikel4904]

Because you pay the 3/4 of the speaker price for the furniture, 1/4 to the sound

[@Acura1NSX]

@kutaycelikel4904 You hit the nail on the head. If you're interested in making your spouse happy with beautiful looks, this is the line to go with but if you after high and sound, avoid it.

[@danieljones8587]

I'm sure your Cerwin Vegas sound better too. And your pos honda is better than Ferrari. 😅

[@Maccaboy1984]

I must disagree. I’m on my second pair or SFs after using speakers from many other brands, I love them…

[@victor8077]

Calling Antonio Stradivari a ‘Manufacturer’ is a huge insult. I hope it was a slip of the tongue….

[@adrianlow2114]

Perhaps not the most elegant choice of word, but Strads were made by the House of Stradivarius, thus a manufacturer by definition. But I take your point. Perhaps “crafted “ would have been a better description but I’m old and have senior moments lol

[@victor8077]

@@adrianlow2114 Thanks for the reply. A ‘Luthier” would have been better description. FYI. The strings on the grills are the same diameter as G string on a violin….

[@3rdeye1983]

Wide baffle? No thanks

[@cdgerhart]

this video is out of focus.

[@AudioExcellenceCanada]

I think you need to watch past the 20sec mark :)

[@cdgerhart]

@@AudioExcellenceCanada I did, but it's better now. Don't why it was blurry the first time.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

I watched until you mentioned the model and Googled them for AU$89,995 a pair in Australia. Crazy. No speaker is worth more than 5 grand a pair. The rest is smoke and mirrors for the rich wankers of the world. True Audiofoolery!@@AudioExcellenceCanada

[@hochhaul]

​@cdgerhart youtube compression while they process the higher resolution. It will look blurry and compressed until the clearer high-resolution versions are ready.

[@TheLevitatingChin]

I design and build better speakers. Sorry, but the value here is terrible.

[@BlAcKpHrAcK]

Like the Charles Bronson look, cool.

[@bikemike1118]

The SF Stradivari always looked like Charles Bronson … already Gen 1 😂

[@summerforever6736]

THE thing looks ugly to be frank!

[@mikemcguinness1304]

Modern speakers with wide baffles .....face palm

[@michaelrovner4165]

Never heard one that sounded right..quite dead sounding

[@raymaksimavicius4902]

Adrian are you for real. Those baffles are so wide for the mid range and tweeter and they are very smearing and diffractive. Sonus faber should listen to Vandersteens and get rid of those stupid large baffles. Poor design.

[@summerforever6736]

Exactly!! Total waste of money

[@razakkalik9072]

So says a high end speaker designer 😅

[@hochhaul]

You should contact Sonus Faber right away! I can't believe they didn't have any acoustic engineers at such a prestigious company. They should have been looking at KZbin comments,they've been here the whole time!

[@raymaksimavicius4902]

Large baffles cause sound altering smear which is not recommended. Try talking to someone and then place 2 cd cases next to your mouth they will hear how baffles distort your voice. The truth is in the listening. VANDERSTEEN has been using minimal baffles for 50 years.

[@raymaksimavicius4902]

Prestigious furniture company but thats about it.They would make gorgeous dining room tables.