What if you would meet the queen or princess of your dream while looking something completely different. What if she just stood there and waited for you. An accident waiting to happen. What would you do?Ubiq - Vklop chief Igor Kante was lending me Denmark Gryphon audio integrated amplifier Diabolo for test and while taking it to my car i spot something that lightened my led diodes (as Bender might put it). Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento loudspeakers. In a moment i got quick flashback of all the raves i heard about it. I went home but contemplation was too intensive so i rang Igor and arrange to demo Memento’s as well.
Sonus Faber Guaraneri Memento is a representer of Homage series. They should be labeled as monitor speakers, but with original stands, they look like a sculpture from a hands of a master designer. This is practically only speaker in Sonus Faber line which enclosure is completely wooden (no MDF). It’s made out of 21 staves of hand selected maple blocks that are naturally dried for at least two years.
Cabinet is shaped like traditional lute instrument. All the gluing is done by traditional Italian recipes derived from mouth to mouth heritage. These are the secrets of greatest violin craftsmanship. Finish alone is done in 10 segments. Each layer is hand painted and sanded. Result is stunning gloss “Graphite” finish and finest i'd seen up to date.
Unpacking them was screaming; style, prestige, quality! Mementos are stored in the wooden box and covered with special textile bag. Setting them up took quite some time. Whole speaker system is consisting from three separate modules. The wooden enclosure, massive body covered with nylon strings that resemble original lute strings and “stone” stand. Once assembled the appearance is timeless.
It’s funny that i needed 2 days to get used to the Mementos. I'm use to completely different experience when you welcome new speakers into your system, but Mementos gave me quite a shocking treatment. At first they seemed to be to closed and dark, but so often airiness and resolution is mistaken with real character and tone of instruments.
After transitional period I started to fall for of these beauties. How often we read enchanted reviews of owners and reviewer to be left unimpressed when we test them.
I listened to a lot of speakers, but only few really left me in that special state of mind; a continuous loop of longing. The Memento is the real "reminder".
Guarneri Memento proved to be real instrument. I would say it is one of the most musical speaker i heard. Music is simply plaid and let you forget about all audiophile nags we incorporate in our listening. Some said that they lack the bass but i wouldn’t dare to say so. I guess they didn't use a proper amplification with them. There is plenty of well controlled and i would say natural bass. If you want over hyped bass you can always add a subwoofer or look for another kind of speaker.
There is one catch. You have to drive them with quite few watts of power. You might be left with only half experience without proper amplification. Sonus Faber is testing them with their Musica amplifiers and I'm wonder if they really know Mementos real potenital :).
Lack of bass that some folks complained about might be in absence of a proper amplifier. Be careful before drawing conclusions.
It is such an avid moment to hear bass and instruments plaid well and controlled without too much room tweaking and treatment from the very start. That is something that set apart hi-fi and high end equipment. And this is also apparent with good recordings. Steve Hoffman mentioned in our is answering in our interview that’s almost all secrets of good sound are hidden in good recording and mastering. And it’s the same with reproduction. With first class enclosure and the knowledge behind the speaker building you are saved from many anomalies that can be attached to poorly designed and constructed speaker. The “boominess” is practicaly absent in well designed speaker and Sonus Faber Memento is remarkable in this regards.
Instruments can simply disappear and there is that natural, life like feeling that surround the music. I could go on and on, but please experiance it for yourself.
My favorite jazz artist John Coltrane never sounded better and closer to my inner jazz child :). If you have the chance grab Alice Coltrane Translinear light, and simply float in the stratosphere of spiritual jazz. I’m still amazed how good this album sounds. There is something that makes you feel closer to God.
Is Sonus Faber Memento most neutral and precise speaker on the planet? No! But is for sure one of the most musical and natural sounding speaker. And best looking! Period!
Some see Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento as a fashion or style statement. Through my eyes such a is product shows love for music and and traditional craftsmanship.
If acoustic, vocal, small ensemble, natural recorded music is your thing than look no further. An audition is a must!
There is an ultimate proof for reviewer to stand behind paper tiger stuff.
I’m buying those cutes. Yes they are that good and above!
Matej Isak
Mono & Stereo
mi@sgn.net
www.sonusfaber.com
Experience high fidelity audio with the one of the best home theater speakers.