Damn You, Sonus Faber Amati Futura!

[bodiezaffa]

You know what is absolutely hilarious and I think all of us in this crazy hobby have missed....
When was the last time you spent an obscene amount of money on something that almost everybody else thought it was ridiculously way too expensive but you pushed back and defended its value. You took your hard earned money and you bought it!
You bring that overly priced item home, a dream realized as you ponder about how good its going to make you feel and how it will, without question improve your life and overall joy of being alive.

You unbox it and connect it and as described by the very members of this forum and contributors of this thread, you begin the joy of pulling your hair out, becoming more frustrated then you've ever been before while committing months and months of your time to find that perfect spot in your home to display it only to become mentally and physically exhausted because although it was set just right the night before, something happened without your knowledge and today its all wrong.

I am laughing out loud as I write this because its so true...

[bodiezaffa]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

Random questions and thoughts

How far are you from the speakers? Less than 6ft?

Until you properly place the speakers, you won't know the bass extension. Also might want to double check the seat location.

Hi Bill,
So, I was way off when I posted new placement - I blame the wine.
The space is 12ft wide, 22ft long and almost 8ft high.
the speakers are 9ft out from the rear wall, 6 ft apart and I am about 7ft 8in from the speakers.

I'm going to take pictures and try and post them.

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by bodiezaffa

You know what is absolutely hilarious and I think all of us in this crazy hobby have missed....
When was the last time you spent an obscene amount of money on something that almost everybody else thought it was ridiculously way too expensive but you pushed back and defended its value. You took your hard earned money and you bought it!
You bring that overly priced item home, a dream realized as you ponder about how good its going to make you feel and how it will, without question improve your life and overall joy of being alive.

You unbox it and connect it and as described by the very members of this forum and contributors of this thread, you begin the joy of pulling your hair out, becoming more frustrated then you've ever been before while committing months and months of your time to find that perfect spot in your home to display it only to become mentally and physically exhausted because although it was set just right the night before, something happened without your knowledge and today its all wrong.

I am laughing out loud as I write this because its so true...

So very true indeed!

[Apexorca]

I'v just read this thread, Almost all of it...
I'm truly sorry for you. I know, all the effort, expectations and money spent have to pay off.
There must be a solution.

I'm very familiar with the Futuras as I owned them and have a lot of friends having them to. I'v listened to them in many different system and in many different rooms. One problem that I never heard is lack of bas or basextension. In normal sized room it even can be a bitt to much bas.

Nothing else in your gear suggest that there should be to little bas. Maybe it's an acoustic fenomen in your room?
I can't imagine that there is something wrong with the speakers or other gear.

The Futuras should really produce a great bas that also is tight and correct.

To use subs in this delicate system you can risk losing a number of good qualities in the Sf Amati Futura.

I wish you good luck and I'm hope there will be a great bas in your listening room.

[Family Progtitioner]

I was never able to integrate mine into the room without dsp. They simply excited too many nodes

[joey_v]

Is it possible that perhaps room placement is an issue? You're 9ft from the front wall??

[bodiezaffa]

Originally Posted by joey_v

Is it possible that perhaps room placement is an issue? You're 9ft from the front wall??

The speakers are 9ft from the rear wall and the total length of the room is 22ft.

[bodiezaffa]

Hey all.
Just wanted to update you on the progress AND there has been significant progress.

When the dealer left that day, I was very happy with how the speakers disappeared and how all the musical soundstage had widened while maintaining a clear and focused centre image. No matter where I sat in the room, the soundstage was there.

I really was focused now. Too focused, I think so I took the advice of so many of you and took a break from listening for 2 days.

On the third day, with the intention of just enjoying the music, with a glass of Pinot in my hand, i did just that.

You know the old expression "cant see past your nose to spite your face", well that saying pretty much described what was right in front of me and didn't pay attention to.

I noticed every time I got up from my listening chair, I heard more bass the higher up my head was to the ceiling. When I sat back down, i heard less bass.

I remember with my Focal Sopra 2's, they would sit flat on the floor but the design of the Futuras, there was always a positive angle.
I decided to remove the front silver round spike bases but keep the rear one in place,essentially cancelling the natural positive stance.

All of a sudden, bass. Deep, chest thumping bass.
When I removed the rear bases and raised the rear spikes to their max, it didn't have nearly the same result.

I suspect the height of my chair was too low and the natural rake angle of the speakers was too high.

Not sure how correct this solution is but nonetheless, Im very happy with the results. Very happy indeed.

[JMD]

Congrats Mark. That adjustment is a basic tenant of the setup method for all Vandersteen speakers and I have found over the years that it has worked to some degree with pretty much every speaker. It has more effect with some, but always an effect with single tweeter speakers. I use a laser level and a sheet of copy paper with an "X" marking the height of the center of my ears to make the adjustment.

[Antonmb]

Good news Mark. What kind of chair do you have? The rake angle has an impact on timing and coherence as well, so maybe the next step is to try a higher seating position.