Tempe Room 2 — System 3

The Stradivari is one of the largest loudspeakers Sonus faber has built, and this system gives it the amplification and the flexibility it deserves.

McIntosh MC611 monoblocks provide the muscle — 600 watts a channel, Quad Balanced, with the Autoformer delivering full rated power into two, four or eight ohms so the loudspeaker's impedance curve stops being the amplifier's problem. Alongside them a Linn Akurate 4200 and a McIntosh MSA5500 streaming integrated allow the same loudspeakers to be heard on very different amplification.

Sources span an MCD550 disc player, a C53 preamplifier and a Linn Selekt DSM, with a Sonus faber Gravis V subwoofer extending the low end.