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Sonido Boutique Driver Towers (Read 3147 times)
Hearafter
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Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
02/13/25 at 04:07:03
 
Finally got off the fence to build my first set of speakers in 30 years.  Was planning on building a Pair of DNA2’s but I wanted to explore what was available in the reasonably priced high end full range drivers.  Took a leap of faith and ordered their top one of the line Field Coil Driver SWR096FC. After four days they sound great but need more break in hours.. https://www.sonido.hu/index2.php?lang=en
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
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Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #1 - 02/13/25 at 04:32:36
 
 Sonido measurements…
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #2 - 02/13/25 at 04:34:50
 
Cab in progress
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #3 - 02/13/25 at 04:42:37
 
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #4 - 02/13/25 at 04:56:07
 
Finished cab without grills..
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #5 - 02/13/25 at 04:57:16
 
Field coil driver power supply…
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #6 - 02/13/25 at 08:00:58
 
Field coil driver
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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Hearafter
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #7 - 03/13/25 at 06:49:37
 
Ok after a month of listening I have to say these speaker drivers and these boxes have exceeded my expectations.  Just gobsmacked at the detail, soundstage, clarity with instrument separation, deep clean bass, and the most holographic that I have heard in my system.  It did take 60-80 break-in hours and some tweaking to reduce the mid-hi and hi fatigue.  I was getting some uncomfortable resonance? on Sax, female vocals, piano, harmonica.  Tried changing speaker position, tubes and then speaker cables solved the issue.  Amazing how synergy is so important.  My Goertz mi-3 cables that were the problem just weren’t a good match for these field coil magnet drivers but sounded “by far“ best in my Ohm Walsh 2000’s. Switched to Kimber Kable 12TC and what an improvement.  Just softened it a bit to remove the fatigue.  I am going to build some 10ga Duelund/Coherent tinned copper cables for fun to see how they match.  A lot of good feedback on just how “Real” sounding these cables sound.  We shall see!
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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hdrider
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #8 - 05/08/26 at 01:44:19
 
Hearafter - It's been over a year with your Sonido Field Coil speakers, still happy with them? I read about this build (I think it was this build) in another Decware thread (mention of SX1W I believe) and it got me thinking. Any regrets or things you would have done differently? Happy with FC speakers and power supply? Thanks and happy Listening, Chris.
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CSP3, Rachael, ZP3, ZMC 1, Sony ES Bluray, Schitt Bitfrost DAC,Sota Star TT w/ FR-64, Hana SL Low Output Moving coil, Omega 7XRS Mk 2 walnut, DeepOmega 8 sub, Beldon 8402/Switchcraft IC's, Gamma Electrostatic phones.
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GroovySauce
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #9 - 05/08/26 at 12:27:43
 
I missed this thread when you first posted! Field coils are really something different.

Beautiful build, they looks terrific.

Is there voltage adjustment on the FC PS? Playing with voltage from 9-12v on the AC-X I found it went from a thick super dense sound to insanely tight and precise. One thing I did notice is that the sense of space and detail is off the charts.

I also tried 3 different power supplies for the FC and that is a whole new level of experimentation. While the voltage to sound change is consistent, different PS also have their own character and sound.

I also have the same question as hdrider.
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Maximus NEO TT|ViV Rigid Float TA | Hana ML | Sutherland Little Loco MK2 | Innuos ZENith MK3 | LampizatOr GA TRP | EMIA Remote Autoformer | STL "Super Tube Rectifier" STR-1002 | SRA Cables | PAP Quintet 15 AC-X Field Coil | Torus AVR15
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Hearafter
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SF Bay Area
Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #10 - 05/09/26 at 03:59:53
 
Hdrider, I have been very pleased with my Sonido Field Coil Drivers and cabinets. They did take some time breaking in and I had to find the right placement, cable and tube match.  I do not have anything that I would really change.  I would prefer a smaller cabinet and may try building a horn to see how those affect the sound but I am in no hurry.  
What I have experienced is that these FC speakers provide amazing detail, clarity, dynamics, depth, instrument separation but in a very specific sitting window. I do not hear a wide but a more focused tighter sound stage with some height/depth.  Positioning the speakers has a major impact on results. Now this could be  driven by my room which is far from ideal.  I’m required to place my speakers 6 feet apart with a cabinet in between them working diagonally off a corner.  Not all bad in that the corner set up reduces the sitting position reflections as does the vaulted ceiling.
GS- The drivers came with a power supply that has 4 different volt/amp settings.  If I am reading the spec sheet correctly it has a 6, 7, 9 and 10 volt settings.  Lower setting for open baffles and higher settings for bass reflect/TL and horn.   The recommended  setting for my cabinet is the 9v third setting labeled #2.  I have compared all 4 settings and the differences were subtle but noticeable.  The 10v setting was a bit too lively and the highs were brighter and bass a bit off.  The lower settings were a bit too soft and just seemed to lack a bit of dynamics.  Any of the settings I could live with but the third setting #2 was the best match.  I have experienced no issues with the drivers or the power supply.  
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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hdrider
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #11 - 05/09/26 at 15:54:47
 
Hearafter - Thank you for getting back to Groovy and I. Sounds like a very successful build (and since I didn't mention in my first post, those cabinets and the build look very very nice). I noticed that the brace in the middle looks like it's different, but I need to give the drawings a better going over. How was the ordering process with Sonido? I need to spend some time on their website.
So, is this the last speaker build? Or did it just get you thinking about the next....Thanks again and Happy Listening, Chris.

P.S. - Groovysauce - What other PS have you experimented with? Thx, Chris.
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CSP3, Rachael, ZP3, ZMC 1, Sony ES Bluray, Schitt Bitfrost DAC,Sota Star TT w/ FR-64, Hana SL Low Output Moving coil, Omega 7XRS Mk 2 walnut, DeepOmega 8 sub, Beldon 8402/Switchcraft IC's, Gamma Electrostatic phones.
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GroovySauce
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Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #12 - 05/09/26 at 17:43:22
 
The Stock Voxativ PS don't have much voltage range about 11.2-12.1v that was too hot for me.

I didn't want to spend a lot of money if lowering the voltage wasn't going to make me happy. I bought 2 SMPS lab DC PS less than $100 made an adapter for the cable and it worked great. They had fans that would randomly kick on and were loud which was annoying. I did open them up and disconnect the fans however I was concerned about the cheap PS having an issue and damaging the FC, so only did that occasionally.

I then got a custom made Zayin Audio Suprareg 8.5-12.5v an amazing PS. highly recommended.



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Maximus NEO TT|ViV Rigid Float TA | Hana ML | Sutherland Little Loco MK2 | Innuos ZENith MK3 | LampizatOr GA TRP | EMIA Remote Autoformer | STL "Super Tube Rectifier" STR-1002 | SRA Cables | PAP Quintet 15 AC-X Field Coil | Torus AVR15
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Hearafter
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“In Tubes We Trust”

Posts: 373
SF Bay Area
Re: Sonido Boutique Driver Towers
Reply #13 - 05/09/26 at 17:55:58
 
Hi Chris, working with Sonido and owner Istvan was excellent.  He responds to questions by email quickly but sometimes translation may take some additional clarification.  The Sonido website isn’t the best and dated.  Istvan was very helpful in clarifying questions, driver selection and cabinet recommendations.  My order was filled quickly and shipping only took a week or so.  The most difficult process was setting up the money transfer to his bank he requires all to use.  No Paypal or CC’s. I experienced no issues and Istvan was very honest and helpful. The only hiccups were he did not send the bass tubes and Field coil wire.  You need to make sure you ask him to provide the Field coil wire and have him solder the connector plugs on the wires.  Also, confirm any other parts he is to provide.  Istvan did immediately send me the bass tubes and wire with soldered connectors once I contacted him.  
I may build a smaller horn in the future to try these Sonido FC drivers in but I am in no hurry.  I just wrapped up my DIY build of the Decware ZROB that sounds amazing in very different ways on my second system.  Nice to have two very different sounding speakers.  Tom
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Aric Super 300B SET/TabooMK3
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Mojo Mystique X’25 NC DAC
Sonore Sig Rendu SE Dlx/opticalmodule
Vera-Fi LNBH, SSZ, MS, SW
Sonido SWR096FC Towers
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB-Graphene Slugs
Veritas Cables
ZMF HP’s/Zrock3
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