SONUS FABER UNVEILS NEXT-GENERATION HOMAGE COLLECTION OF LOUDSPEAKERS

Italian HiFi brand Sonus faber has announced their new generation of Sonus faber Homage loudspeakers, the Sonus faber Guarneri G5, Sonus faber Serafino G2, Sonus faber Amati G5 and Sonus faber Vox G3.

The Sonus faber Homage collection made its debut in 1993 and the new generation ranges in price from £13k to £30k.

SONUS FABER HOMAGE

The extension of the current range progresses Sonus faber’s Italian-made Homage collection, which debuted with the Guarneri, in 1993, and pays tribute to the musical instruments that inspired the collection’s creation. The range honours the genius of the talented creators of musical instruments and the lute-making tradition with its roots in Cremona, Italy.

Sonus Faber Homage Amati G5

FOUR NEW MODELS

The four new models include the Guarneri G5 (fifth generation) 2-way standmount, Serafino G2 3.5-way (second gen) and Amati G5 3.5-way (fifth gen) floorstanders, plus the 3-way Vox G3 (third gen) centre channel.

The four Homage models will be available in three finishes: red, wenge and graphite.

The Sonus Faber Homage Amati G5 is the range topping model

IMPROVED SONUS FABER HOMAGE CABINETS

The latest computer simulation and testing equipment has been used to improve the cabinets, helped by Sonus faber’s 2021 acquisition of the De Santi woodworking facility, its previous supplier of 35 years.

Improvements have been made to the bracing and porting system, which allow greater efficiency and output while maintaining resonance control. The midrange and tweeter chambers have also seen radical changes.

Sonus faber Guarneri G5

Homage retains the classic iteration of the lute shape, first introduced in the previous Homage Tradition collection, but with modified metalwork including smooth, rounded edges, with a graphite grey anodised finish.

Sonus faber Serafino G2

NEW INTONO TECHNOLOGY

Intono is a proprietary Sonus faber technology that is designed to address the drawbacks of ported cabinet and sealed enclosure designs, yet plays to their strengths. Intono uses a midrange driver ducted into a further sealed enclosure which is tuned just above peak pressure frequency. When the port unloads, or goes below its tuning frequency, the pressure is equalised into the alternate chamber, reducing impedance peaks. Sonus faber says that the Intono system offers the benefits of ported and sealed-enclosure designs, in a more efficient system. Intono is available in the Amati G5 and Sefafino G2.

Sonus Faber Homage Amati G5 with Intono tech

SONUS FABER HOMAGE MIDRANGE DRIVERS

The Amati and Serafino models benefit from a new, more efficient 150 mm natural fibre midrange driver with a neodymium magnet, plus a new shorter and wider voice coil for greater control, a faster response and more overall force. The suspension has been improved, too, with optimisation for greater speed and control.

NEW BASS DRIVERS

The Serafino’s bass driver has been updated with a new coil and spider material, optimised for greater air movement and bass extension. The entire system has also been mass-loaded to counterbalance any resonant vibration.

The £22,000 Sonus faber Serafino G2

Amati benefits from a new 220 mm bass driver with a 23.6 % increase in force. Two separate ultralight CCAW voice coils are implemented in a custom-formed neodymium Slug featuring two air gaps for maximum speed, with an integrated heat sink for improved power handling; the Finite Element Method was deployed for the Amati.

Sonus faber says that the tuning of the Guarneri’s 150 mm driver has led to improvements in control and has tamed resonance right down to 15 Hz. A purpose built neodymium motor system combined with a new tuning frequency, allows for deeper extension without distortion. The entire system has also been optimised, balancing mass to reduce modal vibration.

Sonus faber Guarneri G5 bookshelf/standmount

SONUS FABER HOMAGE HYBRID CROSSOVERS

Homage benefits from Sonus faber’s new hybrid crossover system. The use of the latest simulation software combined with extensive listening trials has evolved Sonus faber’s proprietary Paracross topology and Interactive Fusion Filtering.

Hand-selected Jantzen inductors, custom specification Clarity Caps, plus Mundorf capacitors and resistors are hand-soldered on custom PCBs for the crossover.

PHASE COHERENT DRIVER ARRAY

Sonus faber tells us that the new Homage drive units are time-aligned and phase correct on every single driver. This phase coherent driver array not only means greater impact but is designed to give a considerably better three-dimensional effect for a more immersive sound.

The Homage models feature established Sonus faber technologies, too, including the D.A.D reference tweeter, cellulose pulp midrange cones and sandwich cone mid-bass drivers.

In addition, aluminium ‘dampshelves’ at the top of the cabinet, increase rigidity and reduce resonance, while the proprietary UltraFlex anti-resonance porting system maximises airflow.

Sonus faber Guarneri G5 with optional stands

SONUS FABER CHIEF OF DESIGN LIVIO CUCUZZA

Commenting on the new-generation Homage models, Sonus faber’s Chief of Design, Livio Cucuzza said, “The most complex, but also exciting moment for a designer is when he is called upon to improve a timeless icon. How do you innovate a product whose image is immune to the passage of time and the changing fashion trends? The only way is to take a step back, reflect and deeply understand why that product was initially created. I faced this challenge straight on with my team at Sonus faber.

The third generation of Homage was the first product I worked on, and the latest launch we are unveiling is the fifth: the most evolved, the most mature, but equally authentic and special. A story that repeats itself, crossing the evolutionary path in different stages of my own life, never ceasing to fascinate me and make me proud to be part of it.”

SONUS FABER HOMAGE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Sonus faber Homage loudspeakers are available to order now.

Guarneri G5: £13,000 (Guarneri stand: £3,200); Serafino G2: £22,000; Amati G5: £30,000; Vox G3 £14,000

In the UK they are distributed by Fine Sounds UK.

HiFi Pig Says: A beautiful looking collection of loudspeakers, some very fine Italian design.