SONUS FABER LAUNCHES SUPREMA IN CELEBRATION OF THE BRAND’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Sonus faber Suprema Loudspeaker System celebrates the Italian HiFi brand’s 40^th anniversary and is their most ambitious project ever.

Sonus faber has announced the launch of the Sonus faber Suprema Loudspeakers a design they say is “rooted in luxury, unparalleled audio excellence and meticulous craftsmanship”.

SONUS FABER SUPREMA LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

Marking the brand’s 40th anniversary, the Suprema system features two main columns, two subwoofers and one electronic crossover. The Suprema loudspeaker system is undoubtedly the most ambitious project ever crafted by Sonus faber.

SONUS FABER SUPREMA AESTHETICS

Suprema’s four columns were designed as a callback to the brand’s heritage. The two main columns feature a lute shape nodding back to the first Guarneri, which ensures seamless integration and the ability to disappear from the virtual soundstage. The two subwoofers feature an elliptical shape, pulled from the Stradivari, which allows the two pieces to host large transducers and energy impact.

The variety of materials were chosen based on their individual characteristics and ability to complement one another to enhance their best properties – carbon fibre for its exceptional resistance, wood for its harmonic qualities and solid aluminium, CNC machined for its static qualities. Lending to the sophistication of Suprema, multilayer wood is used for the side panels of the main columns to create the illusion of “wings” via a unique 3D bending shape.

Suprema features a leather front panel in true Sonus faber tradition. However, for this special project, the brand partnered with renowned luxury furniture brand Poltrona Frau. Each Suprema speaker system will feature Poltrona Frau’s Pelle Frau® Impact Less leather, a chromium-free tanning process leather launched in 2022.

SONUS FABER SUPREMA  TECHNOLOGY

In addition to Suprema’s sophisticated four column system comprising two main columns and two subwoofers, the system includes an external electronic crossover. The design of Suprema’s configuration system aims to extend beyond the conventional limits of the frequency band coverage and enhance acoustic performance to new levels of excellence.

Each main column of Suprema is a 4/5-way system and features eight front-firing speakers, in addition to two backfiring drivers. The Voice of Sonus faber, the configuration of tweeters and a midrange, boasts three new, innovative elements – one brand new Camila midrange with cellulose pulp diaphragm, one new mid-tweeter with treated silk dome, and one new super tweeter with treated silk dome. While the materials are in line with Sonus faber tradition, electroacoustic elements have been completely redesigned as outlined below in extracts from Sonus faber’s press release.

●        The new Camelia midrange, responsible for the most important part of the acoustic spectrum, was developed by a team of electroacoustic engineers to ensure maximum resolution, while maintaining the legendary natural sound of Sonus faber. Inspired by nature, the new membrane is not circular, nor is it masked by the suspensions, offering its entire surface to the listener and avoiding the formation of resonances associated with circular shapes.

●        The new dual-drive magnetic system of the midrange ensures control and even dynamics. Air flow management is held by the organic basket. Previously implemented on Stradivari woofers, this original design by Sonus faber will be featured in all next generation Sonus faber speakers.

●        A special combination of the Camila midrange and tweeters are loaded in a unique dedicated internal volume, designed to enhance the performance of the drivers. By leveraging simulator technology, the chamber and its inner walls maintain an organic shape, which is made entirely of recycled cork. It makes Sonus faber the first to use the natural and sustainable material to create acoustic volume, while enhancing the resolution and naturalness of the midrange performance.

●        For the optimal reproduction of infrasonic frequencies, a separate subwoofer system has been engineered to optimise low range response regardless of the position of the main columns in the listening environment.

●        The subwoofer uses two powerful 38cm transducers featuring forged carbon fiber membranes and a neodymium magnet motor system to ensure undistorted pressures up to 16hz.

●        Controlling the coupling between the speaker and the ground is crucial to achieving the purest level of silence within musical texture. A decoupling system, created in collaboration with IsoAcoustics, allows Suprema to reach unparalleled levels of dynamics and power, while preserving energy content and avoiding the propagation of unwanted vibrations within the listening environment.

THE CROSSOVER NETWORKS

The crossover filters, partially visible on the sides of the main column, use the best mix of electroacoustic configurations experienced by the R&D team in the last decade.

The electronic crossover, dual mono and fully balanced, manages the integration between the Suprema main columns and subwoofers and offers versatility of use with maximum respect for the electrical signal.

All phase cutting and control circuits are 100% analogue and created using selected discrete components, while the cabinet mirrors the dual essence of this piece – the power supply is enclosed in a solid aluminium case and the audio signal is “guarded in a lacquered wooden enclosure”.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MAIN COLUMN

System: 4-way sealed box

Drivers:

SUPER TWEETER: 20mm silk dome with dedicated waveguide, neodymium magnet

TWEETER: 38mm silk dome with dedicated waveguide, neodymium magnet

MIDRANGE: 6.5” dual driver motor system with neodymium ring magnet,

LINK MIDWOOFER: 8” neodymium slug magnet, Ø 65mm voice coil, sandwich paper cone

WOOFERS: 4 x 8” dual driver motor system with neodymium ring magnet, Ø 50mm voice coil, sandwich paper cone

BACK EMISSION TW: 28mm silk dome, neodymium magnet

BACK EMISSION MD: 4” paper cone driver, neodymium magnet

Crossover Points:

FRONT EMISSION: 360, 430, 1700, 6700 Hz

BACK EMISSION: 500, 2300 Hz

Frequency Response:

FRONT EMISSION: 45Hz – 40KHz

BACK EMISSION: 500Hz – 20KHz

Sensitivity: 91dB 1m/2.83V

Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohm

Suggested Amplifier Power Output: 100 W – 700 W

Dimensions (HXWXD): 1905 x 650 x 880mm // 75 x 25.6 x 65 in

Weight: 110 kg/pc // 242.5 lb

SUBWOOFER

Sealed box loading, passive subwoofer

Drivers:

WOOFERS: 2 x 38 cm carbon fiber sandwich cone

Frequency Response: 16 to 30/80 Hz – variable based on the setting of the electronic crossover

Sensitivity: 92dB 1m/2.83V

Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohm

Suggested Amplifier Power Output: 500 W – 2000 W

Dimensions (HXWXD): 1451 x 850 x 525 mm // 57.1 x 33.46 x 23.42 in

Weight: 103 kg/pc // 227 lb

Crossover:

System: Full discrete – pure analog stereo/mono active crossover

Input Channels: 2 Unbalanced – 2 Balanced

Output Channels: 8 Unbalanced – 8 Balanced

Frequency Response:

MAIN: 25Hz – 150KHz

PROC: 5Hz – 150KHz

Input Impedance:

UNBALANCED: 20 kΩ

BALANCED: 10 kΩ

Output Driving Capacity:

UNBALANCED: 6 V rms (+15,5 dBv) @ 490 Ω

BALANCED: 11 V rms (+20 dBv) @ 980 Ω

Mains Voltage (Frequency): 115V (60 Hz) or 230V (50 Hz), factory-set

Dimensions (HXWXD): 110 x 451 x 424 mm // 4.3 x 17.7 x 16.7 in

Weight: 17 kg // 37.5 lb

SONUS FABER SUPREMA LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Suprema is available to order worldwide and will be produced upon request.

Sonus faber are available in the UK through Fine Sounds UK.

Global Pricing

Suprema 2.2: £695,000 / $750,000 USD / 800,00€ (two main columns, two subwoofers and one electronic crossover)

Suprema 2.1: £625,000 / $680,00 USD / 750,00€ (two main columns, one subwoofer and one electronic crossover)

HiFi PiG Says: A stunning flagship system from Sonus faber, what a way to celebrate their 40th Anniversary!