Intro
We all love Italian food, pasta, pizza, gelato…
but how about Italian speakers.
How about romantic, leather clad speakers that reaches out to the hearth of music?
I say yes and absolute yes and yes.
Sound Quality
Sonus Faber are prestigious Italian brand of speakers,
that build speakers in lower middle tiers to all the way very luxurious speakers that cost as much as my apartment. But all the way to the top they use prestigious design, even incorporating leather in their housing. They do care about presentation, as they look amazing, the design of every element of speaker breeds and speaks presages.
They where speakers that I couldn`t wait to get my hands on, even thou I was little bit afraid by some reviews calling them too warm. Well I don’t have that much problem with warmth, especially if it come from a mid tier speakers, as they can still muster some clarity and details in that warm big sound of theirs.
And I was right, Lumina 2 is amazing speaker. They are fantastical for small to medium rooms as they have small footprint, far smaller than speakers in this price range. But yet have sound and weight to fill your room, but also they don’t need much power to fully open. And they are front firing speakers, and with that smaller footprint of size,
they are easily to accommodate in any room.
If you are afraid that front faring bass is going to be a problem, there is nothing to be worried about. As it does compliment the overall sound of Sonus Faber great.
It is not a bass king, and there are a plenty of speakers in this range, that definitely have that better oompf and attack.
But Sonus have this bass which is a bit fuller to achieve that warm sound, which is very romantic, but also agile and dynamic. And as I said earlier, Sonus is not here to show you all the hidden details and transparency for musical clinical listening.
Sonus is here to show you the heart of music to fell in love with every song that you play on it. It is there to be a sonic pleaser, and to surround you and bath you in its sonic capabilities.
It is helped with very capable soundstage, and I think this is very Sonus Faber distinighs itself from competition. It is one thing to have warm sound, but it is other to have a warm sound which provide detail, and you can feel shape and placement of each instruments in soundstage. It is not just your vintage sound of excessive warmth without those other audiophile goodies. It Is a sound that is worth its asking price.
You are going to be impressed with mids here, everything layers and have its own space.
Will that be drums, vocal or everything that falls in between bass and treble. Especially following that drum in very groovy songs.
In Details Explanation of sound through Songs examples
Listening to something like Rush is so nice, with this one. If you have this new 40th years anniversary, remastered editions of Moving Pictures,or Permanent Waves. Neil Pearth goes crazy good with that cymbals, and hi hats, it is there somewhere in upper left and right corner, bringing heartbeat to Tom Swayer. You hear dynamic expressions of mids that resonates with music, making listening songs so much enjoyable.
But than again I put some Bjorks Vulnicura, because I know that this kind of emotional masterpieces will go so well with sound signatures of Sonus. Bjork is putting her entire wounded soul on this album, t is a breakup album full of fears, sadness, loneliness but yet again beauty and hope for life after you hearth being crushed.
Bjorks vocals resonate so much with me with this speakers, and it is not most transparent and clean sound, nor most forward in your face.
No it is full, rich and with a lovely great timber that helps vocals to touch your soul. I love this record and it is difficult one to get right with gear that is not suited for this record. But Sonus brings best out of emotions of every note that Bjorks sing out of her lungs.
Some issues with this Speakers
Transparency, imaging and timing are something that Sonus are not class leaders in this price range, but Sonus is not even trying to fight on that field.
That does not mean it is bad, quite contrary t does very good job of this sonic characteristics.
It is just that some other speakers in this price range offer more in this parameters, and if you are an audiophile who prefers this deep listening clinical seasons to her every last detail of recording, you are not gonna be impressed with Sonus so much.
It aims for different audience, I mean it does extract a lot of details, but when you compare it to other speakers you will know what I mean.
Other issue is when I pair this speakers with amps,
that pushes treble a little bit up, it kind of gives this sound which is a bit more pushing and reveling for my taste. And makes a mix a little bit more muddy, It works best with amps that are more balanced and neutral as this speakers are colored and have their own personal preferences and feel.
But for the music I listen which is kind of rock, jazz, metal and some ambient records, I grew over time so much in love with this speakers. It thick a lot of corners correctly.
It has expressive Mids, it controls treble very well It does not allow it to become too fatiguing and high, and it has a decent bass. It will fondle you into relaxing state of just releasing all the fond memories of listening to your favorite records and falling in love all over again
Speaker Comparisons
Speakers that I can compare them in this price range are Kef LS50 meta, Wharfdale Evo 4.2, Polk R200 etc. All of this speakers are amazing, and makes comparing them a real problem hehe.
KEF LS 50 Meta, is its closest comparison and I would like to do in depth review of this two speakers in next review.
Wharfedale Evo 4.2
Wharfedale Evo 4.2 is another amazing also warm speakers, that is a great all arounder.
With better bass, bit more clarity and transparency it brings even sound signature that can fit many music and gear. I personally prefer the sound of Sonus Faber, but Wharfedale is sometimes a great companion as it does a lot of things great, and does not sacrifice too much in any area. It is good to go with amps that have a v curve. But can easily accommodate big range of speakers.
Maybe you can even get Lintons if they are on a discount they are very similar speakers sound wise to this. They have this vintage warm sound, but they are also much bigger speakers. As bass is much more stronger and defined. They have more agile and dynamic pleasing range of sonics, but they are also far more needy in terms of placement and what equipment you pair them with.
Polk R200
Polk r200 is a great rockers speakers, they are not horn toothing speakers like Klipsch, but they provide really meaty bass driven sound. But they also have clarity to promote instruments in soundstage really well. It it for people that want that commanding sound and presence. It is a different speaker to Sonus, as that different sound characteristics
can sway you to one or other one of this speakers.
Conclusion
In the end if you love your sound to be warm, romantic, vintage like
try this speakers ASAP. It is a great balance of warmth but also clarity and presentation.
It has enough appeal to any audience, even if you don’t like your sound warm or even if you like clarity, big soundstage etc. It is easy to accommodate and they are very beautiful to look at this is a big recommendation from me. Test this speakers and fell in love with music again.
Thank you for watching my reviews,
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and will help me grow this hobby of mine. All the best.
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