There was a time when Sonus Faber’s most extreme speaker was a three-way/two-way floorstander aptly named Extrema. It disappeared from the catalogues years ago, but got a successor in 2014.
But neither is Sonus Faber’s most extreme speaker, either in practice or on paper. Looking at the current catalogue – to date – the Homage and Reference series are even more extreme, with prices just over €100,000 for a pair of the most expensive.
It also guarantees sound quality in a class few people think is possible, which we experienced to the fullest in the weeks we tested the floorstanding Lilium. Until now, it has been Sonus Faber’s second most extreme speaker model. Now it has to settle for third place. At least when the new Sonus faber Stradivari goes on sale.
Out with the old reference speaker, in with Sonus faber Olympica Nova III.
While we’ve tested speakers in all price ranges, but rarely above the €100,000 mark, Sonus faber has now developed a pair of speakers that we haven’t seen before. Suprema may be an appropriate name for the new speakers, only time will tell, but until then, we have to admit that it looks more than promising.
Four cabinets
The speakers are, as the importer aptly describes it, Sonus Faber’s most exciting and groundbreaking concept so far in the company’s 40-year history.
Suprema is hand-built in Italy and consists of two speakers and one or two subwoofers developed specifically for Suprema. A separate discrete analogue electronic crossover splits between the speakers and the subwoofer, and together the frequency range extends from 16 Hz (!) to 40 kHz.
Handcrafted and upholstered with leather
Suprema features Sonus faber’s classic lute-shaped cabinets that combine carbon fibre with real wood. Carbon fibre and CNC-machined aluminium provide strength and a resonance-free cabinet. While handcrafted wood and a front panel covered in leather from renowned Poltrona Frau provide the finish and luxury feel that Sonus faber is already known for.
Camila midrange
The speakers are equipped with devices developed specifically for Suprema. Among them is a new midrange driver they call Camila. It has a diaphragm made of natural cellulose fibres and is without traditional edge suspension. The unit is also not completely circular, and Sonus faber claims that Camila is the most high-resolution midrange driver they have ever made. With Sonus faber’s track record for midrange reproduction, we’re inclined to believe it.
The midrange unit has a magnetic system with two magnets and a specially designed basket that allows the airflow to pass without turbulence. The design is taken from the new Stradivari and the same type of unit design will find its way into future speaker models from Sonus faber.
The Camila midrange and tweeter units are placed in a separate cabinet within the speakers. Advanced simulations have given the cabinets their final shape and the walls are not perpendicular, but more organically shaped with inner walls of recycled cork. The goal is to create a natural and resolved sound image.
The speakers stand on an integrated platform developed in collaboration with IsoAcoustics. The separate subwoofers with two 38 cm woofers with carbon fibre cones and powerful neodymium magnets weigh 103 kg each and stand 141 cm tall.
The price
Interested parties can register with Sonus faber and express interest in the Suprema, which is available in two configurations: with one or two subwoofer towers.
Prices are also clear, and we’re definitely at Ferrari level here.
The Suprema 2.2, which is a pair of Suprema combined with two subwoofers and an electronic crossover, costs 800,000 Euro for the set, but you can save a bit by choosing only one subwoofer!
Specifications
Suprema speakers:
– SUPER TWEETER: 20mm silk dome with dedicated waveguide and neodymium magnet
– TWEETER: 38mm silk dome with dedicated waveguide and neodymium magnet
– MIDRANGE: 6.5″ dual driver motor system with neodymium ring magnet
– LINK MIDWOOFER: 8″ neodymium slug magnet, Ø 65mm voice coil and sandwich paper cone
– WOOFERS: 4 x 8″ dual driver motor system with neodymium ring magnet, Ø 50mm voice coil and sandwich paper cone
– BACK EMISSION TW: 28mm silk dome, neodymium magnet
– BACK EMISSION MD: 4″ paper cone driver and neodymium magnet
– 110kg each
Subwoofer:
– WOOFERS: 2 x 15″ carbon fibre sandwich cone
– 1451 x 850 x 525mm (HxWxD)
– 103kg each
Electronic crossover:
– System: Discrete design – pure analogue stereo/mono active crossover
– Inputs: 2 channels, balanced and unbalanced
– Outputs: 8 channels, balanced and unbalanced
– 110 x 451 x 424mm
– 17kg